Research Kitchen Coordinator

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) is a world-renowned center and a global leader in precision nutrition research. Our on-site facilities include multiple wet labs and clinical facilities as well as a vivarium and a metabolic chamber. Approximately two hours from UNC-Chapel Hill, the NRI is located on the beautiful North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis, NC, a mid-size city with a small-town feel. The institute is within walking distance of the city center which includes shops, restaurants, a minor-league ballpark, theater, and music hall of fame. We are also a short drive to Charlotte and Winston-Salem/Greensboro. The NRI offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life, and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance. EHRA Non-Faculty permanent employees are eligible for up to 24 days of annual leave per calendar year. We also offer professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development, and lifelong learning.

Learning how people can eat uniquely!

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute ( NRI) is an internationally recognized center conducting innovative basic and translational science to establish how individual differences in nutrient requirements and responses to diet affect our nutritional needs. Our research contributes to the prevention and mitigation of chronic disease across the lifespan from periconception through aging.

Our Mission is to lead precision nutrition research through understanding how genetics and environment affect an individual's requirements for and responses to nutrients.

NRI principal investigators hold faculty appointments in the departments of Nutrition and Psychology at UNC Chapel Hill. Their research interrogates nutrient roles in disease prevention, disease risk factors, and the impact of gene-environment and gene-nutrient interactions.

The NRI promotes excellence in nutrition knowledge, teaching, and research. We seek and encourage a diversity of experiences and ideas and provide the tools and flexibility for all employees to achieve success and excellence within their chosen occupations and aspirations.

We are committed to open dialogue, careful listening, becoming educated about the systems that hinder or prevent success, and taking action to ensure that all are equally acknowledged for their contributions and equally reap the benefits of being part of our community.

Our Vision is to use scientific discovery to ensure optimal health through individualized nutrition.

Everyone who works at the NRI supports this hopeful vision. Working at the NRI means doing good for the world. Join us!

The NRI and this position are in Kannapolis, NC, in the Charlotte region.

The Research Kitchen Coordinator plays a pivotal role in implementing study interventions to assess individualized dietary needs. Under the guidance of the Research Project Managers and in collaboration with Clinical Site Coordinators, this position independently oversees the operation of the metabolic food laboratory kitchen and manages the dietetic research team. Key responsibilities include directing and supervising Dietetic Technicians and kitchen/nutrition staff to ensure the timely production of diet-controlled meals in alignment with the recruitment schedule. The coordinator works across functional areas, including both the metabolic food laboratory and clinical suite, and collaborates with the leadership team to develop and refine procedures that meet research needs and ensure precise, controlled diets are delivered.

A core responsibility of this role is managing the preparation and delivery of nutrient-controlled meals for human feeding studies. These meals must adhere to strict dietary protocols, ensuring precision in nutrient content, ingredient specifications, and portion sizes. The coordinator will ensure all food is procured and prepared in accordance with study protocols, with a focus on accuracy, quality control, and consistency across multiple study sites, both nationally and internationally. The integrity of the study data depends on meticulous diet production, including careful monitoring of food safety and sanitation practices throughout the procurement and preparation processes.

The Research Kitchen Coordinator will also establish strong relationships with participants, providing diet instruction and support to ensure adherence to study protocols. The role involves conducting regular assessments during meal pick-ups, including energy calculations, diet adjustments, and monitoring for adverse events in collaboration with the clinical staff. The coordinator will review participant food logs and provide counseling to address any adherence issues. Additionally, data collected during these interactions will be entered into the REDCap system for tracking and analysis.

Working closely with study coordinators, the Research Kitchen Coordinator will forecast kitchen needs, balancing the demands of the metabolic food laboratory with clinic schedules to meet study milestones. ProNutra software will be used to generate meal production sheets, labels, and adjust menus to meet specific energy requirements. The coordinator will also support the development of study protocols and measurable outcomes in collaboration with Principal Investigators (PIs) and project managers, offering expertise on the food study components of translational research.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor's degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.

- Comprehensive knowledge of food resource management, food safety, food preparation techniques, food composition, and basic culinary skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a team, with strong problem-solving capabilities.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible information for non-expert audiences.
- Outstanding customer service and interpersonal communication abilities.
- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workflows, including staffing, participant scheduling, and meal production.
- Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including early mornings, with potential for occasional weekend and/or evening hours; schedule flexibility is shared among team members.

- Registered Dietitian or eligibility to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam by the hire date.
- Proficiency in utilizing nutrition analysis software, including but not limited to ProNutra.
- Proven experience in management and/or supervision within a relevant setting.
- Prior experience in food service or food systems management, with a strong foundation in nutrition principles.
- Familiarity with clinical research and the regulatory standards governing research and human clinical trials.
- CITI certification or willingness to complete training upon hire.
- ServSafe certification, or commitment to obtain within 30 days of hire.
- Bilingual proficiency in Spanish is highly preferred.

The following functions must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations:
- Ability to consistently sit/stand for prolonged periods and work in cold environments, including refrigeration (up to 1.5 hours at 4 C with 10-minute warm-up breaks) and freezing conditions (up to 30 minutes at 20 C with 10-minute warm-up breaks), while utilizing approved Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE).
Comfort and proficiency in operating industrial kitchen appliances and tools.
- Ability to safely move objects weighing up to 50 lbs with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Capacity to sit/stand for extended periods, bend, stoop, and pull as required to complete tasks.
- Strong hand-eye coordination with the ability to perform tasks with high attention to detail, ensuring precision and adherence to quality assurance standards.
- Excellent visual attention, mental focus, and manual dexterity when ordering materials, calculating units of measure, and recording data.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.