Dietitian (Clinical)

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutritional Care Process nutrition diagnosis and determine risk and/or degree of malnutrition.
• Develops and implements Medical Nutrition Therapy to address the nutrition diagnosis evaluates and monitors the effectiveness and outcomes of MNT interventions.
• Calculates nutrient requirements and necessary diet restrictions or food and drug interactions tailoring the diet prescription to each individual patient.
• Documents MNT in the medical record using the Assessment Diagnosis Intervention Monitoring Evaluation format.
• Functions independently and accurately when record keeping.
• Identifies patients in need of nutritional support and recommends the appropriate mode of support and communicates appropriately with the health care team.
• Actively participates in formal and informal interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition education/counseling for individuals and groups that is tailored to the Veterans.
• Utilizes virtual care technology to improve access to care.
• Maintains productivity standards.
• Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities and completes patient encounters using approved systems.
• Manages clinic grids to maximize access to nutrition services.
• Ensures both virtual and face-to-face modalities of are available to meet the needs of patients.
• Participates in service level strategic planning and implementation of new initiatives policies procedures and goals.
• Supports service level performance improvement activities to include development of measures data collection data evaluation and initiation corrective actions.
• Complies with The Joint Commission requirements and other accrediting agency standards to ensure safe and quality patient care.
• May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignment.

Work Schedule: 7:30 am - 4 pm; rotating weekends & holidays
Telework: Ad-HOC
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 99529-S 99530-S 99531-S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 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.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.
• 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.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Grade Determinations:

Dietitian (Clinical)GS-07
Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements

Dietitian (Clinical) GS-09Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
OR
Education: Masters degree from a regionally accredited university or college.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• (a) Knowledge of various accrediting and regulatory requirements.
• (b) Knowledge of virtual technology to provide nutrition care.
• (c) Ability to deliver patient care using the NCP (e.g. assessment diagnosis intervention monitoring and evaluation).
• (d) Ability to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes.
• (e) Ability to develop patient-centered goals.
• (f) Ability to collect data for performance improvement studies.
• (g) 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

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

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS07 to GS11.

Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.