Dietitian (Clinical)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Garland (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Dietitian to provide clinical nutrition care within a VA setting. You will conduct assessments, plan interventions, and monitor patient progress using the NCP framework, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to optimize outcomes.

Qualifications include an RDN/RD credential or eligibility, a master’s degree for higher grades, and experience compliant with VA KSAs.

Qualifications

• Current U.S. citizenship per VA policy.
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or RD credential must be current with the CDR.
• Bachelor's degree or higher; foreign degrees evaluated per ACEND standards.
• Non-credentialed candidates may be eligible for temporary appointment if policy requirements are met.
• GS-09 requires Master’s degree and one year of experience; move to higher grade with KSAs.

Responsibilities

• Deliver patient care using the NCP (assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring, evaluation).
• Apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes.
• Develop patient-centered goals and monitor progress.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary stakeholders to support care plans.

Skills

Clinical Dietitian

NCP knowledge

Performance improvement

Stakeholder collaboration

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Master's degree in Dietetics

RDN or RD credential

Job description

OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 09/07/2027. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 09/15/2026, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month.

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

Dietitian (Clinical), GS-07:

• Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Dietitian (Clinical), GS-09:

• Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Education. Master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college.

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

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

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

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

Preferred Experience

• Experience with education patients and caregivers.
• Experience in the long term care setting
• Experience working with inspectors of accrediting agencies i.e. Joint Commission, LTCI, CARF, OIG

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements

• Light lifting, under 15 pounds
• Light carrying, under 15 pounds
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (4 hours)
• Standing (3 hours)
• Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• Hearing (aid permitted)