Dietitian (Clinical)

Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Clinical) developmental position within the Clinical Section of NFS. They perform increasingly complex tasks as they continue to develop skills in clinical nutrition to apply evidenced-based nutrition practice guidelines. They interpret research and utilize whole health principles to develop patient-centered goals and improve outcomes. Clinical Dietitians collaborate with the Food Operations Section to enhance the Veterans' dining experience.

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 bachelor's 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 ACEND's 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. Grade Determinations: To qualify for the GS-11 grade level, you must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of experience include meeting the above listed GS-09 knowledge, skills and abilities and assignment. OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of best practices in the dietetics profession and in scientific literature, including knowledge of research methods, study design, data collection, interpretation of findings, and translation of results into nutrition practice. Ability to comply with various accrediting, regulatory, and agency authorities. Ability to develop and maintain a system of internal reviews and direct quality control and performance improvement studies. Knowledge of computer software programs relative to food service systems. To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, you must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of experience include meeting the above listed GS-07 knowledge, skills and abilities and assignment. OR have education equivalent to 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or master's degree from an accredited university or college in the field of dietetics or closely related field. In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to plan and organize work of considerable difficulty and responsibility, under general supervision. Knowledge of various food preparation and delivery systems within a healthcare environment. Knowledge of educational concepts, methods, training materials, and resources and the ability to develop and conduct education and training programs for NFS employees. Ability to participate in research studies and conduct performance improvement studies and document findings to evaluate staff, food, supplies, equipment, and service, in order to improve the efficiency of the operation. Knowledge of the principles and practices of clinical dietetics including NCP and MNT in order to plan, develop, and coordinate nutrition interventions, including enteral and parenteral nutrition, interdisciplinary care plans, and nutrition education activities that promote Veteran health, wellness and lifestyle management. To qualify for the GS-07 grade level, you must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of experience include meeting the above listed GS-06 knowledge, skills and abilities and assignment. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.