Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This job is open to current Birmingham VA facility employees only.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Establishes organizational structure and guidelines, performance standards, reporting requirements and defines the lines of authority and supervisory controls necessary and essential in carrying out the mission of the service.
• Oversees the coordination of policy and procedure for nutrition care of Veterans in the continuum of care and In a multidisciplinary model. Assures all policies and procedures are in compliance with VA manuals, Central office Guidelines, NFS program guides,, VISN guides, professional guidelines and Joist Commission standards.
• Assures the menu planning, subsistence purchases, production and delivery of safe, high quality, nutritionally adequate meals. Provides final approval of food standards and menu cycle.
• Facilitates the development of service priorities, which address the goals and objectives of the medical center, healthcare system and VISN. Coordinates service activities to accomplish identified priorities an i ensure compliance with VHA directives and medical center policy/procedures to provide customer satisfaction.
• Directs the technical, professional and administrative functions of the service through the Assistant Chief, NFS and Food Service System Management Dietitian. This requires the coordination and integration of technological advances and administrative change within the service.
• Develops and administers a budget management program that provides for the effective utilization of available financial resources, adequate monetary controls and budget estimates based on accurate and applicable data. Plans and justifies an annual budget for subsistence, supplies and personnel costs. Benchmarks against other VA facilities offering similar services as well as private sector to assure cost effect services. Communicates with and advises Fiscal regarding the status of NFS resource management.
• Assures that performance improvement program is in compliance with applicable standards, established OSHA, HACCP, VHA, JC and other reviewing agencies.
• Provides leadership to NFS, which consists of professional and non-professional staff. Provides direction and presents conclusions and recommendations to staff at department meetings.
• Directs personnel management program for the service by making decisions on personnel actions Including selection, promotions, reassignments, retention and recommendations for adverse actions. Reviews cases, documents and takes disciplinary action for employees with poor performance or conduct.
• Promotes positive labor-management relations by hearing employee grievances and complaints that are not resolved at a lower supervisory level. Responds to EEO complaints and unfair labor practice charges.
• Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, capabilities of the employee, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirement of the assignment. Maintains position descriptions or functional statements.
• Delegates responsibility and authority to subordinate supervisors and holds them responsible for the performance of their sections. Guides subordinate supervisors on problem solving, decision making delegation, change management, confrontation management performance improvement management and labor-management relations.
• Assures the professional staff is competent to perform their assigned duties and that they remain abreast of advanced technologies and changes in nutrition therapy. Assures that the staff is confident in their areas of expertise to serve as the nutrition expert for other healthcare professionals.
• Assures that new information/nutritional advancements are incorporated into daily practices and procedures which ensure continued improvement in services provided.
• Provides input to medical center and healthcare system long and short range planning and assists in the development and implementation of a policy which reflects the goals of the agency and VISN.
• Serves as a recognized expert in nutrition and food service to provide authoritative advice and coordination of nutrition care programs that may encompass multiple medical centers.
• Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customer (veterans, their representatives, visitor, and all VA staff) according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately.

Work Schedule: Monday -Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Travel: 25% or less.
Functional Statement #: PD99498S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietitian (RD) - 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).

Current VHA Dietitians that qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision may not be promoted to a higher grade if they do not meet the current RDN/RD requirements.

Grade Determinations:
Supervisory Dietitian (Chief, Nutrition and Food Services), GS-14

1. Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
2. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
   • Knowledge of security measures within food operations to ensure patient and staff safety.
   • Knowledge of organizational structure to assess impact on program operations.
   • Skill in ensuring regulatory requirements are met.
   • Skill in leading a group of professionals to facilitate collaboration and organizational development.
   • Skill in leading managers to establish strategic goals.
   • Ability to oversee the planning of new initiatives addressing patient care delivery systems and system reorganizations.
   • Ability to lead efforts in business administration to include budgeting, contracting and purchasing.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary and does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Next steps