Summary Clinical Dietetic Technician (CDT) at this level performs all duties and assignments with general instruction and guidance with the Nutrition and Food Service. Responsibilities involve screening patients, collecting nutritionally relevant data such as diagnoses, medications, clinical symptoms, laboratory values, dietary history, and anthropometrics. This position is located at the Kerrville VA Medical Center in Kerrville, Texas. Responsibilities Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Duties May Include but are Not Limited to: Makes recommendations for adjustments to the plan of care to improve patient's recovery and document outcomes on nutrition intervention Modifies diet orders for texture/consistency, tolerance, and supplemental feedings as appropriate under the oversight of the RDN Educates patients or employees, in groups or individually, and/or those accompanying the patient, regarding medical nutrition therapies Serves as a preceptor for dietetic technician affiliated programs and associated tasks as applicable Assists with administrative or clerical functions associated with food service operations Assists in related duties that support performance improvement activities for the service Conducts nutrient intake analysis and meal rounds Works collaboratively with interdisciplinary team members Completes test trays and tray studies Completes patient satisfaction surveys May perform other duties as assigned as appropriate for the grade and assignment and which are within the scope of the occupation Travel occasionally for training will be required Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. Experience and/or Education: Education. Completion of an associate's or higher degree program in Dietetic Technology , Dietetics or another related field of study that is accredited by ACEND. OR Experience. Completion of one (1) year of clinical experience in dietetics, and the possession of an active Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) certification. The experience must have been received after possession of the CDM certification. Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. English Language Proficiency. CDT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at the least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).Grade Determinations: Clinical Dietetic Technician, GS-7 Experience. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the lower grade. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. Knowledge in Medical Nutrition Therapy pertaining to completing nutrition assessments. Knowledge of food service operations. Skills in conducting nutrition intervention, patient interviewing, and nutrition counseling as part of the nutrition care process. Ability to organize, evaluate, and execute teaching plans to provide nutrition education for selected groups of patients and individuals. Ability to effectively communicate nutrition education and care plans with patients, family members, coworkers, internal customers, and external customers. Preferred Experience: Associates degree in Diet Technology or Bachelors degree in Dietetics 1 year experience in Diet Technology Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech may be required. Some lifting of trays, bending down, sitting, and standing for substantial periods of time. Education IMPORTANT: 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/. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for 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.
