This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service (N&FS) of the VA Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana serving as a Nutrition Communication Center (NCC) Ambassador, providing administrative and customer service support for the VA hospital food service program.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. To qualify for this position at the GS5: Specialized Experience: At least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to 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 this Health Technician Dietetic position which includes performing duties in food service in a hospital environment; knowledge of tray assembly area procedures; using dietetics software programs; familiarity with regular and modified diets; assisting with food selections; following verbal and written instructions; and using computer equipment, phone system, and printers. This position requires effective communication skills both verbally and in writing and good customer service. OR, Education: A Bachelor's Degree or 4 years of education above high school with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly 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. (Transcript required) OR, Combination of education and experience: An equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level. Education must have been obtained at an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. (Transcript required) A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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.
Major duties and responsibilities will include: Has a broad knowledge of routing modified diets, combinations of diet modifications and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) dietetics software Handles patient meal service orders in person or by phone Interacts with Veterans, dietitians, nursing staff, and other medical center employees Receives patient meal orders and preferences, meal and nourishment requests from nursing, clinical staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary team Takes whatever action necessary, within authority, to maximize patient satisfaction with meal service Completes select and non-select menus as required Retrieves computerized information 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 education and information on local facility therapeutic diets to patients, guests, and nursing staff Assists patients in selection of the proper foods according to their individual diet Performs clerical and administrative duties in support of the service 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. Total Rewards: Perks of a Health Technician (Dietetic) Career - Total Rewards Info Work Schedule: Full-Time; Monday through Sunday; 5:00am-1:30pm or 11:00am-7:30pm; Subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Dietetic)/PD99855A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized