This position is located at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, in the Nutrition and Food Service (N&FS) department. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Health Technician (Dietetic) for N&FS and to provide administrative and customer service support for the VA hospital food service program.

Duties

Comprehensive knowledge of human nutrition requirements in health and disease, dietetic principles, concepts and methodology. Instructs patient/family members and nursing staff on diet pattern, allowed food items. Conduct interviews with patients and/or family members. Record pertinent information regarding nutritional care in the patient's medical record via hospital computer data system. Processes diet changes and carry out diet communication center procedures. Prepares all patient menus, makes appropriate diet changes prior to meal tray line service start. Prepares supplemental feeding schedules based on food production timelines. Contact patients during meal service to observe food acceptance or the consult with patients having dietary problems. Develop and/or revise, under the guidance of the registered dietitian, the nutritional care plans of patients to ensure patients receive needed nutritional care. Checks patient tray for accuracy of requested items, portion control and allowed items on modified diets. Working knowledge of mechanics and schedules of tray distribution and pick up. Organize work to meet time constraints. Skill in communicating and assisting staff, patients, other customers from a wide variety of backgrounds. Works under pressure and maintains composure under adverse conditions. Follow oral and written instructions. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Between the hours of 5:00 am to 7:00 pm - variable shifts Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Tech (Dietetic)/PD99855A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/08/2024. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education s described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: entering patient food preferences into computer system; running tally guides, production reports, nourishment labels and tube feeding reports; processing new admissions; providing information on meal service and menus; making appropriate adjustments to patient diet patterns and taking corrective action when needed; verifying the physician's diet order. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical ReasoningComputer SkillsCustomer ServiceFood ServicePlanning and Evaluating 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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: This work requires walking, standing, bending, lifting and carrying of light items, such as food trays, instruction materials, books, and manuals. NCC Associate function require 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 such as answering and holding a telephone, and writing. The work may require walking indoors, outdoors, or to and from other areas of the medical center. It may be necessary to lift and/or push equipment. Incumbent is subject to periods of continuous standing, sitting, walking and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds and pushing loaded carts of trays and/or nourishments. 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/.

Education

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

Contacts

• Address Ralph H Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 109 Bee Street Charleston, SC 29401 US
• Name: Armon Franklin
• Phone: (843) 577-5011
• Email: [email protected]