Dietitian (Clinical)

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within 4 months of appointment. Program Approval award amount (up to $200000) & eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Major Duties:

• Independently responsible for all phases of assessment planning intervention education and evaluation using the Nutrition care process (NCP).
• Assesses nutritional status reviews and interprets pertinent diagnostic and treatment data and develops implements and monitors the nutritional care plan.
• Reviews and calculates modified diets to meet the special dietary needs of those patients requiring nutritional intervention.
• In the medical records will accurately document the nutritional status nutrient intake nutritional education and other pertinent data.
• Recognized as the nutrition expert and participates as part of the Interdisciplinary treatment team within each outpatient clinic and inpatient clinic when needed.
• Assesses educational need of mainly outpatient population with inpatient coverage as part of the weekend rotation.
• Provides nutrition counseling for individuals and groups and schedules both new and follow-up clinical outpatient visits.

Work Schedule: Monday - Fridays 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Rotating Weekends and Holidays
Telework: ADHOC
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD99529-S PD99530-S and PD99531-S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: NOT AUTHORIZED
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): NOT AUTHORIZED
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): NOT AUTHORIZED

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. Dietitian candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietitian (RD) - Must be registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) the credentialing branch of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics formerly known as the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
  • Exception for GS-07 and GS-09 Only: Dietitians who do not possess the RDN/RD credential. Non-credentialed Dietitians who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below but do not possess the RDN credential may be given a full-time temporary appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2). May only be appointed at the GS-07 or GS-09 level and may not be promoted/converted until they obtain their RDN credential.
    • Non-credentialed Dietitians must have fulfilled each of the following:
      • Earned a bachelors or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent. Foreign Education: To be creditable college and/or university degrees earned outside the U.S and its territories must be evaluated by ACEND and meet ACENDs International Dietitian Education standards which are designed to provide graduates with the knowledge and competencies to sit for the CDR credentialing exam. AND
      • Completed an ACEND accredited experiential or supervised practice program and provide a verification statement from the program director that conveys eligibility to take the CDR registration exam as a prospective RDN. A list of ACEND accredited programs are located on the ACEND website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory.

Current VHA Dietitians that qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision may not be promoted to a higher grade if they do not meet the current RDN/RD requirements.

Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent appropriate and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held including positive education and registration/certification where applicable. Employees appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed either on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. The following provisions apply to employees who do not meet all the qualification requirements:

1. Employees may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in a supervisory or managerial position.
2. Employees must meet the assignment-specific certification/education requirements to be placed in Dietitian (Advanced Level Practice) or Dietitian (Dietetic Internship Director) assignments.
3. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or registration/certification that meet all the qualification standards basic or assignment-specific requirements must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation/assignment.
4. Employees retained in this occupation under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re- entry in the occupation

Grade Determinations:

Dietitian (Clinical) GS-07.

• Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Assignment. Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Clinical) entry level developmental position within the Clinical Section of NFS. They perform increasingly complex tasks as they acquire skills in clinical nutrition to apply evidenced-based nutrition practice guidelines. Clinical Dietitians coordinate nutritional care of Veterans with other health care providers the Veteran the Veterans caregiver and the community. Clinical Dietitians learn to interpret research apply whole health principles and develop patient centered goals. They collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans dining experience and ensure patient satisfaction.

Dietitian (Clinical) GS-09.

• Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR
• Education. Masters degree from a regionally accredited university or college. And
• Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirements.
2. Knowledge of virtual technology to provide nutrition care.
3. Ability to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g. assessment diagnosis intervention monitoring and evaluation).
4. Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes.
5. Ability to develop patient-centered goals.
6. Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies.
7. Ability to collaborate with stakeholders.

Dietitian (Clinical) GS-11.

• Experience. At least one year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower grade. AND
• Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Skill in delivering patient care using the NCP (e.g. assessment diagnosis intervention monitoring and evaluation).
2. Skill in interpreting research to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes.
3. Skill in developing patient-centered goals.
4. Skill in analyzing data for performance improvement studies.
5. Skill in collaborating with stakeholders.
6. Ability to comply with various accrediting regulatory and agency authorities

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: Protocols will be followed per the VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. This position requires a medical evaluation. These evaluations include a health history occupational history immunization history and tuberculosis screening. These evaluations are completed in health care facilities not to determine suitability but rather to meet Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Joint Commission standards.