Summary
This position is a temporary position in the Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Northern Navajo Medical Center. Nutrition care is delivered to patients on medical, surgical, obstetrical, pediatric, and intensive care units. The incumbent will serve as a Health Technician whose responsibilities focus on nutrition screening and meal service for delivery of medical nutrition therapy for inpatients. The incumbent also provides simple education on non-therapeutic diets to patients and staff.
Duties
Screen the nutrition risk of hospitalized patients on inpatient wards to determine the degree of need for nutrition intervention.
Interpret the diet order using approved references and modifies individual menus to comply with the diet order while incorporating individual patient preferences and cultural traditions.
Monitor the quality and accuracy of food service to hospitalized patients during tray-line.
Serve as a liaison between the patient and the Clinical Dietitian(s) or health care team for issues related to nutrition care. Communicate results of nutrition screening, diet order, and other pertinent diet information obtained from the patient to the Clinical Dietitian.
Promote service excellence through monthly patient surveys, patient visitation to determine acceptability of meals and services delivered.
Communicate effectively between members of the food service team and health care team. Communicate meal service-related data of immediate concern to diet staff.
Documentation such as nutrition education provided in approved templates for Electronic Health Record.
Develop meal cards/menus, snack listings, and prepares routine paperwork for patient diet cards, diet trays, and reports.
Participate in ongoing monthly reports and performance improvement activities based on the service units established criteria and guidelines.
Counsel patients on simple diets, adapting the diet to the patient's cultural and personal preferences.
Communicate effectively with the Clinical Dietitian(s) to receive guidance and recommendations on diet orders, menus, and nutrition education.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.
Confidential Financial Disclosure Form required.
Adherence to the IHS Circular 2016-04 requiring Measles and Rubella, and seasonal influenza immunizations for staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities OR an exemption request will need to be submitted.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.
You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.
Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.
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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.
Education and Training
GS-5: Successful completion of 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.
In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
One (1) year of specialized experience that has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This specialized experience is related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the Federal service as described in the vacancy announcement. Examples Include: Ability to translate diet orders into therapeutic meals, provide group or individual diet education, knowledge of guidelines for meeting nutritional needs across the age spectrum.
Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).
You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
Education
This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades at the time of application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.
Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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 https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.
To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against the qualifications as defined in the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement and your responses to the assessment questions.
You will be further evaluated/rated based on the information provided in your resume (your resume must state specific duties that relate to this position) and your responses to the assessment questions to determine your competency in the following.
- Administration and Management
- Attention to Detail
- Clerical
- Interpersonal Skills
- Oral Communication
You will receive a numeric rating based on your responses to the assessment questionnaires. If after reviewing your resume and responses to the assessment questions, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration.
The following links below provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities. If you are a Veteran, qualified CTAP and ICTAP eligible, or an individual with a disability, please refer to the following links below for additional guidance. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Workforce Restructuring Career Transition website at:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Click here to view vacancy questions:
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12707883. All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 05/21/2025, to be considered.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below.
- To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement.
- You will taken to the Login.Gov screen, here will you Sign in if you have an existing USAJOBS account or Create a Login.Gov account.
- If you have an account you will be taken to select a resume or create a resume. If you create an account you can create an resume. Click save and continue.
- Follow the prompts to upload your resume and/or supporting documents.
- Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete. If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job.
- Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly.
- Complete the assessment questions.
- Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process).
For additional questions please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) found here:
http://www.ihs.gov/jobs/index.cfm?module=search&option=faq.
Next steps
You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJOBS account. You will receive an acknowledgement from USAJOBS that your submission was successful once we have received your on-line occupational questionnaire, resume, and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJOBS Account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background check, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the human resources office posting this announcement.
If all required documentation is not submitted with your application you will lose consideration. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information and documents entered, uploaded, or faxed are received, legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.
HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, researches emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats.
~ ~ ~ Indian Health Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer ~ ~ ~