Lead Dietetic Technician - Full time/Day/Evening

Yale New Haven Health; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Yale New Haven Health is seeking a Lead Dietetic Technician to support the dietitian in patient nutrition care across the life cycle. This role includes staff oversight, training, and resolving operational and software issues within the nutrition call center.

The position emphasizes accurate meal selections, adherence to therapeutic diet restrictions, and ongoing professional development through inservice training. Strong communication and workflow coordination are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; some college coursework preferred in healthcare, nutrition, or related fields.
• Six months experience in hospital or healthcare setting; supervisory may apply for lead role.
• NDTR/DTR preferred; NDTR/ DTR certification or eligibility preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist dietitian in nutritional management of patients across the life cycle.
• Support clinical nutrition manager with scheduling, staff oversight, training, and mentorship.
• Handle call center tasks and troubleshoot software/phone systems related to nutrition services.
• Provide patients with information on therapeutic diet restrictions when taking meal selections.
• Participate in call center inservice training and aim for >90% evaluation scores.
• Assist management to maintain smooth operations and coordinate with vendors when needed.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Customer service

Medical nutrition therapy

Computer literacy

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

EMR systems

Diet order entry software

Nutrient analysis programs

Job description

Overview

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

Job Summary

The lead dietetic technician assists the dietitian in the nutritional management and care of patients throughout the life cycle. The lead dietetic technician's focus is to continue to assure optimal nourishment based on medical and age specific needs, and patient's personal preferences through the translation of the science of nutrition and the study of food into clinical applications. The lead dietetic technician also assists the clinical nutrition manager in schedule coverage; staff oversight, training, and mentorship; problem-solving operational/technical/software/phone Call Center issues; and collaboration with food service staff and managers.

EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran

Responsibilities

• 1. Demonstrates effective organizational skills in taking meal selections in an efficient manner by adhering to script and menu items.
  • 1.1 Follows script and demonstrates appropriate customer service skills as evidenced by QI audits with >90% accuracy
• 2. Obtains meal selections for patients quickly and accurately while meeting standard for average call length/number of patients visited.
  • 2.1 Processes meal selections in an efficient and accurate manner, achieving standard for average patient selection call length or patients visited per meal period, demonstrating ability to prioritize patient demands, and excellent customer service skills.
• 3. Demonstrates effective organizational and communication skills in properly adhering to responsibilities per task summary.
  • 3.1 Properly adheres to task summary guidelines on timeframes and achieves standards in readiness to take patient meal calls/obtain meal selections
• 4. Demonstrates effective menu corrections to ensure patients receive meals which incorporate personal preferences, dietary restrictions and tray space guidelines. Provides patients with basic information on therapeutic diet restrictions when taking meal selections.
  • 4.1 Accurately corrects patient menu selections via computerized diet system, taking into account therapeutic restrictions, space limitations, menu glossary guidelines, age-specific needs, and patient preferences with> 90% accuracy on QI monitors.
• 5. Continuing Education and professional development
  • 5.1 Participates in all YNHH call center inservice training programs to remain current in professional knowledge and clinical skills. Achieves score >90% on evaluations/quizzes.
• 6. Supports management in maintaining smooth operations of the Call Center
  • 6.1 Troubleshoots menu systems issues, will act as team lead (calling vendor) for nutrition software issues that requires vendor maintenance.
    

Qualifications

EDUCATION High school diploma or equivalent. Some college coursework in healthcare, science, food service/nutrition/dietetics, management, or culinary arts program preferred. In progress or completed Associate's or bachelor's degree in one of these areas preferred. Equivalent combination of education, and experience considered.

Experience

Six (6) months experience in hospital or healthcare setting, or management/supervisory position if not a registered dietetic technician or eligible (DTR/NDTR). If no prior hospital, healthcare or management/supervisory experience and not a DTR/NDTR or eligible, at least 6 months of experience at YNHHS as a dietetic technician and demonstrated achievement of requirements per Career Ladder. If hired directly into Lead role, combination of experience, education, and/or licensure considered to qualify for and maintain level; can include YNHHS experience.

Licensure

None required. Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR/DTR) by Commission on Dietetic Registration preferred.

Special Skills

Excellent interpersonal (both oral and written) communication skills required. Excellent customer service skills and telephone manner required. Must be able to interact well with all members of the health care team. Must possess or be able to learn a working knowledge of both basic and complex medical nutrition therapy and food service operations to ensure patients receive safe and appropriate food and nutrition services. Ability to perform basic menu system edits and ability to use computers for computerized diet order entry. Must be able to use common computer software systems such as word processing , spreadsheets, order-entry programs and electronic medical records. Experience with nutrient analysis programs and the internet preferred.

Physical Demand

Position requires walking to geographically diverse patient units and ability to sit and stand for periods of time. Position requires use of a computer and telephone/headset for periods of time.

YNHHS Requisition ID

192093