Entry Level Veterans Affairs Informatics Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
Employees in this assignment serve in a Dietitian (Informatics) position in Nutrition Food Services (NFS) within Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) in Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Duties
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Dietitians (Informatics) are responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing food service technology as well as ensuring continuous evaluation and improvement within the service. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Uses available technology to enhance the work of all employees within NFS.
• Manages VHA supported software programs and/or commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) to support the effective management of food operations and patient meal services.
• Enters and maintains ingredients, recipes, nutritional information and menus.
• Oversees the technology used for meal production, meal service and temperature control.
• Leads a menu committee.
• Ensures recipes are standardized.
• Costs out recipes and assures that they are within budgetary constraints.
• Creates and revises menus, considering VA established guidelines, policy, patient preference, and religious and cultural considerations.
• Completes nutrient analyses of regular and modified menus and ensures menus follow required diet guidelines.
• Develops and maintains training and reference materials for the Nutrition Communication Center (NCC).
• Manages productivity reports for the NCC.
• Completes audits for the NCC, determining action plans when results require corrective measures.
• Coordinates and supports downtime procedures for the NCC, ensuring procedures remain up to date.
• Coordinates all aspects of training related to computer systems, menus and informatics for NFS employees.
• Collaborates with the clinical nutrition section and leadership to ensure the enhancement of the Veterans dining experience.
• Supports patient satisfaction within NFS.
• Acts as a department Automated Data Processing Application Coordinator (ADPAC) between administration, food services, clinical staff, and the Office of Information Technology (Ol&T) regarding clinical information system processes.
• Manages and updates the service SharePoint site.
• May perform other related duties as assigned which are appropriate for this grade and assignment.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm. Subject to change based on the needs of the service.
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD99526S, PD99527S, and PD99528S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Requirements
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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 identification 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).
  
  • Exception for GS-07 and GS-09 Only: Dietitians who do not possess the RDN/RD credential. Non-credentialed Dietitians who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below, but do not possess the RDN credential, may be given a full-time temporary appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2). May only be appointed at the GS-07 or GS-09 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 or university or foreign equivalent. 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. ~AND~
      • 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 are located on the ACEND website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory.

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: All individuals assigned to this occupation must meet all the basic qualification requirements above and all the requirements defined in the specific assignment.
Dietitian (Informatics), GS-07: Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
Dietitian (Informatics), GS-09: Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
OR
Education. Master's degree from a regionally accredited university or college.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of nutritional standards and requirements.
(b) Ability to manage computer software programs relative to food service systems.
(c) Ability to develop training and reference materials.
(d) Ability to evaluate data to improve outcomes.
(e) Ability to provide training related to food service systems technology.
(f) Ability to collaborate with stakeholders.
Dietitian (Informatics), GS-11
(1) Experience. One year of experience as an RDN Dietitian 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:
(a) Skill in managing computer software programs relative to food service systems.
(b) Skill in applying nutritional knowledge to develop menus ensuring nutritional standards are met.
(c) Skill in developing training and reference materials.
(d) Skill in evaluating data to improve outcomes.
(e) Skill in providing training related to food service systems technology.
(f) Skill in collaborating with stakeholders.
Preferred Experience:

• Computer experience.
• Computrition experience preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11.
Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.
Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
Education
ACEND accredited programs are 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.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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