Health Technician (Dietetic)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Waco (TX); On-site; USD 36,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Health Technician (Dietetic) (NFS Ambassador) works within Nutrition and Food Services at a VA Medical Center to ensure Veterans receive meals that align with prescribed therapeutic diets.

The position requires completing a 1-year probation and may be filled using Direct-Hire Authority, with evaluation of performance and agency needs for continued employment. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date; transcripts may be required.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in hospital food service or related nutrition duties.
• Education can substitute for experience with a four-year degree and nutrition-related coursework.
• Combination of education and experience can qualify at GS-05 with relevant courses.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer service to Veterans to ensure accurate meal selections.
• Support administrative tasks and use dietetic software.
• Assist with tray assembly and adherence to prescribed diets.

Skills

Hospital food service

Tray assembly procedures

Dietetics software

Regular & modified diets

Food selections

Verbal & written instructions

Computer equipment

Education

Bachelor's degree with nutrition-related coursework

24 semester hours in nutrition/food science

Tools

Dietetics software

Job description

The Health Technician (Dietetic) (NFS Ambassador) serves within Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. The position provides essential customer service, administrative, and food service support to ensure Veterans receive accurate, timely, and appropriate meals and nourishments in accordance with prescribed therapeutic diets.

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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;
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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

• Specialized Experience. You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Performing duties in food service in a hospital environment; knowledge of tray assembly area procedures; using dietetics software programs; familiarity with regular and modified diets; assisting with food selections; following verbal and written instructions; and using computer equipment, phone system, and printers. OR,
• EDUCATION. Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-05 level: 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. OR,
• COMBINATION. Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-05 level: 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: Your experience must be documented in your resume and transcripts are required.

To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-05. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.