Summary Clinical Dietetic Technicians (CDTs) are paraprofessionals who assist and support Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) in providing nutrition care to patients. Incumbent serves in the Clinical Nutrition section at Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center with responsibility for providing a variety of technical and support functions to the professional Dietitian requiring the application of special skills and knowledge of diet therapy. Responsibilities The duties of the Clinical Dietetic Technician include, but are not limited to: Interviewing patients and using pre-established criteria to identify patients at nutritional risk. Gathering information from, and documenting in the medical record. Developing nutritional care plans for patients at an appropriate level of care. Monitoring and assisting in the evaluation of food intake. Adjusting meal patterns and nourishments for selected patients to accommodate preferences and tolerances. Counseling selected patients about their prescribed diets. Teaching selected classes for groups of patients. Work Schedule: 6am-2:30pm or 10:30am-7:00pm. Schedule may include holidays and weekends. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 99306-FS and 99307-FS Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements 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. 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. 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 Basic Requirements: 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). Experience and/or Education: Education: Completion of an associate's or higher degree program in Dietetic Technology, Dietetics or another related field of study that is accredited by ACEND®. A list of ACEND® accredited programs are located on the ACEND® website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory (https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/program-directory). OR Experience: Completion of one (1) year of clinical experience in dietetics, and the possession of an active Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) certification. The experience must have been received after possession of the CDM certification. OR Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. 3. 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 licensure/ /registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. 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 to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placements. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade determining criteria for appointments at the grade levels specified: Clinical Dietetic Technician, GS-05. Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in CDT entry-level developmental positions. It is expected that the CDT receives guidance from higher-level staff members or supervisors and require frequent and direct supervision. Clinical Dietetic Technician, GS-06: Experience. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade. NOTE: Possession of the Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) credential can be substituted for the one year of specialized experience. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience or certification requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of nutrition screening process. Knowledge of programs and systems used to manage diverse patient diet orders and preferences. Skill in conducting diet education to selected groups of patients and individuals. Ability to work collaboratively with patients and coworkers to provide nutrition care. 3. Assignment: Employees at this grade level serve in CDT developmental positions. It is expected that the CDT receives guidance from higher- level staff members or supervisors and requires minimal supervision. The CDT may modify diet orders for texture/consistency, tolerance, and supplemental feedings as appropriate. The CDT assists the RDN with screening and evaluation of nutrition care needs of patients, development of nutritional care plans including nutrition interventions, and diet counseling outlined by the RDN. The incumbent may assist in related duties that support performance improvement activities for the service. Clinical Dietetic Technician, GS-07: Experience. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience or certification requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge in Medical Nutrition Therapy pertaining to completing nutrition assessments. Knowledge of food service operations. Skill in conducting nutrition intervention, patient interviewing, and nutrition counseling as part of the nutrition care process. Ability to organize, evaluate, and execute teaching plans to provide nutrition education for selected groups of patients and individuals. Ability to effectively communicate nutrition education and care plans with patients, family members, coworkers, internal customers, and external customers. 3. Assignment: Employees at this grade level serve as full performance level CDTs. They are knowledgeable of a variety of complex diet orders. The CDT will conduct screening and evaluation of nutrition care needs of patients, development of nutritional care plans including nutrition interventions, and diet counseling in collaboration with the RDN. The employee makes recommendations for adjustments to improve patient's recovery and/or teaching plan, evaluates (instruction, demonstration, facilitation) and works collaboratively with the patient and family to develop strategies to meet their learning needs. The CDT educates patients or employees, in groups or individually, and/or those accompanying the patient regarding medical nutrition therapies. The employee serves as a preceptor for dietetic technician affiliated programs and associated tasks as applicable. The CDT assists with administrative or clerical functions associated with food service operations. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-07. Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. Some lifting of trays, bending down, sitting, and standing for substantial periods of time. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. 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. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.