Supervisory Dietitian - Chief, Nutrition and Food Services - NTE 1 year

Veterans Health Administration • Washington, DC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This Supervisory Dietitian - Chief, Nutrition and Food Services is a temporary opportunity not to exceed 1 year and could end at any time if the position is filled on a permanent basis. The Supervisory Dietitian serves as Chief, Nutrition and Food Services at the Washington DC VA Medical Center for a complex department and has administrative and technical supervision over GS-13 level staff from both clinical nutrition and food operations and nutrition and food administrative staff. The incumbent is expected to complete work assignments with relative independence and minimal guidance. Assumes responsibility in work assignments in accordance with regulations and independently resolves most conflicts by using considerable judgment and interpretation.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietitian (RD) - 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).
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-13).
• Knowledge of business administration practices such as budget planning, contracting and food and supply purchasing to operate a food service program successfully.
• Skill in written communication including policy development and standard operating procedure.
• Skill in strategic planning to develop goals, objectives and action plans.
• Skill in analyzing data to monitor progress towards improving and sustaining outcomes.
• Ability to supervise subordinate staff (i.e., plan, organize, delegate, direct, control and review activities and performance).
• Ability to negotiate.
• Supervise a complex Veteran-Centric food operation consisting of four distinct sections (Informatics, Food Service, Production and NCC).
• Make decisions based on intricate and unrelated information and assumptions from inconclusive or variable data in all aspects of food operations.
• Knowledge of security measures within food operations to ensure patient and staff safety.
• Knowledge of organizational structure to assess impact on program operations.
• Skill in ensuring regulatory requirements are met.
• Skill in leading a group of professionals to facilitate collaboration and organizational development.
• Skill in leading managers to establish strategic goals.
• Ability to oversee the planning of new initiatives addressing patient care delivery systems and system reorganizations.
• Ability to lead efforts in business administration to include budgeting, contracting and purchasing.
• The incumbent must spend 25% or more of their time providing administrative and technical supervision over administrative staff who support NFS operations and both a GS-13 Supervisory Dietitian (Food Operations) and GS-13 Supervisory Dietitian (Clinical Nutrition).
• Chief NFS provides leadership and guidance, with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, to ensure the diverse activities of the department are closely coordinated, integrating clinical nutrition and food operations.
• They exercise a full range of supervisory and personnel management authorities with responsibilities in planning, directing and assessing the work of supervisors and subordinate staff.
• Chief NFS establishes performance standards and evaluates overall performance of employees, defines competency requirements, identifies developmental and training needs and takes necessary actions.
• They serve as technical advisors and subject matter experts in nutrition and food operations.
• They designate the Contracting Officer Representative to negotiate purchase agreements for NFS contracts.
• Chief NFS actively supports, promotes and oversees the implementation of NFS initiatives at the facility level and engages other service chiefs as needed to ensure success.
• They participate in VISN and National level NFS initiatives and are responsible for all action items for NFS.
• Chief NFS evaluates overall NFS effectiveness through the review of operations, quality assurance, performance improvement and benchmarks, making decisions based on intricate and unrelated items of information from inconclusive or variable data.
• They facilitate and support NFS participation in performance improvement studies, ensuring the dissemination of nutrition-related research and quality improvement within the department and facility.
• Chief NFS leads efforts to provide food-forward, Veteran-centric dining options.
• They implement security measures in all NFS areas to protect against theft, reduce the risk of food terrorism and maintain Veteran and staff safety.

Responsibilities

• Exercise a full range of supervisory and personnel management authorities with responsibilities in planning, directing, and assessing work of supervisors and subordinate staff.
• Serves as a technical advisor and subject matter expert in nutrition and food operations.
• Actively support, promote, and oversee the implementation of Nutrition and Food Service at the facility level.
• Nutrition and Food Service Chiefs participate in VISN and National level NFS initiatives.
• Oversees all Human Resource functions for the department.
• Holds staff accountable for performance and conduct
• Establish performance standards and evaluate overall performance of employees
• Defines competency requirements, identifying developmental and training needs and takes necessary actions
• Develop budget and staffing requirements to manage organizational changes and ensure national directives and goals are met
• Communicates and advocates with executive leadership for resources
• Develops the NFS strategic plan establishing service priorities which address the goals and strategic direction of the Medical Center, VISN and National Programs
• Implements a performance improvement program to continually improve delivery of quality, safe and cost effective food and nutrition care to all patients/residents
• Develops and updates policies and procedures, establishes, and oversees a system for regulatory compliance
• Ensures adherence to the National Dietary Supplement and Subsistence Prime Vendor contracts
• May perform other related duties which are appropriate for this grade and assignment
• Provides food-operations-specific leadership and exercise a full range of supervisory and personnel management authorities and responsibilities in planning, directing and assessing the work of subordinate staff.
• Ensures 27 subordinate personnel maintain and enhance technical and leadership expertise.
• Develops budget and staffing requirements to manage organizational changes and ensure national directives and goals/objectives are met.
• Communicates and advocates with executive leadership for resources.
• Develops the NFS strategic plan establishing service priorities that address the goals and strategic direction of the medical center, VISN and national programs.
• Responsible for accomplishing priorities and ensuring compliance with VHA directives and medical center policy and procedures.
• Oversees planning endeavors addressing patient care delivery systems and system reorganizations for new or redesigned operational space, equipment requirements, etc.
• Designates the Contracting Officer Representative to negotiate purchase agreements for NFS contracts.
• Engages other service chiefs as needed to ensure success.
• Responsible for all action items for NFS.
• Evaluates overall NFS effectiveness through the review of operations, quality assurance, performance improvement and benchmarks, making decisions based on intricate and unrelated items of information from inconclusive or variable data.
• Facilitates and supports NFS participation in performance improvement studies, ensuring the dissemination of nutrition-related research and quality improvement within the department and facility.
• Leads efforts to provide food-forward, Veteran-centric dining options.
• Implements security measures in all NFS areas to protect against theft, reduce the risk of food terrorism and maintain Veteran and staff safety.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed