Career Center

Summary

This position is in the Nutrition and Food Service at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Johnson City - TN. The Health Technician (Dietetic) provides administrative and customer service support for the hospital food service program.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. ENGLISH LANGUAGE 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 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 (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. 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. 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.

Duties

• This position involves a multi-grade career ladder
• The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-5. At the GS-3 and GS-4 grade level - 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-5. 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 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 Work Schedule: 40 hours per week
• Shifts start as early as 5 a.m
• and end as late as 8 p.m
• Rotating days off
• Weekends and holidays required
• Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician (Dietetic)/PD99855A Physical Requirements: The work requires walking - standing - bending - lifting and carrying of light items - such as food trays - instruction materials - books - and manuals
• 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 such as answering and holding a telephone phone - 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 continuous standing - sitting - walking and frequent stooping - reaching - pushing - pulling - and bending
• Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds
• 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.