Supervisory Dietitian (Chief of Nutrition and Food Service)

Veterans Health Administration • Richland, WA

13d

About The Position

The Supervisory Dietitian serves as Chief of Nutrition and Food Service (NFS), providing leadership and guidance to coordinate clinical nutrition and food operations. The incumbent exercises supervisory and personnel-management authority, plans and assesses subordinate staff work, and serves as the technical advisor and subject matter expert for nutrition and food operations.

The Chief oversees the department’s human-resource functions, performance standards, staff development, budget and staffing requirements, strategic planning, policies and procedures, and regulatory compliance. The role advocates for resources with executive leadership and ensures NFS priorities align with medical-center, VISN, and national goals. It directs performance improvement, quality assurance, resource distribution, and operational planning, including initiatives involving patient-care delivery systems, reorganizations, space, and equipment.

The position ensures compliance with accrediting standards, VHA directives, medical-center policy, and applicable food and supply contracts. It also oversees security measures in NFS areas, supports dissemination of nutrition-related research and quality improvement, and promotes food-forward, Veteran-centric dining options. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is available for inclement weather only; this is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• Current Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietitian (RD) credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Knowledge of security measures in food operations to ensure patient and staff safety.
• Knowledge of business administration, including budgeting, contracting, and purchasing.
• Knowledge of organizational structure and its impact on program operations.
• Skill in strategic planning to develop goals, objectives, and action plans.
• Skill in written communication, including policy development and standard operating procedures.
• Skill in analyzing data to monitor progress toward improved and sustained outcomes.
• Ability to lead professionals, facilitate collaboration and organizational development, and establish and achieve strategic goals.
• Ability to oversee planning for new initiatives or projects involving patient-care delivery systems and system reorganizations.
• Ability to supervise subordinate staff by planning, organizing, delegating, directing, controlling, and reviewing activities and performance.
• Ability to negotiate.
• For supervisory assignments above the full-performance level, higher-level duties must be significant in scope, complexity, difficulty, and variety, and performed as a major duty at least 25% of the time.
• Spend at least 25% of time providing administrative and technical supervision to staff from both clinical nutrition and food operations sections.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for recruiting qualified citizens under VA policy.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Subject to background and security investigation and completion of online onboarding requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one-year or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience with supervision preferred.
• Experience in both food operations and clinical nutrition preferred.
• Ability to complete assignments with relative independence and minimal guidance, set work deadlines, and independently resolve most conflicts using judgment and interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all human-resource functions for the department and hold staff accountable for performance and conduct.
• Establish performance standards and evaluate employees’ overall performance.
• Define competency requirements, identify training and development needs, and take actions to maintain and enhance staff technical and leadership expertise.
• Develop budget and staffing requirements to manage organizational changes and meet national directives and objectives.
• Communicate and advocate with executive leadership for resources.
• Develop the NFS strategic plan and establish priorities aligned with medical-center, VISN, and national goals.
• Implement performance-improvement programs to improve the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of food and nutrition care.
• Develop and update policies and procedures and oversee regulatory compliance.
• Ensure compliance with accrediting bodies, standards, action items, VHA directives, and medical-center policies and procedures.
• Establish the department’s organizational structure and lines of authority.
• Oversee planning for new initiatives, patient-care delivery systems, system reorganizations, redesigned operational spaces, and equipment requirements.
• Ensure adherence to National Dietary Supplement and Subsistence Prime Vendor contracts.
• Designate the Contracting Officer Representative to negotiate purchase agreements for NFS contracts.
• Implement security measures in NFS areas to protect against theft, reduce food-terrorism risk, and maintain Veteran and staff safety.
• Disseminate nutrition-related research and quality-improvement information within the department and facility.
• Direct distribution of food, supply, and labor resources using benchmarks, delegating resource management as appropriate.
• Support and oversee facility-level NFS initiatives, participate in VISN and national initiatives, and coordinate with other service chiefs as needed.
• Evaluate NFS effectiveness through operational reviews, quality assurance, performance improvement, and benchmarks.
• Lead efforts to provide food-forward, Veteran-centric dining options.
• Perform other related duties appropriate to the grade and assignment.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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