Summary This position serves as a Outpatient focused Clinical Dietetic Technician in the Nutrition and Food Services section of the VA Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ. This position is responsible for providing a high-level of technical assistance and support to the Advanced Level Practice Registered Dietitian Nutrition/Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (RDN/CDCES), the MOVE! Program, and other outpatient services as needed. Responsibilities Primary responsibility is for screening patients, collecting nutritionally relevant data such as diagnoses, medications, clinical symptoms, laboratory values, dietary history and anthropometrics. Receives and records patient information regarding allergies, patient meal preferences and enters this information into the applicable software program(s) including the medical record. Direct patient care duties may include, but not limited to the following: Assists the RDN with the screening and evaluation of the nutrition care needs of patients, development of nutritional care plans including nutrition interventions, and diet counseling that are outlined by the RDN. May assist in related duties that support performance improvement activities for the service. Collect information from patient and or caretakers to support RDN for Nutrition Assessment Including intake history, including eating habits, allergies, diet, preferences and update electronic record. Collect nutritionally relevant data from the medical record for medications, clinical symptoms, laboratory values, diet history and anthropometrics. Conduct patient satisfaction surveys Works collaboratively with interdisciplinary team members Assist with modified diet education under the oversight of the RDN Document outcomes on nutrition intervention/plan of care Assists patients with technical issues and information sharing during virtual visits Contact and schedule patients for appointments May perform other duties as assigned as appropriate for the grade and assignment and which are within the scope of the occupation. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0730am - 0400pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English. Education or Experience: Education. Completion of an associate's or higher degree program in Dietetic Technology, Dietetics or another related field of study that is accredited by ACEND®. A list of ACEND® accredited programs are located on the ACEND® website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory (https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/program-directory).OR Experience. Completion of one (1) year of clinical experience in dietetics, and the possession of an active Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) certification. The experience must have been received after possession of the CDM certification. Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, candidates must also meet the grade requirements below. GS-5 Level Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment:. Employees at this grade level serve in CDT entry-level developmental positions. It is expected that the CDT receives guidance from higher-level staff members or supervisors and require frequent and direct supervision. The CDT is responsible for screening patients, which includes but is not limited to, collecting nutritionally relevant data such as diagnoses, medications, clinical symptoms, laboratory values, dietary history, and anthropometrics. The CDT will receive and record patient information regarding allergies, patient meal preferences and enter this information into the applicable software program(s) including the medical record. The CDT may recommend modification of the diet order for texture/consistency, tolerance, and supplemental feedings as appropriate. The CDT will assist clinical dietitians and the food service section in provision of medical nutrition therapy appropriate to the age-related needs of patients across the continuum of care and provide nutrition education for patients at the direction of a registered dietitian. GS- 6 Level Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade. NOTE: Possession of the Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) credential can be substituted for the one year of specialized experience. In addition to meeting the experience or certification requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs Knowledge of nutrition screening process. Knowledge of programs and systems used to manage diverse patient diet orders and preferences. Skill in conducting diet education to selected groups of patients and individuals. Ability to work collaboratively with patients and coworkers to provide nutrition care. Assignment: Employees at this grade level serve in CDT developmental positions. It is expected that the CDT receives guidance from higher-level staff members or supervisors and requires minimal supervision. The CDT may modify diet orders for texture/consistency, tolerance, and supplemental feedings as appropriate. The CDT assists the RDN with screening and evaluation of nutrition care needs of patients, development of nutritional care plans including nutrition interventions, and diet counseling outlined by the RDN. The incumbent may assist in related duties that support performance improvement activities for the service. GS-7 Level Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade. In addition to meeting the experience or certification requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge in Medical Nutrition Therapy pertaining to completing nutrition assessments. Knowledge of food service operations. Skill in conducting nutrition intervention, patient interviewing, and nutrition counseling as part of the nutrition care process. Ability to organize, evaluate, and execute teaching plans to provide nutrition education for selected groups of patients and individuals. Ability to effectively communicate nutrition education and care plans with patients, family members, coworkers, internal customers, and external customers. Assignment: Employees at this grade level serve as full performance level CDTs. They are knowledgeable of a variety of complex diet orders. The CDT will conduct screening and evaluation of nutrition care needs of patients, development of nutritional care plans including nutrition interventions, and diet counseling in collaboration with the RDN. The employee makes recommendations for adjustments to improve patient's recovery and/or teaching plan, evaluates (instruction, demonstration, facilitation) and works collaboratively with the patient and family to develop strategies to meet their learning needs. The CDT educates patients or employees, in groups or individually, and/or those accompanying the patient regarding medical nutrition therapies. The employee serves as a preceptor for dietetic technician affiliated programs and associated tasks as applicable. The CDT assists with administrative or clerical functions associated with food service operations. Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. Some lifting of trays, bending down, sitting, and standing for substantial periods of time. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.