Dietitian (Clinical)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Greater Los Angeles VA seeks a Clinical Dietitian for Whole Health Service. This role provides independent nutrition care and supports the Food Hub's Whole Health mission.

The Dietitian delivers individualized MNT, offers walk-in consults, develops nutrition education, ensures food safety, reviews food quality, and collaborates with team members to address Veteran food insecurity. Applicants pending certain educational or licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship requirement per VA hiring policy.
• RDN or RD must be registered with CDR; credentialing requirements for non-credentialed candidates are described.
• Knowledge of nutrition care process and ability to deliver MNT in clinical setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent nutrition care and nutrition therapy (MNT) to Veterans.
• Deliver individualized nutrition counseling and walk-in consults.
• Develop nutrition education materials and programs.
• Ensure food safety and review food quality within Food Hub operations.
• Collaborate with healthcare team to address Veteran food insecurity.

Job description

The Greater Los Angeles VA seeks a Clinical Dietitian for Whole Health Service. This role provides independent nutrition care and supports the Food Hub's Whole Health mission. The Dietitian delivers individualized MNT, offers walk-in consults, develops nutrition education, ensures food safety, reviews food quality, and collaborates with team members to address Veteran food insecurity. 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 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

GS-7 Dietitian (Clinical): None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-9 Dietitian (Clinical): Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) related to the position being filled; OR possess a Master's Degree from a regionally accredited university or college. In addition, applicants 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.

GS-11 Dietitian (Clinical): Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) related to the position being filled.

In addition, applicants 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

Clinical Dietitian preferred but recent dietetic internship graduates will also be considered.

Reference

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

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.