Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all current, permanent employees of the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Department of Nutrition and Food Services (NFS).

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Primary Duties (but not limited to):

1. Provides clinical nutrition section specific leadership serving as professional and technical advisor to staff and other health care professionals.
2. Has oversight over HR staffing, employee relations and labor relations in Clinical Nutrition section.
3. Exercise a full range of supervisory and personnel management authorities and assume full responsibility in planning, directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff.
4. Establishes a training plan for the clinical section that is based on evidence-based nutrition.
5. Develops and leads clinical nutrition operations.
6. Establishes strategic goals and ensure priorities align with the strategic plan of the NFS department, VISN and national programs.
7. Leads performance improvement efforts within Clinical Nutrition section, acting on quality improvement data and plans.
8. Identifies and prioritizes problems, sets long and short-term goals, develops action plans and analyses data to evaluate progress to improve outcomes.
9. Develops and updates policies and procedures and the establishment and oversight of a system for regulatory compliance.
10. Solicits support and/or negotiate with facility managers to influence decision making and garner support to ensure clinical nutrition operations are a success.
11. Collaborates closely with the supervisory dietitians to cover the work in all NFS and execute the activities of the department.
12. May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignment.
13. The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Supervisory Dietitian, Chief, Nutrition and Food Services, who establishes objectives and department priorities.
14. The incumbent is expected to complete work assignments with relative independence and minimal guidance, personally setting deadlines for work completions. They assume responsibility in work assignments in accordance with regulations independently and resolve most conflicts by using considerable judgment and interpretation.
15. Work is reviewed to ensure that overall objectives of the position are met.

Work Schedule: The incumbent is expected to work a tour of duty most advantageous to the Veterans we serve and the department as a whole. This is typically M-F 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: This position is not eligible for telework
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: PD000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: Must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: Must have earned a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent in dietetics, food, nutrition, food service management, institution management, or related science. Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN). RDN and Registered Dietitian (RD) credentials are the same and both are qualifying. The difference between RDN and RD is in name only due to a change by the professional academy in 2014. In this standard, the term RDN will be used.
• English Language Proficiency: Dietitian candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. section 7403(f).
• 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 1, Chapter 4 of the VA Handbook will be followed when applying Veteran's preference.

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-13 Grade Level
Specialized Experience: Possess at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-12 closely related to the position being filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. Experience includes, but is not limited to: service as a supervisory dietitian, clinical support expert, integrating clinical functions with other sections of NFS, assessing, planning and evaluating clinical nutrition programs to ensure proper coordination between the delivery of nutrition services and the overall delivery of healthcare, and ensuring compliance with internal and external authorities.

In addition, you 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

References: Meets the qualification standards for the GS-13 Supervisory Dietitian (Food Operations) as defined by The Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (05), Recruitment and Placement Policy Service (059). Related Directive: VA Directive 5005, Staffing.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Physical demands do not exceed those of a typical office setting. There may be some walking, standing twisting, turning, sitting, pushing, bending, repetitive keyboarding, or carrying of light items. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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.