Summary The Orlando VA Medical Center is recruiting for Dietitian (Informatics) positions. Informatics Dietitians develop skills to plan, coordinate and implement food service technology within the service. Informatics Dietitians in this assignment continue to increase their knowledge of technical and technological developments in the field of nutrition informatics and use this knowledge to guide both the food and the clinical operations. Responsibilities Informatics Dietitians perform increasingly complex tasks as they acquire skills in food service technology and learn to coordinate and implement the technology into the department. They develop skills to plan, coordinate and implement food service technology within the service. They continue to increase their knowledge of technical and technological developments in the field of nutrition informatics and use this knowledge to guide both the food and the clinical operations. They are thoroughly knowledgeable of and responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing food service technology as well as ensuring continuous evaluation and improvement within the service. Major duties include but are not limited to: - Develops skills in food service technology for meal production, meal service and temperature control, working toward coordination and implementation of technology into the operation. - Gains skills in the operation of VHA supported software programs and/or commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) to support the effective management of food operations and patient meal services. - Creates and revises menus, considering VA established guidelines, policy, patient preferences, and religious and cultural considerations.- Completes nutrient analyses and ensures menus follow required diet guidelines. - Assists in leading a menu committee. - Standardizes recipes used for food production. - Costs out recipes and assures that they are within budgetary constraints. - Creates and revises menus, considering VA established guidelines, policy, patient preference, and religious and cultural considerations. - Completes nutrient analyses of regular and modified menus and ensures menus follow required diet guidelines. Preferred Experience: Clinical food service, including the use of Computrition for patient meal planning, nutrition analysis, and dietary compliance. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30 am-4:00 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD99528S, PD99527S, and PD99526S Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year or 2-year trial 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; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications 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. Failure to Obtain Registration. In all cases, Dietitians must actively pursue meeting registration requirements starting from their appointment date. At the time of appointment, serving Human Resources (HR) staff in collaboration with the supervisor will provide non-registered Dietitians the written requirement to obtain registration, the date by which they must acquire it and the consequences for not doing so by the deadline. Failure to obtain registration within one year from the date of appointment will result in removal from the Dietitian, GS-0630 occupation and may result in termination of employment. Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and registration/certification, where applicable. Employees appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, either on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. 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 is not required. English Language Proficiency. Dietitian candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. All individuals assigned to this occupation must meet all the basic qualification requirements and all the requirements defined in the specific assignment. Dietitian (Informatics), GS-07 Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Informatics) entry-level developmental position. Informatics Dietitians work under the guidance of a Dietitian at the full performance level or above, performing increasingly complex tasks designed to prepare them for promotion. Informatics Dietitians acquire skills in food service technology, working toward coordinating and implementing technology into the operation. They gain skills in the operation of VHA- supported software programs and/or commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) to support the effective management of food operations and patient meal services. Dietitian (Informatics), GS-09 Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR Education. Master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college. Assignment. Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Informatics) developmental position. Informatics Dietitians perform increasingly complex tasks under general supervision. They develop skills to plan, coordinate and implement food service technology as well as offer recommendations for improvement within the service. Informatics Dietitians develop skills in the management of VHA-supported software programs and/or COTS to support food operations and patient meal services. They utilize technology for meal production, meal service and temperature control. Informatics Dietitians create and revise menus, complete nutrient analyses and ensure menus follow required diet guidelines and are signed off on by a higher-level Dietitian. They assist in leading a menu committee. Informatics Dietitians have become increasingly independent in standardizing recipes and ensuring costs are within budget. They develop and maintain educational materials and references, ensuring they comply with policy and procedures as needed for the NCC. Informatics Dietitians review NCC productivity reports and support downtime procedures, helping ensure procedures remain updated so that employees can be trained on the implementation. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of nutritional standards and requirements. (b) Ability to manage computer software programs relative to food service systems. (c) Ability to develop training and reference materials. (d) Ability to evaluate data to improve outcomes. (e) Ability to provide training related to food service systems technology. (f) Ability to collaborate with stakeholders Dietitian (Informatics) , GS-11 Experience. One year of experience as an RDN Dietitian equivalent to the next lower grade level. Assignment. Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Informatics) full performance level position. Informatics Dietitians are thoroughly knowledgeable of and responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing food service technology as well as ensuring continuous evaluation and improvement within the service. They independently manage VHA-supported software programs and/or COTS to support the effective management of food operations and patient meal services including entering and maintaining ingredients, recipes, nutritional data and menus. Informatics Dietitians fully oversee the technology used for meal production, meal service and temperature control. They lead a menu committee. Informatics Dietitians ensure recipes are standardized, costed and within budgetary constraints. They create, revise and sign off on menus, complete nutrient analyses of regular and modified menus and ensure menus follow required diet guidelines. Informatics Dietitians oversee and are responsible for developing and maintaining training and reference materials for the NCC. They manage productivity reports and complete audits for the NCC. Informatics Dietitians coordinate and support downtime procedures for the NCC, ensuring procedures remain up to date. As a subject matter expert in nutrition informatics and food service technology, Informatics Dietitians use their expertise to complete all aspects of training related to computer systems, menus and informatics for NFS employees. They frequently collaborate with the clinical nutrition section and leadership staff to enhance the Veteran's dining experience and support patient satisfaction. GS-11 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in managing computer software programs relative to food service systems. (b) Skill in applying nutritional knowledge to develop menus ensuring nutritional standards are met. (c) Skill in developing training and reference materials. (d) Skill in evaluating data to improve outcomes. (e) Skill in providing training related to food service systems technology. (f) Skill in collaborating with stakeholders. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ VA HANDBOOK 5005/154: PART II APPENDIX G20 Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Basic Education Requirement: 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. Additional Information The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11. Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
