Clarification from the agency

This position is ONLY open to current permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 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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The Dietetic Internship Director serves as a consultant within NFS and with other facility health care professionals regarding current nutrition and food service systems issues, evaluating health care delivery to patients, and designing nutrition related research or performance improvement initiatives. In accordance with ACEND® requirements, Dietetic Internship Directors in VA must be full-time employees. Dietetic Internship Directors spend the majority of time managing the internship program and associated activities. They may have ancillary responsibilities which contribute to the overall function and operation of NFS; however, those ancillary responsibilities will not compromise the ability to successfully manage the required internship program and activities.

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

- Develops, documents, tracks, and assesses program goals to ensure the program produces measurable results through evaluation of data and improved program outcomes and customer experience.
- Writes the self-study for re-accreditation.
- Facilitates the ACEND® site visit.
- Maintains up-to-date program information accessible through online sources.
- Coordinates program marketing events such as an intern open house, and outreach events.
- Executes the selection process for dietetic interns, maintaining all records as required by ACEND ®.
- Establishes an intern selection committee, selection criteria for application to the program and reviewing and evaluating all applications prior to selection.
- Plans and coordinates intern rotations, class schedules and outside seminars with preceptors, presenters, and community affiliations.
- Establishes, administers, maintains, and coordinates affiliations with community programs (local food bank; Women, Infants and Children; etc.) and/or with affiliated universities for the combined master's intern program curriculum.
- Coordinates maintenance of affiliation agreements between the VA facility and affiliated agencies.
- Resolves policy, program and project issues associated with combined master's program and outside affiliations.
- Coordinates preceptor training and ensures ongoing preceptor competency.
- Provides direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, and ongoing educational programs related to the dietetic internship program.
- Ensures timely completion of rotation evaluations.
- Meets with interns to ensure progress towards program completion. When issues arise, creates action plans that give the intern every opportunity available to meet the requirements for graduation.
- Issues the trainee verification statement of internship completion and maintain permanent records as required by ACEND®.
- May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignment.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday. 7:30am - 4:00pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm.
Telework: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD99524S

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:

• a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• b. 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.
• c. English Language Proficiency. Dietitian candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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: Dietitian (Dietetic Internship Director), GS-12.
(1) Experience: Three years of experience post registration.
(2) Education: Master's degree or higher from an accredited university or college.
(3) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Skill in utilizing data for program improvement to ensure compliance with various accrediting, regulatory and agency authorities.
(b) Ability to coordinate class schedules, training activities, seminars and supervised practice experience within the health care system and affiliated sites.
(c) Ability to implement all aspects of an internship program including developing program goals and objectives, curriculum and policies and procedures to ensure compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements.
(d) Ability to oversee the process for the selection of students for the internship program.
(e) Ability to evaluate progress towards meeting core competencies.

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

Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

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.