Health Technician (Dietetic)

Veterans Health Administration; Johnson City (TN); On-site; USD 36,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

The James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Johnson City, TN, seeks a Nutrition Communication Center (NCC) Associate to provide administrative and customer service support for the Nutrition and Food Service program.

This GS-03/05 position offers a multi-grade career ladder; promotion to GS-05 is possible with training and performance. Duties include processing patient meal orders, assisting with diet information, and coordinating with veterans, dietitians, nursing staff, and hospital staff.

Qualifications

• Transcript must be submitted with your application.
• Education recognition by U.S. Department of Education is allowed for qualification purposes.
• If using foreign education, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript.

Responsibilities

• Has broad knowledge of routing modified diets and combinations with COTS dietetics software.
• Handles patient meal service orders in person or by phone and coordinates with staff.
• Interacts with Veterans, dietitians, nursing staff, and other medical center employees to ensure accurate meals.
• Provides education on local facility therapeutic diets and assists patients in diet selection.

Job description

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service (N&FS) of the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Johnson City, TN, serving as a Nutrition Communication Center (NCC) Associate, providing administrative and customer service support for the VA hospital food service program.

Key Responsibilities

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-05. At the GS-3 and 04 grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-05.

Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds.

Major duties and responsibilities will include: Has a broad knowledge of routing modified diets, combinations of diet modifications and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) dietetics software Handles patient meal service orders in person or by phone Interacts with Veterans, dietitians, nursing staff, and other medical center employees Receives patient meal orders and preferences, meal and nourishment requests from nursing, clinical staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary team Takes whatever action necessary, within authority, to maximize patient satisfaction with meal service Completes select and non-select menus as required Retrieves computerized information to assist with tray and/or nourishment assembly such as standing orders, nourishment labels, tabulated recipe lists, and other simple information to assist in meal delivery Provides education and information on local facility therapeutic diets to patients, guests, and nursing staff Assists patients in selection of the proper foods according to their individual diet Performs clerical and administrative duties in support of the service Performs other related duties as assigned.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: earliest clock in is 5:00 am, latest clock-out is 8:00pm, holidays and weekends are included in Tour of Duty. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Dietetic)/PD99855A, PD99855S, and PD99855 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements & Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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/.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $36464 – $52957/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-10-20.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.