Health Technician - Dietetic

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA, seeks a Health Technician (Dietetics) to provide administrative and customer service support for the hospital food service program.

This position requires English proficiency and education/experience as described, with time-in-grade considerations for current federal employees. The role supports dietary services and patient meals in a fast-paced healthcare setting.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04) in the Federal service.
• Experience in quantity food service operations and knowledge of proper nutrition and food items.
• Experience using computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and customer service support for the hospital food service program.
• Assist clients, patients, and customers to assess needs, provide information, and resolve issues.
• Utilize computer systems to complete tasks and maintain records.

Skills

Customer service

Nutrition knowledge

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in nutrition or related field

Job description

This position is in the Nutrition and Food Service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. The Health Technician (Dietetic) provides administrative and customer service support for the hospital food service program.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/23/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement

Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

English Language Proficiency

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience

You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Health Technician (Dietetics).

• Experience where you applied knowledge of quantity food service operations, proper nutrition, food items and appropriate quantities;
• working with clients, patients, and/or customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations;
• use computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.

Education

Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a successful completion of a full four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to this position (i.e. nutrition, dietary therapy, food and nutrition science, food service systems management, etc.). This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.

NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Combination

Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as listed above. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the position (i.e. nutrition, dietary therapy, food and nutrition science, food service systems management, etc.). This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.