The Chief, Nutrition and Food Service (N&FS) is the director and Program Manager of the department and is responsible for the provision of high quality food production, service and effective nutrition therapy to the Veteran population served. This position is also eligible for Recruitment and or Relocation Incentives as well as the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) for SLRP. you must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy.

Duties

Major duties include, but may not be limited to:

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education and Supervised Practice: (1) The individual must have earned a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent and fulfilled each of the following criteria:(a) Completed a didactic program in dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), formerly known as the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education (CADE).(b) Completed an ACEND accredited or approved supervised practice program. Supervised practice programs are post-baccalaureate degree programs that provide supervised practice experiences which meet the eligibility requirements and accreditation standards of ACEND, formally known as CADE. Completion of a coordinated program in dietetics fulfills the requirements of a supervised practice program. Time spent in a dietetic internship or supervised practice program does not qualify as creditable experience. (2) Individuals who have earned college and/or university degrees outside the United States and its territories also must have their transcripts evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service to determine if their degree is equivalent to a degree granted by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. Validation of a foreign degree does not eliminate the need for verification of completion of didactic program, dietetic internship, or coordinated program requirements. The completion of ACEND didactic program requirements and at least a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college/university or foreign equivalent are necessary for eligibility to enter an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program. Registration/Certification: All applicants must be registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) the credentialing branch of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics formerly known as the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Advanced Level Practice Dietitians must possess a minimum of one advanced practice credential relevant to the area of practice, (e.g. Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC), Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition (CSR), Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition (CSG), Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), or Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO)). English Language Proficiency: Dietitians must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). Grade Determinations: GS-13 Chief Dietitian Experience: Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level (Ability to develop, maintain, and supervise a system of internal reviews and direct quality control and performance improvement studies to assure compliance with various accrediting, regulatory, and agency authorities; Knowledge of the principles of program management and oversight required to develop program goals and objectives, administer and monitor program, evaluate program outcomes/accomplishments, set and redefine priorities, and implement effective solutions in processes and/or systems as needed; Ability to act as a consultant for staff; *Ability to determine the continuing education needs of staff and appropriate resources to meet those needs; *Knowledge of human resource management principles and the ability to manage/supervise, i.e, plan, organize, delegate, direct, control, review activities of groups of subordinates; Knowledge of the principles and practices of nutrition care and the treatment of complex cases in clinical settings in order to develop, implement, and coordinate best practices and supervise clinical nutrition staff.).Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Service chiefs have full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of NFS operations. Service chiefs at this level serve at VA Medical Centers that are Complexity Level 2 or 3 facilities. The service chief has the ultimate responsibility for the practice and provision of NFS. Service chiefs plan, develop, organize, direct, manage, supervise, control, implement and evaluate programs for the service. They have overall responsibility to ensure proper coordination between care delivered by NFS and the overall delivery of healthcare within the facility(ies). The chief is a member of the senior leadership team providing advice for integrated care programs for a diverse Veteran population with multiple diagnoses, and other needs. The chief is involved in management planning to achieve medical center, VISN, and national goals Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Knowledge of, and skill in applying, the theories and practices of clinical nutrition and/or food service systems management sufficient to resolve complex, controversial, or precedent-setting matters. Demonstrated skill in making decisions on problems presented by subordinate supervisors, team leaders, or other personnel. Skill and ability to effectively communicate and advise senior management officials. Knowledge required to serve as a recognized expert on the theories and practices of clinical nutrition and/or food service systems management to provide authoritative advice and coordination of nutrition care programs and resolve complex, controversial, or precedent-setting matters. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Knowledge of the principles of management required to establish program goals and objectives, set strategic direction, determine and manage budgets to plan and administer a program, coordinate associated activities, evaluate program accomplishments, redefine priorities, and modify objectives. *Ability to supervise/manage, plan, organize, delegate, direct, control, and review the activities of groups of subordinates that have diverse functions and establish and monitor productivity standards and production and performance priorities. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G20The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work of this position requires regular and recurrent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and bending. Occasionally lifts heavy containers of supplies or equipment.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

ACEND accredited programs are located on the ACEND website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory.

Contacts

• Address Wilmington VA Medical Center 1601 Kirkwood Highway Wilmington, DE 19805 US
• Name: Heather Shipp
• Phone: (302) 333-6713
• Email: [email protected]