Summary The Assistant Chief Clinical Nutrition (Dietitian) for Nutrition and Food Services shares with the Service Chief full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of NFS operations including, the planning, development, organization, direction, management, supervision, control, and implementation and evaluation programs for the service. Responsibilities Primary Duties (but not limited to): Provides clinical nutrition section specific leadership serving as professional and technical advisor to staff and other health care professionals. Has oversight over HR staffing, employee relations and labor relations in Clinical Nutrition section. Exercises a full range of supervisory and personnel management authorities and assumes full responsibility in planning, directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff. Establishes a training plan for the clinical section that is based on evidence based nutrition. Develops and leads clinical nutrition operations. Establishes strategic goals and ensure priorities align with the strategic plan of the NFS department, VISN and national programs. Leads performance improvement efforts within Clinical Nutrition section, acting on quality improvement data and plans. Identifies and prioritizes problems, sets long and short-term goals, develops action plans and analyses data to evaluate progress to improve outcomes. Develops and updates policies and procedures and the establishment and oversight of a system for regulatory compliance. Solicits support and/or negotiate with facility managers to influence decision making and garner support to ensure clinical nutrition operations are a success. Collaborates closely with the supervisory dietitians to cover the work in all NFS and execute the activities of the department. May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignment. The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Supervisory Dietitian, Chief, Nutrition and Food Services, who establishes objectives and department priorities. The incumbent is expected to complete work assignments with relative independence and minimal guidance, personally setting the deadlines for work completions. They assume responsibility in work assignments in accordance with regulations and independently and resolves most conflicts by using considerable judgment and interpretation. 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 8-4:30pm, 7:30-4:00pm, or 8:30-5:00pm. Telework: AD-HOC (Employees who telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term basis) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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 and maintain CDT physical readiness. 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 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 15 days of the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States. 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 to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 and fulfilled each of the following criteria: 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)). Documentation 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. 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, and skill in applying, the theories and practices of clinical nutrition and/or food service systems management sufficient to resolve complex, controversial, or precedent-setting matters. Demonstrated skill in making decisions on problems presented by subordinate supervisors, team leaders, or other personnel. Skill and ability to effectively communicate and advise senior management officials. Knowledge required to serve as a recognized expert on the theories and practices of clinical nutrition and/or food service systems management to provide authoritative advice and coordination of nutrition care programs and resolve complex, controversial, or precedent-setting matters. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations Knowledge of clinical nutrition and practices of nutrition care sufficient to direct the clinical nutrition section, including community based outpatient clinics, and the ability to coordinate clinical nutrition needs of patients with the food service systems section. Knowledge of the principles of management required to assist in establishing program goals and objectives, develop budgets to plan and manage a program, coordinate associated activities, evaluate program accomplishments, redefine priorities, and modify objectives. *Ability to manage/supervise, i.e., plan, organize, delegate, direct, control, and review the activities of groups of subordinates that have diverse functions. Ability to assess qualifications, abilities and continuing education needs of staff and determine appropriate resources to meet those needs. 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. References: Meets the qualification standards for the GS-13 Supervisory Dietitian (Clinical Nutrition) as defined in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G20, GS-0630. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.