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A dietetic internship director has full responsibility for administering all aspects of a VA-sponsored, accredited dietetic internship program which includes the overall planning, directing, and administering of the accredited post-baccalaureate degree dietetic internship program at a medical center, and ensures eligibility requirements and accreditation standards of ACEND are met. The individual serves as a consultant within NFS and with other facility health care staff regarding current nutrition and food service systems management issues, evaluating health care delivery to patients, and designing nutrition related research initiatives. The dietetic internship director provides professional and administrative guidance to dietetic interns and surveillance of all aspects of the program and is responsible for development of a performance evaluation system, selection or appointment of dietetic interns, identification of education and training needs, and performance issues. The individual coordinates and guides the staff dietitian participating in the clinical and administrative phases of the program.

The Dietetic Internship Director will be involved in the professional practice of dietetics in accordance with the guidance set forth in N&FS policies and procedures and VA regulations governing the practice of dietetics as well as uphold the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics.

- Serves as Hospital Liaison to the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).
- Communicates all ACEND standards, policies and procedures to Nutrition and Food Services.
- Maintains a file of communications.
- Submits documentation and information required by ACEND, including annual report, surveys, information about major program change, ongoing accreditation documents as required, etc.
- Plans and facilitates the ACEND accreditation site visits.
- Organizes and writes self-study for re-accreditation in accordance with requirements of the ACEND.
- Establishes the selection criteria for application to the DI Program.
- Seeks ongoing input from onsite Registered Dietitians and preceptors.
- Evaluates overall program efficiency and effectiveness.
- Communicates program changes in the program to interns and preceptors.
- Coordinates preceptor training and education.
- Participates in the orientation and training of new staff as necessary.
- Manages and Supervises Dietetic Internship (DI) Experiences.
- Develops short and long-range operational goals for the Dietetic Internship.
- Conducts regular meetings with preceptors to discuss program goals and objectives and any relevant issues.
- Works closely with other VHA Dietetic Internship Directors to coordinate educational and training efforts throughout VHA.
- Supports performance improvement activities for intern projects by participating in the development of nutritional care and evaluation criteria, collecting continuous quality improvement data, monitoring outcomes, and initiating corrective actions.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: TBD
Telework: Not Suitable
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Supervisory Probationary Period: May be required to perform a one year supervisory probation period.

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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.
English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).
Education and Supervised Practice: (1) The individual must have earned a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent and fulfilled each of the following criteria (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED):(a) Completed a didactic program in dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), formerly known as the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education (CADE);(b) Completed an ACEND accredited or approved supervised practice program. Supervised practice programs are post-baccalaureate degree programs that provide supervised practice experiences which meet the eligibility requirements and accreditation standards of ACEND, formally known as CADE. Completion of a coordinated program in dietetics fulfills the requirements of a supervised practice program. Time spent in a dietetic internship or supervised practice program does not qualify as creditable experience.(2) Individuals who have earned college and/or university degrees outside the United States and its territories also must have their transcripts evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service to determine if their degree is equivalent to a degree granted by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. Validation of a foreign degree does not eliminate the need for verification of completion of didactic program, dietetic internship, or coordinated program requirements. The completion of ACEND didactic program requirements and at least a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college/university or foreign equivalent are necessary for eligibility to enter an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.

Registration/Certification: All applicants 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). Advanced Level Practice Dietitians must possess a minimum of one advanced practice credential relevant to the area of practice, (e.g. Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC), Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition (CSR), Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition (CSG), Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), or Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO)). For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be registered with the CDR. YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR CDR REGISTRATION.

IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING:

GS-12 GRADE REQUIREMENTS Dietetic Internship Director:
Experience: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
Education: A master's degree or higher from an accredited university or college in the field of
dietetics or closely related field.

GS-12 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):
1. Ability to develop, maintain, and supervise a system of internal reviews and direct quality control
and performance improvement studies to assure compliance with various accrediting, regulatory, and
agency authorities.
2. Knowledge of the principles of program management and oversight required to develop program
goals and objectives, administer and monitor program, evaluate program outcomes/accomplishments, set
and redefine priorities, and implement effective solutions in processes/systems as needed.
3. Ability to act as a consultant for staff.
4. *Knowledge of human resources administration, including such functions as the ability to
interview and select qualified applicants, and monitor and evaluate performance.
5. *Ability to manage and establish program goals and objectives, plan and administer a program,
coordinate practice experience at affiliated sites, evaluate program accomplishments, redefine priorities,
solve problems, modify objectives, and review activities of preceptors and interns.
6. *Knowledge to design dietetic internship curriculum to meet accreditation requirements
established by the accrediting agency (ACEND) and VHA Office of Academic Affiliations.
7. In-depth knowledge of current practice in food service systems management, nutrition therapy,
community nutrition practice, and business/entrepreneurial dietetics with the ability to integrate learning
experiences in didactic and practice components of the internship.

Preferred Experience: Serv-Safe Certificate and prior food service experience.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary, but requires some walking, standing, bending, the carrying of light items such as books and papers.

References: VA Handbook 5005/80, Part II, Appendix G20. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.