Clarification from the agency

ALL U.S. CITIZENS NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Supervisory Dietitian (Chief) duties includes, but are not limited to the following:

• Oversees all human resource functions for the department. Holds staff accountable for performance and conduct.
• Establishes performance standards and evaluate overall performance of employees
• Defines competency requirements, identifies developmental and training needs and takes necessary actions to ensure subordinate personnel maintain and enhance technical and leadership expertise.
• Develops budget and staffing requirements to manage organizational changes and ensure national directives and goals/objectives are met.
• Communicates and advocates with executive leadership for resources.
• Develops the NFS strategic plan establishing service priorities which address the goals and strategic direction of the medical center, VISN and national programs.
• Implements a performance improvement program to continually improve delivery of quality, safe and cost-effective food and nutrition care to all patients/residents.
• Develops and updates policies and procedures, establishes, and oversees a system for regulatory compliance. - Ensures NFS compliance with accrediting bodies, standards, and action items.
• Establishes the department organizational structure, defining the lines of authority essential to carry out the mission of the service.
• Responsible for accomplishing priorities and ensuring compliance with VHA directives and medical center policy and procedures.
• Oversees the planning of new endeavors addressing patient care delivery systems and system reorganizations for new or redesigned operational space, equipment requirements, etc. - Ensures adherence to the National Dietary Supplement and Subsistence Prime Vendor contracts.
• Designates the Contracting Officer Representative to negotiate purchase agreements for NFS contracts.
• Implements security measures in all NFS areas to protect against theft, reduce the risk of food terrorism and maintain Veteran and staff safety.
• Ensures the dissemination of nutrition related research and quality improvement within the department and facility.
• Directs resource distribution for food, supply, and labor costs, focusing on benchmarks, delegating resource management to others as appropriate.
• Performs other related duties which are appropriate for this grade and assignment.
• Driving license required.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 000000

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 trial period.
• 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).

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.
• English Language Proficiency. Dietitian candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Registration.(1) 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.(2) Exception for Dietitians who do not possess the RDN credential.(a) Non-credentialed Dietitians who meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below, but do not possess the RDN credential, may be given a temporary full-time appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2).

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).

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 Federal employees-Please provide most recent SF-50

Grade Determinations: Supervisory Dietitian, GS-14

Experience: Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• (a) Knowledge of security measures within food operations to ensure patient and staff safety.
• (b) Knowledge of organizational structure to assess impact on program operations.
• (c) Skill in ensuring regulatory requirements are met.
• (d) Skill in leading a diverse group of professionals to facilitate collaboration and organizational development.
• (e) Skill in leading managers to establish strategic goals.
• (f) Ability to oversee the planning of new initiatives addressing patient care delivery systems and system reorganizations.
• (g) Ability to lead efforts in business administration to include budgeting, contracting and purchasing.

Preferred Experience: Experience managing people and clinical nutrition and food operations.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Driving is required for this position.

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, resume, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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.