About this role
Job SummaryThe Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) is a consolidated health care system that includes VA Medical Centers in Montgomery and Tuskegee Alabama as well as Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) in Dothan Alabama, Ft. Rucker Alabama, Monroeville, Alabama, Columbus Georgia and Montgomery VA Clinic. The primary duty station for this position is at the Tuskegee Campus.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement,08/27/2026 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is entering patient food preferences into computer system; running tally guides, production reports, nourishment labels and tube feeding reports; processing new admissions; providing information on meal service and menus; making appropriate adjustments to patient diet patterns and taking corrective action when needed; verifying the physician's diet order; and managing the nutrition call center. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:Customer ServiceWithout More than normal SupervisionExperience 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work requires extended periods of walking and standing throughout the hospital. There are periods of bending, writing, typing, and carrying of light items such as papers, electronic tablets, and occasional individual food items, along with deskwork for completion of paperwork, phone calls, and data entry. The work requires occasional lifting (up to 15 pounds), carrying papers, electronic devices, and occasional individual food deliveries. May obtain administrative supplies and bulk papers for delivery to work areas. 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/.
Major DutiesThe Health Technician (Dietetics) works as a member of the administrative Nutrition and Food Services Team providing technical and administrative assistance to the clinical dietitian in the goal of patient and residential nutritional care of the medical center. The Health Technician (Dietetics) duties include, but are not be limited to the following: - Enter patient food preferences into the computer system. - Visits, calls, or sees appropriate patients and residents to obtain meal selections. - Enters food allergies, diet tolerances and religious and/or cultural food restrictions into the computer after consulting with the appropriate dietitian and/or dietetic technician. - Answers general questions regarding diet orders and menu restrictions to aid patients in selecting meal orders as appropriate and to address concerns of staff, patient, family and/or caregivers. - Obtain food preferences and provide the information on meal service and menus. - Assures complete data collection for each meal. - Adjusts tray tickets, nourishments or supplemental feedings via computer after discussion with patient, family member, dietitian or dietetic technician. - Process late trays and order additional trays for patients who arrive and have not cycled into the standard schedule. - Make meal rounds on assigned wards. - Respond to all problems regarding tray delivery. - Act as a liaison between the units and kitchen operations. - Make appropriate adjustments to patient diet patterns and take corrective action. - Communicate and treat customers in a courteous and respectful manner. Work Schedule: 9:00am-5:30pm. Holiday and Weekend work included. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Dietetic)/PD99796S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not requiredRequirementsYou must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 probationary 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 probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.