Health Technician (Dietetic)

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/06/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirement: 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. OR For 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.

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Specialized experience 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. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

OR, Education: A bachelor's degree or four (4) years of education above the high school level 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.

NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: An equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year or 60 semester hours) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level. This education must have been obtained at an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university.

NOTE: Your experience must be documented in your resume and transcripts are required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

This position requires comprehensive knowledge of therapeutic diets, basic nutrition principles, and food service operations in order to support safe, efficient, and timely patient-centered care. The employee is expected to provide basic diet education to patients based on their prescribed diet and take appropriate corrective action in response to dissatisfied patients, including coordination with clinical staff and service recovery planning and documenting.

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Has a broad knowledge of routing modified diets, combinations of diet modifications and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) dietetics software. Conducts patient rounds to discuss menu available food items and ways to order meals. 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. Advises supervisor of any special orders or changes needed that may impact food production, including instances when substitutions are needed due to food preferences. Takes whatever action necessary, within authority, to maximize patient satisfaction with meal service. Completes select and non-select menus as required.

Ensures all food/supplies are covered, labeled, and dated. 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.

01Preferred Experience

1 year of experience in hospital setting. ServSave manager certification preferred. Work Schedule: 5:00 am- 8:00 pm, Shift includes weekends and holiday rotations(Work schedule is determined and approved by the supervisor. You may be required to work various shifts based on facility/ patient care needs) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Dietetic)/PD99855S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized