Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to current and permanent VA Wide employees, current and permanent federal employees of other agencies, and US citizens. Veterans preference does not apply to current VA/federal employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The incumbent performs duties with a high level of independence and demonstrates exceptional competence regarding clinical and administrative duties while functioning within the assigned Scope of Practice.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Gathers data and information to assist in the preparation of studies.
• Perform required quality control audits. May coordinate process improvement activities pertaining to food production and meal service.
• May coordinate HACCP program activities to include monitoring, collection and reporting of data, and conducting related trainings.
• Analyzes manpower and workload requirements in organizations.
• Modifies tray tickets, standing orders, supplements, and pertinent production/service computerized reports.
• Coordinates, develops, and maintains computer software files to support the function of Nutrition and Food Services (NFS).
• Uses available technology for data collection, reporting, training and other food service and production functions.
• Serves as the ServSafe instructor and/or proctor for NFS.
• May facilitate employee training on safe food handling and other related topics.
• May coordinate activities and shadowing experiences for dietetic interns, as applicable.
• May conduct or assist with inspections of halfway homes, residential care homes and other patient care activities under supervision and dependent on facility needs.
• Completes patient satisfaction surveys and assists with patient satisfaction efforts within NFS.
• Collaborates with food service and production supervisors, administrative and clinical dietitians to enhance overall Veteran satisfaction with meal service.
• May collect nutritionally relevant data from medical record, patient, or caretaker to assist RDN with nutrition plan of care.
• Assist with administrative or clerical functions associated with clinical or food service functions.
• Assists with time keeping responsibilities for the department.
• May assist with teaching classes and food preparation and cleanup as assigned by the RDN.
• May modify menus or diet orders under the oversight of the RDN.
• May perform other duties as assigned as appropriate for the grade and assignment and which are within the scope of the occupation.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; tours available include 7:30-4:00 8:00-4:30
Telework: Ad-hoc as determined by the Supervisor.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 99304

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.
• Basic Education Requirement: successfully completed a course of study in an accredited college leading to an associate's degree in Dietetic Technology with an emphasis in Nutrition Care or the equivalent post-secondary education. At least 12 semester hours in subjects related to the position.
• Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).
• Education must have included instruction in nutrition care/diet therapy, the natural sciences (e.g. anatomy, physiology, biochemistry), social sciences (e.g. psychology, sociology), food sciences, medical terminology, communications, and education. In addition, education must have included supervised field experience in a hospital or similar clinical setting. Note: Copies of pertinent transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application.

Education will not be credited without documentation. An associate's degree in Dietetic Technology(Nutrition Care) from a program approved by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) is preferred.

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: GS-08

GS-08 Experience. One year of specialized experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled.

In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following:
(a) Knowledge in food safety.
(b) Skill in communicating verbally and in writing with various populations and interdisciplinary team members.
(c) Skill in running various reports and maintaining software files from various computer systems.
(d) Skill in performing quality control audits pertaining to food production and meal service.
(e) Ability to coordinate program specific operations or initiatives for process improvement.

Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must be of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. At the advanced level, the Advanced CDT (Administrative) performs required food production, service quality control audits and Hazards Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) monitoring in conjunction with Food Production/service staff. The Advanced CDT (Administrative) provides clerical, assistant, or technician level support from within an administrative office. The employee gathers data and information to assist in the preparation of studies and analyses of manpower and workload requirements in organizations. This employee will modify tray tickets, standing orders, supplements, and pertinent production/service computerized reports. The Advanced CDT (Administrative) coordinates, develops, and maintains computer software files to support the functions of Nutrition and Food Services Department. The employee serves as the Serv Safe Instructor for the Nutrition and Food Service Department. This employee can support other areas that host events involving outside food sources. The employee may coordinate activities for dietetic technician interns, as applicable. This employee may also conduct inspections, or assist with inspections of halfway homes, residential care homes, and other patient care activities under supervision and dependent on the facility needs

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

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. Current permanent other VA employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4. All other applicants.

Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies.

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.