Dietitian (Clinical)

Veterans Health Administration • Battle Creek, MI

24d • Onsite

About The Position

Serve as the nutrition expert for Veterans by delivering evidence-based medical nutrition therapy, conducting comprehensive assessments, and developing personalized care plans. Partner with interdisciplinary teams, caregivers, and community resources to improve health outcomes, promote whole health, and enhance the Veteran experience through high-quality nutrition care.

The position provides clinical nutrition services to Veterans with acute, chronic, and complex medical conditions. The Dietitian conducts assessments using the Nutrition Care Process, develops and evaluates individualized Medical Nutrition Therapy plans, provides education and counseling, documents care in the electronic health record, and collaborates with other healthcare professionals. The role also supports telehealth services, quality improvement activities, compliance with applicable policies and standards, and collaboration with Nutrition and Food Service operations to improve the Veteran dining experience.

Applicants with Long Term Care experience will be considered the most qualified. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position. The full performance level is GS-11.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Must be registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietitian (RD), except for eligible GS-07 and GS-09 temporary appointments described in the announcement.
• For the stated GS-07 and GS-09 exception, non-credentialed Dietitians must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an appropriately accredited institution and have completed an ACEND-accredited experiential or supervised practice program with a verification statement establishing eligibility to take the CDR registration exam.
• For GS-09, in addition to the basic requirements, must have at least one year of experience equivalent to GS-07 or a master's degree in dietetics or a closely related field. Experience or education must demonstrate the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-11, in addition to the basic requirements, must have at least one year of experience as an RDN/RD equivalent to GS-09 and demonstrate the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must be subject to a background/security investigation and complete the required online onboarding process and application requirements.
• Must participate in the Department of Veterans Affairs seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and from an accredited institution. Foreign education must meet the specified equivalency requirements and include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency when required.

Nice To Haves

• Long Term Care experience; applicants with this experience will be considered the most qualified.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutrition Care Process, including nutrition-focused physical examinations, to identify nutrition-related problems and determine malnutrition risk or status.
• Develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate individualized Medical Nutrition Therapy plans for Veterans with acute, chronic, and complex medical conditions, modifying interventions as needed to achieve positive outcomes.
• Calculate nutritional requirements and prescribe dietary modifications, considering nutrient needs, food-drug interactions, and therapeutic diet restrictions.
• Identify Veterans who may require nutrition support and recommend interventions in collaboration with physicians, nursing staff, and other healthcare professionals.
• Document nutrition assessments, diagnoses, interventions, monitoring, and evaluation activities in the electronic health record using established standards and formats.
• Provide individualized and group nutrition education and counseling using evidence-based strategies and Veteran-centered approaches.
• Participate in interdisciplinary healthcare teams to support comprehensive treatment planning and continuity of care.
• Use telehealth and virtual care technologies to improve access to clinical nutrition services.
• Maintain workload productivity standards, accurate records, and required reports in accordance with facility and agency requirements.
• Support quality and performance improvement initiatives by collecting, analyzing, and reporting data to enhance nutrition care and patient outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with Veterans Health Administration policies, professional standards, accrediting body requirements, and applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Collaborate with Nutrition and Food Service operations to improve the Veteran dining experience and satisfaction with food and nutrition services.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees and their families.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level