Health Technician (Dietetic)

Full Job Description

These positions are located within the Nutrition and Food Service (N&FS) of the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT, serving as a Health Technician (Dietetic), providing administrative and customer service support for the VA hospital food service program.

English Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

To qualify for this position at the GS-3 grade level, you must meet one of the following: Experience: At least six (6) months of general experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position or that provided a familiarity with the nutrition/dietary subject matter and/or processes of this Health Technician (Dietetic) position.

Experience may have included documenting dietary information; able to use computer equipment, phone systems, printers, etc.; following verbal and written instructions.

This position requires effective communication skills both verbally and in writing and good customer service.

NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

~OR~Education: Successful completion of one (1) year of study that included study in medical, health or other related fields.

This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.

NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~OR~Combination: An equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education and experience, as described above, which meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level.

This education must have been obtained at an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.

NOTE: Your experience must be documented in your resume and transcripts are required.

To qualify for this position at the GS-4 grade level, you must meet one of the following: Experience: At least six (6) months of specialize experience and six (6) months of general experience that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of this Health Technician (Dietetic) position.

Specialized experience includes documenting dietary/nutrition information and updating patient records; knowledge of tray assembly area procedures; using dietetics software programs; following verbal and written instructions; and using computer equipment, phone system, and printers.

This position requires effective communication skills both verbally and in writing and good customer service.

General Experience is any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position or which provides a familiarity with the nutrition environment.

NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

~OR~Education: Successful completion of two (2) years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in subjects directly related to this position A bachelor's degree or four (4) years of education above the high school level with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position (i.e.

nutrition, dietary therapy, food and nutrition science, food service systems management, etc.).

This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.

NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~OR~Combination: An equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level.

This education must have been obtained at an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.

NOTE: Your experience must be documented in your resume and transcripts are required.

To qualify for this position at the GS-5 grade level, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of this Health Technician (Dietetic) position.

Specialized experience includes performing duties in food service in a hospital environment; knowledge of tray assembly area procedures; using dietetics software programs; familiarity with regular and modified diets; assisting with food selections; following verbal and written instructions; and using computer equipment, phone system, and printers.

This position requires effective communication skills both verbally and in writing and good customer service.

NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

~OR~Education: A bachelor's degree or four (4) years of education above the high school level with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position (i.e.

nutrition, dietary therapy, food and nutrition science, food service systems management, etc.).

This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.

NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~OR~Combination: An equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level.

This education must have been obtained at an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.

NOTE: Your experience must be documented in your resume and transcripts are required.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Computer Skills Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Food Service IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work requires walking, standing, bending, lifting, and carrying of light items, such as food trays, instruction materials, books, and manuals.

Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds and pushing loaded carts of trays and/or nourishments; may be necessary to lift and/or push equipment.Requires long periods of sitting and moving about in an office environment, including repetitive motion activities of the hands and fingers for extensive keyboard and computer mouse use, and office tasks.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** This position involves a multi-grade career ladder.

The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-05. At the GS-03 and 04 grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence.

You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-05.

Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds.

Major duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Has a broad knowledge of routing modified diets, combinations of diet modifications and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) dietetics software.

Handles patient meal service orders in person or by phone. Interacts with Veterans, dietitians, nursing staff, and other medical center employees.

Receives patient meal orders and preferences, meal and nourishment requests from nursing, clinical staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.

Takes whatever action necessary, within authority, to maximize patient satisfaction with meal service. Completes select and non-select menus as required.

Retrieves computerized information to assist with tray and/or nourishment assembly such as standing orders, nourishment labels, tabulated recipe lists, and other simple information to assist in meal delivery.

Provides education and information on local facility therapeutic diets to patients, guests, and nursing staff. Assists patients in selection of the proper foods according to their individual diet.

Performs clerical and administrative duties in support of the service. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 5 days a week, 10:00am-5:30pm, working every other weekend, depending on the needs of the service Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Designated Drug-Testing Position: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.