Health Technician (Dietetic)

Full Job Description

The purpose of the position is to provide administrative and customer service support for the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System food service program, and perform routine duties that require exceptional customer service, computer skills, proper phone etiquette, proficiency in special food service and therapeutic diet procedures, a broad knowledge of routine modified diets, combinations of diet modifications and knowledge of Commercial Off the Shelf Dietetics software and required functions.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/26/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Time in Grade requirements: Candidates may be advanced without time restriction to positions up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment.

For a GS-05 position, you must have served as a GS-3 or higher. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: To qualify for this position at the GS-3 level, you must meet one of the following: EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) months of general experience.

General experience is (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area (i.e.

nutrition, food service, etc.) of the occupation.

~OR~ EDUCATION: Successful completion of one (1) full year of education above high school level that included study in medical, health, or 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 (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education and general experience, as listed above.

NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

To qualify for this position at the GS-4 level, you must meet one of the following: EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience.

General experience is : Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or Experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area (i.e.

nutrition, food service, etc.) of the occupation.

Specialized experience is experience where you applied: Knowledge of quantity food service operations Nutrition, food items and appropriate quantities; Provide information or assistance to customers; Use computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.

~OR~ EDUCATION: Successful completion of two (2) years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in subjects 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 (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education and experience, as listed above.

NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

To qualify for this position at the GS-5 level, you must meet one of the following: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Health Technician (Dietetics).

Qualifying specialized experience includes: Experience where you applied knowledge of quantity food service operations, proper nutrition, food items and appropriate quantities; Working with clients, patients, and/or, customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; Use computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.

~OR~ EDUCATION: Successful completion of a full four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to this 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 (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as listed above.

The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of 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 college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials.

Education cannot be credited without documentation.

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 position is in the Nutrition and Food Service at the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System.

The Health Technician (Dietetic) provides administrative and customer service support for the hospital food service program.

Major duties and responsibilities include: Handles patient meal service orders, and enters meal orders into Dietetics Software system Provides professional and courteous customer service via telephone, e-mail, and in-person Collaborates with Dietitians regarding Food/Drug Interactions, notifying clinical staff of potential issues with meal service and delivery Interprets and processes diet orders Prints, prepares, and reviews meal tickets Triages calls from inpatient units or outpatient clinics and procedure areas relating to patient meal trays or nourishments Retrieves computerized information/printouts 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 basic-level education and information on therapeutic diets Correctly interprets diet activity and patient information, to ensure meals trays contain food items adhering to patient requests and preferences, and current therapeutic diet order Communicates patient concerns with registered dietitian or dietetic technician Verifies physician orders for unusual diets, conflicting modifications, tube feeding orders and nutritional supplements.

Uses a computer to record, retrieve and print recipes, menus, and inventory reports Performs other related duties as assigned Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Friday-Monday, 8:00am to 6:30pm; schedule may vary or change Compressed Tour: This is a compressed tour. Telework: Telework is not permitted. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Dietetic)/PD99796S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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.