Health Technician (Dietetic) -Nutrition and Food Service Ambassador

Veterans Health Administration • Asheville, NC

17d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in Nutrition and Food Service at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina. The Health Technician serves as a Nutrition Communication Center Associate, providing administrative and customer service support for the VA hospital food service program. The role handles patient meal service orders, supports meal and nourishment delivery, and provides information about therapeutic diets. The position is not virtual. Work schedules include 6:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., 6:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m., or 10:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and meet the GS-5 qualifications through specialized experience, qualifying education, or a combination of both. A one-year probationary period is required. Other employment conditions include background and security investigation, a pre-employment drug test for tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions, and participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program for VA health care personnel.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• For GS-5 qualification, either at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4, a qualifying four-year bachelor's course of study with a major or at least 24 semester hours in directly related subjects, or a qualifying combination of post-high-school education and specialized experience.
• Specialized experience, when used to qualify, includes food service work in a hospital or long-term healthcare facility; knowledge of tray assembly procedures; use of dietetics software; familiarity with regular and modified diets; assisting with food selections; following verbal and written instructions; and using computer equipment, phone systems, and printers.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and good customer service.
• Complete the required application steps, including an online assessment.
• Tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Selected applicants must complete background/security investigation and online onboarding requirements and provide acceptable identification for employment verification.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period; continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• If qualifying based on education, submit transcripts; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of dietary restrictions.

Responsibilities

• Route modified diets and combinations of diet modifications using commercial off-the-shelf dietetics software.
• Handle patient meal service orders in person and by phone.
• Interact with Veterans, dietitians, nursing staff, and other medical center employees.
• Receive patient meal orders and preferences, as well as meal and nourishment requests from nursing, clinical staff, and other interdisciplinary team members.
• Take actions within the position’s authority to maximize patient satisfaction with meal service.
• Complete select and non-select menus as required.
• Retrieve computerized information to support tray and nourishment assembly and meal delivery, including standing orders, nourishment labels, and tabulated recipe lists.
• Provide patients, guests, and nursing staff with information and education about local facility therapeutic diets.
• Assist patients in selecting foods appropriate to their individual diets.
• Perform clerical and administrative duties in support of Nutrition and Food Service.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Potential credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service toward the annual leave accrual rate, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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