Department of Veterans Affairs

Dietitian (Clinical)

San Diego, California Full time

Dietitian (Clinical)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): San Diego, California

Salary Range: $92218 - $119878 Per Year

Job Summary: The Clinical Dietician is the medical nutrition expert responsible for independently planning, developing, and directing all nutritional care activities for assigned clients, including those with complex medical and nutritional needs supporting the facility's mission and coordinates nutritional care with other health care providers, the client, the client's family, and the community.

Major Duties:

  • Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments using the Nutritional Care Process (NCP), including nutrition focused physical examinations, to establish a nutrition diagnosis and determine risk and/or degree of malnutrition Develops and implements Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) to address the nutrition diagnosis, evaluates and monitors the effectiveness and outcomes of MNT interventions. Modifies the plan as needed to achieve positive patient outcomes Calculates nutrient requirements and necessary diet restrictions or food and drug interactions tailoring the diet prescription to each individual patient Documents MNT in the medical record using the Assessment, Diagnosis, Intervention, Monitoring, Evaluation (ADIME) format Functions independently and accurately when record keeping Identifies patients in need of nutritional support and recommends the appropriate mode of support and communicates appropriately with the health care team Participates in formal and informal interdisciplinary team meetings Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition education/counseling for individuals and groups that is tailored to the Veteran(s) Utilizes virtual care technology to improve access to care Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities and completes patient encounters using approved systems Collaborates with the Food Operations Section and department leadership to enhance the Veterans' dining experience, support patient satisfaction, and serve as a liaison between clinical units and the Food Operations Section Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm. Telework: Not Available. Alternate Work Schedule: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.

Qualifications: BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Registration: 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). Except in for Dietitians who do not possess the RDN credential: Non-credentialed Dietitians who meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below, but do not possess the RDN credential, may be given a temporary full-time appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). Non-credentialed Dietitians may only be appointed at the GS-07 or GS-09 grade level and may not be promoted/converted until they obtain their RDN credential. Non-credentialed Dietitians must have fulfilled each of the following: Earned a bachelor's or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college, university or foreign equivalent (refer to ii below). Completed an ACEND® accredited experiential or supervised practice program and provide a verification statement from the program director that conveys eligibility to take the CDR registration exam as a prospective RDN. A list of ACEND® accredited programs is located on the ACEND® website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory. Foreign Education. To be creditable, college and/or university degrees earned outside the U.S and its territories must be evaluated by ACEND® and meet ACEND®'s International Dietitian Education standards which are designed to provide graduates with the knowledge and competencies to sit for the CDR credentialing exam Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and registration/certification, where applicable. Employees appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, either on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must possess the following grade requirements. GS-11 Dietitian (Clinical): Applicants must have 1 year of experience as an RDN equivalent to the next lower grade level related to the position being filled. In addition, applicants must meet the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Skill in delivering patient care using the NCP (e.g., assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation). Skill in interpreting research to apply evidence-based nutrition practices to improve patient outcomes. Skill in developing patient-centered goals. Skill in analyzing data for performance improvement studies. Skill in collaborating with stakeholders. Ability to comply with various accrediting, regulatory and agency authorities. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G20 - Dietitian Qualification Standards.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/24/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12833545. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2025-11-24