Dietitian (Dietetic Internship Director/Inpatient Clinical Nutrition Manager)

Summary

The position serves as both the Dietetic Internship Director and Inpatient Clinical Nutrition Manager. This individual is fully responsible for administering all aspects of an accredited dietetic internship program, including the overall planning, directing, and oversight of supervised practice for dietetic interns. Oversees daily program operations, ensuring that education, curriculum, policies, and procedures comply with ACEND® requirements and align with Allied Health Trainee regulations.

Duties

• This position carries dual responsibilities as both the Dietetic Internship Program Director and the Inpatient Clinical Nutrition Manager.
• The incumbent oversees the daily operations of the dietetic internship program and ensures that education, curriculum, policies, and procedures are compliant with ACEND® requirements and compatible with regulations and procedures for Allied Health Trainees as set forth by the VA Office of Academic Affairs (OAA).
• The incumbent also serves as a consultant within Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) and with other facility health care professionals on current nutrition systems issues, including evaluating health care delivery to patients and designing nutrition-related research or performance improvement initiatives.
• Develops, documents, tracks, and assesses program goals to ensure measurable results through evaluation of data, improved program outcomes, and enhanced customer experience.
• Writes the self-study for re-accreditation and facilitates the ACEND® site visit.
• Maintains up-to-date program information accessible through online sources.
• Coordinates program marketing events, including intern open houses and community outreach events.
• Executes the intern selection process, including establishing a selection committee, defining selection criteria, and reviewing and evaluating all applications; maintains all records as required by ACEND®.
• Plans and coordinates rotations, class schedules, and outside seminars with preceptors, presenters, and community affiliations for cohorts of three (3) dietetic interns per year.
• Establishes, administers, maintains, and coordinates affiliations with community programs.
• Coordinates and maintains affiliation agreements between the VA facility and affiliated agencies.
• Provides direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, and ongoing educational programs related to the dietetic internship for interns and preceptors.
• Ensures timely completion of rotation evaluations.
• Meets regularly with interns to monitor progress toward program completion; develops action plans when issues arise to give interns every opportunity to meet graduation requirements.
• Issues trainee verification statements of internship completion and maintains permanent records as required by ACEND®.
• May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignment.
• Inpatient Clinical Nutrition Manager Serves as a professional and technical advisor to staff and other health care professionals.
• Represents the Clinical Nutrition Section on projects, committees, and/or workgroups within the department and facility.
• Collaborates with other managers to negotiate and/or make decisions on NFS-related matters affecting clinical operations.
• Exercises a full range of supervisory and personnel management authorities and responsibilities for the Inpatient Clinical Nutrition Section, including planning, directing, and assessing the work and competence of three (3) subordinate staff.
• Develops procedures and guidelines for acute care clinical operations and monitors compliance with regulatory standards, policies, and procedures.
• Participates in performance improvement efforts within the Clinical Nutrition Section; acts on quality improvement data and leads action planning to attain goals and resolve deficiencies.
• Identifies and prioritizes problems; sets long- and short-term goals and establishes action plans for the clinical section and nutrition programs.
• Executes the training plan for the clinical section and ensures staff remain current on advances and changes in medical nutrition therapy; orients and trains employees on Clinical Nutrition policies and procedures and assists with new employee onboarding.
• Ensures evidence-based guidelines are integrated into clinical practice and that all veteran education materials are grounded in current literature and research.
• Analyzes data to recommend the allocation of resources (e.g., event capture).
• May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignment.
• The majority of time is spent managing the internship program and its associated activities.
• Ancillary responsibilities that contribute to the overall function and operation of NFS may be assigned; however, those responsibilities will not compromise the incumbent’s ability to successfully manage the internship program.
• This position may provide direct patient care as needed in support of clinical nutrition operations.
• Work Schedule: Full-Time Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: PD99524S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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 form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• 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.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

ACEND accredited programs are located on the ACEND website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Employees in this assignment serve as Dietetic Internship Director.

They are responsible for administering all aspects of an accredited dietetic internship program. Dietetic Internship Directors oversee the daily operations of the program and ensure education, curriculum, policies and procedures are in compliance with the ACEND® requirements and are compatible with regulations and procedures for Associated Health Trainees set forth by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations. They develop, document, track and assess program goals to ensure the program produces measurable results through data evaluation and improved program outcomes and customer experience. Dietetic Internship Directors are responsible for writing the self-study for re-accreditation and facilitating the ACEND® site visit.

They are responsible for maintaining up-to-date program information accessible through online sources, coordinating program marketing events such as an intern open house, outreach and selection of dietetic interns. This includes establishing an intern selection committee, selection criteria for application to the program and reviewing and evaluating all applications prior to selection. Dietetic Internship Directors are responsible for planning and coordinating intern rotations, class schedules and outside seminars with preceptors, presenters and community affiliations. This may include establishing, administering, maintaining and coordinating affiliations with community programs (local food bank; Women, Infants and Children; etc.) and/or with affiliated universities for the combined master’s intern program curriculum.

They coordinate maintenance of affiliation agreements between the VA facility and affiliated agencies and resolve policy, program and project issues associated with combined master’s program and outside affiliations. Dietetic Internship Directors provide and/or coordinate preceptor training and ensure ongoing preceptor competency. They provide direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training and ongoing education programs related to the dietetic internship program. Dietetic Internship Directors ensure timely completion of rotation evaluation and meet with interns to ensure progress towards program completion.

They issue the trainee verification statement of internship completion and maintain permanent records as required by ACEND®. In accordance with ACEND® requirements, Dietetic Internship Directors in VA must be full-time employees.

How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully.

Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted ‘Resume’ document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the ‘Other’ document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) Other Document Performance Appraisal Professional Certification
• Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans’ Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 “Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference” with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans’ Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets – Veterans – Job Seekers – Veterans’ Preference.