Summary The Supervisory Dietitian (Food Operations) are experts in food-focused nutrition and provide supervision of a complex Veteran-Centric food operation which consists of four distinct sections (Informatics, Food Service, Production and Nutrition Communications Center). They are an essential part of the NFS executive leadership team. They provide professional and management support to the department and continuously strive to increase patient satisfaction and improve veteran experience. Responsibilities The Supervisory Dietitian (Food Operations) is responsible for ensuring compliance with internal and external regulatory authorities while maintaining a "food forward" and Veteran-Centric focus with conventional cooking, convenience cooking, advance food preparation and delivery, room service, or a combination of food production and service modalities. Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: Provides food-operations-specific leadership, serving as professional and technical advisor to staff and other health care professionals. Has oversight over HR staffing, employee relations and labor relations in Food Service Operations. Exercises a full range of supervisory and personnel management authorities and responsibilities in planning, directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff. Establishes a training plan for the food operations section. Develops and leads food operations. Establishes strategic goals and ensures priorities align with the strategic plan of the NFS department, VISN and national programs. Leads the continuous quality improvement effort in Food Service Operations. Identifies and prioritizes problems, sets long and short-term goals, develops action plans and analyses data to evaluate progress to improve outcomes. Develops and updates policies and procedures and establishes and oversees a system for regulatory compliance. Coordinates food service operation policies and procedures with clinical nutrition management, nursing and other services, as applicable. Manages the budget and other resources, anticipating future trends and inflation, new service opportunities, recommendations for growth, efficiencies and strategic efforts are factored into resource requests and brought to the Chief. Directs staff in management of contracts, subsistence, supply purchasing for NFS and submits reports to the NFS Chief. Solicits support and/or negotiates with facility managers to influence decisions to support food operations section success. Works closely with the Supervisory Dietitians to support the department, cover the work within NFS and execute the activities of the department. May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignment. Supervisory Controls: The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Supervisory Dietitian, Chief, Nutrition and Food Services, who establishes objectives and department priorities. The incumbent is expected to complete work assignments with relative independence and minimal guidance, personally setting the deadlines for completion of work. Assumes responsibility in work assignments in accordance with regulations and independently resolves most conflicts by using considerable judgment and interpretation. Work is reviewed to ensure that overall objectives of the position are met. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD99515-S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation/Recruitment incentive(s) May Be Authorized 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. Registration: All applicants must hold the RDN credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) the credentialing agency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Note: Applicants who hold the RDN credential have met the education requirement (e.g. bachelor's degree or higher) of CDR, as such this occupation is considered professional and scientific with a positive education requirement and the procedures in Part I, Chapter 4 of this Handbook will be followed when applying Veteran's preference. Loss of Credential: In collaboration with HR Office staff, management officials must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain the required registration/certification of duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation and/or assignment, which may also result in separation from 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. The following provisions apply to employees who do not meet all the qualification requirements: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in a supervisory or managerial position. (2) Employees must meet the assignment-specific certification/education requirements to be placed in Dietitian (Advanced Level Practice) or Dietitian (Dietetic Internship Director) assignments. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or registration/certification that meet all the qualification standard's basic or assignment-specific requirements must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation/assignment. (4) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re- entry in the occupation Current VHA Dietitians that qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision may not be promoted to a higher grade if they do not meet the current RDN/RD requirements. Grade Determinations: Supervisory Dietitian (Food Operations), GS-13. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of business administration practices such as budget planning, contracting and food and supply purchasing to operate a food service program successfully. Skill in written communication including policy development and standard operating procedures. Skill in strategic planning to develop goals, objectives and action plans. Skill in analyzing data to monitor progress towards improving and sustaining outcomes. Ability to supervise subordinate staff (i.e., plan organize, delegate, direct, control and review activities and performance). Ability to negotiate. Specialized Experience. This Supervisory Dietitian (Food Operations) position is above the full performance level; the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, variety and be performed by the incumbent as a major duty at least 25% of the time. and must spend 25% or more of their time providing administrative and technical supervision over staff who are at the full performance level or below. At least one year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower grade. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: serves as professional and technical advisor to staff and other health care professionals and represents the food operations section on projects, committees and/or workgroups. Supervises wage system positions including at least a seventeen (17) supervisor or leader and other wage grade positions. Provides food service systems-specific leadership and exercise a full range of supervisory and personnel management authorities and responsibilities in planning, directing and assessing the work and competence of subordinate staff. Provides administrative management and direction of the Food Operations Section. Develops procedures and guidelines for food operations, monitor compliance with regulatory standards, policies and procedures and lead the action planning process to attain goals and resolve deficiencies. Implements the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point program, ensuring that requisitioning, receipt/storage, preparation and service of food conforms to quality/quantity standards. Evaluates food operations to ensure proper allocation of resources, devise solutions and implement action plans to resolve issues and meet service goals and objectives, leading to improved patient satisfaction and quality food operations. Ensures menus meet nutritional and budgetary requirements and assess technological equipment innovations and review specifications, making recommendations for equipment purchases. Builds and implement contingency plans within the section, ensuring continuity of food operations during internal and external emergencies and unusual circumstances. Manages emergency feeding cache and ensure menus and supplies meet facility and TJC requirements. Executes the training plan for the food operations section and ensure evidence-based guidelines are integrated into food operations. Collaborates closely with the clinical nutrition section to enhance the Veteran's dining experience and support the strategic goals of the clinical nutrition section. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: In Accordance With VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Education ACEND accredited programs are located on the ACEND website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory. 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.
