Dietitian

Indian Health Service • Whiteriver, AZ

6d

About The Position

The Indian Health Service is hiring a Registered Dietitian to provide culturally centered nutrition care in Native communities. The role provides medical nutrition therapy, wellness education, and chronic disease prevention services in collaboration with an interdisciplinary healthcare team. The position focuses on improving health outcomes and advancing health equity.

The dietitian assesses patients’ nutritional status and develops, implements, and monitors nutrition care plans based on physician diet prescriptions, nutritional assessments, and age-specific needs. The role also provides nutrition education to individuals and families, documents significant changes in nutritional status, and contributes to long-range plans for nutrition and dietetic services for ambulatory patients and their families.

The announcement describes GS-11 and GS-12 qualification paths and states that the position has promotion potential to GS-12. IHS dietitians must possess and maintain current registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration. A REAL ID-compliant state-issued identification document will be required when applicable beginning May 7, 2025.

Requirements

• Meet one of the stated basic requirements: an eligible accredited bachelor’s or higher degree in dietetics, food, nutrition, food service management, institution management, or related science; an approved coordinated undergraduate program, internship, or other clinical component; qualifying current employment in occupational series 0630 as of September 2017; or professional registration as an RD or RDN.
• Possess and maintain current registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration; provide proof of current registration with the application.
• For GS-11, meet the stated qualification through three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, or a qualifying combination of graduate education and specialized experience.
• For GS-12, demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11, including responsibility for planning, coordinating, administering, and evaluating a comprehensive Nutrition and Dietetics Program.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Successfully pass E-Verify employment verification and a federal background investigation; complete required background investigation forms within five calendar days of issuance.
• Meet the financial suitability review requirements and satisfy legal financial obligations.
• Provide two valid forms of identification before appointment; any state-issued ID or driver’s license must be REAL ID-compliant.
• Set up direct deposit.
• Competitive-service merit promotion candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements; the announcement states one year at the next lower grade. Time-in-grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan.
• Meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.
• Submit transcripts or course information when using education to substitute for experience; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
• The position requires contact or control over Indian children and is subject to the Public Law 101-630 suitability screening concerning certain crimes.
• A selectee may be subject to a probationary period.

Responsibilities

• Assess nutritional status and plan appropriate nutrition therapy for various disease states and disease prevention.
• Develop, implement, and monitor nutritional care plans based on physician diet prescriptions, nutritional assessments, and age-specific needs.
• Provide nutritional education to individuals and families to help patients achieve defined outcomes.
• Document significant changes in patients’ nutritional status.
• Contribute to long-range plans and objectives for nutrition and dietetic services needed by ambulatory patients and their families.
• Collaborate with other healthcare team members on patient nutritional care.
• At the GS-12 level, plan, coordinate, administer, and evaluate a comprehensive Nutrition and Dietetics Program.

Benefits

• Federal annual leave accrual of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period, depending on years of federal service.
• IHS may offer newly appointed federal employees credit for directly related previous non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized, with at least a one-year service agreement required.

What This Job Offers

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