Health Technician (Dietetic)/Nutrition Communication Center Coordinator

Summary The position works in the Nutrition Communication Center (NCC) as the NCC Coordinator, located in the Ralph H. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The employee works with Nutrition and Food Service information systems and is responsible for maintaining the dietary software program and other informatics systems and resolving issues related to the N&FS systems as they arise throughout the medical center. Learn more about this agency Duties Responsible for resolving IT issues relating to integration of VISTA, Get Well Network/Touch Tone Dining and Nutrition and Food Service System, i.e., Computrition, or any other Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) program. Develops and updates nutrient data base on nutrition analysis of menu items served. Responsible for making menu/recipe changes and all necessary updates in food service system (any COTS program). Ensures that all recipes are standardized and costed. Performs system updates as needed to ensure efficiency and accuracy of system. Maintains the overall quality of the NFS computer operations and provides input for implementing new and modified programs. Consults with COTS contractor when unable to resolve issues internally. Assures menus (electronic or paper) are set up in a user-friendly manner for Veterans. Troubleshot and resolves all electronic or paper menu issues throughout facility. Consults with clinical nutrition staff to resolve tray ticket issues with complex diets. As needed, develops and maintains Veterans' database. Responsible for creating electronic reports per local standard operating procedure (SOP) and worksheets necessary for food service operations. Provides training for all Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) employees on computer systems and security issues. Follows all applicable regulations and law regarding the use of computer operations systems, software, electronic documents and files, activating printers, managing reports, utilizing intranet and internet resources, and managing e-mail and calendar functions. Serves as Nutrition Communication Center (NCC) liaison between Veterans, multidisciplinary healthcare staff, and NFS. As the NCC Coordinator, resolves all COTS and menu selection issues for veterans throughout the facility. Develops and leads employee customer service training and maintains a customer service plan for NFS. Employee may train individuals or groups as appropriate. Participates in performance improvement activities by assisting in the development of indicators and monitors, data collection and analysis, corrective actions and preparation of required reports. Complies with regulatory agency standards, including state, federal and The Joint Commission (TJC). Performs other directly related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Variable shifts between 5:30am and 6:30pm, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible:May be Authorized Telework: Ad-Hoc may be Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of employment 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. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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 interest. In 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. Qualifications 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Clinical Dietetic Technician, GS-06.( 1) Experience. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade. NOTE: Possession of the Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) credential can be substituted for the one year of specialized experience. (2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience or certification requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of nutrition screening process. (b) Knowledge of programs and systems used to manage patient diet orders and preferences. (c) Skill in conducting diet education to selected groups of patients and individuals. (d) Ability to work collaboratively with patients and coworkers to provide nutrition care. Experience and/or Education. (1) Education. Completion of an associate's or higher degree program in Dietetic Technology, Dietetics or another related field of study that is accredited by ACEND®. A list of ACEND® accredited programs are located on the ACEND® website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory (https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/program-directory). OR (2) Experience. Completion of one (1) year of clinical experience in dietetics, and the possession of an active Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) certification. The experience must have been received after possession of the CDM certification. OR (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Licensure/Certification/Registration. (1) List of Licensure/Certification/Registration. Possession of the DTR credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2) Exception for Non-registered CDT (a) Non- registered applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure, may be given a temporary appointment as a CDT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). (b) Non-registered individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a credentialed CDT at or above the full performance level. (c) Non-registered individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (d) Temporary appointments of non-registered CDTs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. Physical Requirements. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. English Language Proficiency. CDT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Preferred Experience: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Routine work requires repetitive motion activities of the hands and fingers for extensive phone, keyboard, and computer mouse use, standing and sitting for extended periods of time, intermittent/non-strenuous ambulation around all areas of the medical center, and carrying light objects items such as papers, books, portable scales, and food trays. Occasionally, duties may require the movement of audio-visual equipment and/or the classroom area organization and driving an automobile. Work Environment: The majority of work is performed in an office setting or kitchen setting and involves everyday risks that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as kitchens, offices, meetings, training rooms, or libraries. The employee may, in certain instances, be exposed to contagious disease and interact with veterans who may have behavioral health issues. Work required to be performed in a kitchen setting may involve exposure to wet floors and hazards of food processing and serving equipment. Education Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that requires the application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. NOTE: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. The Ralph H Johnson Dept of VA Medical Center & its CBOC's are committed to hiring a diverse workforce from various backgrounds and individuals who demonstrate a diversity, equity and inclusion-related mindset and behaviors. We are strongly seeking candidates who represent the full range of cultural and identity factors including but not limited to race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation/identity, gender identity and expression, age, language, abilities/disabilities, socioeconomic status, religion, spiritual practices, geographic region, and other characteristics. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.