Clinical Dietitian Career Opportunity: Serve Our Veterans in Marion, Illinois

Proper nutrition and dietetics play a crucial role in modern clinical medicine. In institutional care, rehabilitation settings, and acute treatment environments, the guidance of a skilled clinical dietitian determines patient outcomes, speeds up healing, and prevents complex chronic illnesses. For Registered Dietitians seeking a career that blends clinical autonomy, professional advancement, and civic duty, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers an unparalleled path.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is actively hiring a Clinical Dietitian to practice at its medical facilities in Marion, Illinois. This position offers a unique chance to support clinical care across both acute care wings and the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP). Working in this role means taking command of patient-focused medical nutrition therapy (MNT), educating the brave men and women who served in our military, and collaborating within a highly cooperative clinical environment.

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About the Agency: The Veterans Health Administration

The Department of Veterans Affairs operates under a sacred, historical directive: to fulfill President Abraham Lincoln's promise "to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan." Today, this translates to serving and honoring America's Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. As the largest integrated healthcare network in the United States, the Veterans Health Administration provides state-of-the-art medical, surgical, and rehabilitative services to millions of heroes across the nation.

At the Marion, Illinois VA facility, this mission is brought to life daily by a passionate, multidisciplinary care team. Practitioners here deliver compassionate, whole-health care that goes beyond addressing symptoms. They work closely with patients to discover what matters most to them, integrating physical, emotional, and nutritional goals into unified, veteran-centered care plans. Working for the VHA means enjoying a culture of respect, continuous professional education, clinical excellence, and deep patient connection.

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Job Responsibilities: Clinical Practice at Every Level

As a Clinical Dietitian in Marion, Illinois, you will operate as an autonomous nutrition specialist. Your duties will span from designing individualized clinical diets to managing nutritional logistics in clinical units. This position is advertised across multiple General Schedule (GS) grades, offering structured growth from entry-level to full-performance clinical practice.

Core Job Responsibilities Across All Grades:

• Comprehensive Nutritional Assessments: Conduct rigorous assessments using the standardized Nutrition Care Process (NCP). You will perform nutrition-focused physical exams to formulate diagnoses and evaluate the severity of clinical malnutrition.
• Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT): Develop, execute, and monitor evidence-based MNT plans tailored to individual patient diagnoses. You will track therapeutic progress and refine plans to secure positive physiological outcomes.
• Nutritional Support Coordination: Identify high-risk clinical cases requiring specialized dietary or enteral nutrition support. You will recommend proper feeding methods and coordinate care directly with physicians and nurses.
• Patient and Family Counseling: Assess the educational needs of patients and design easy-to-understand nutritional education guides. You will lead outpatient group education classes and counsel families on meal planning.
• Kitchen & Food Operations Collaboration: Collaborate directly with department leadership and food operations managers to elevate the quality of patient dining, supervise specific aspects of the RRTP kitchen, and serve as a liaison for clinical wings.
• Quality Compliance: Adhere strictly to the guidelines of The Joint Commission (TJC) and other healthcare regulatory boards to maintain a clean, safe, and elite clinical practice environment.

Developmental Expectations by Grade:

• GS-07 (Entry-Level): Focuses on patients of lower acuity. Working under the guidance of a senior dietitian, you will build foundational skills in applying the NCP, using electronic health records, and adjusting to the federal clinical environment.
• GS-09 (Intermediate): Works under general supervision. At this tier, you will treat increasingly complex cases, integrate virtual health technologies to expand patient access, and collect clinical data to support food service performance improvement projects.
• GS-11 (Full Performance Level): Functions with complete professional autonomy. At this tier, you are fully accountable for complex clinical assessments, independent record-keeping, mentoring junior staff, and executing strategic service-level improvements.

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Qualification Standards & Requirements

Candidates must satisfy specific professional and citizenship benchmarks to be considered for this excepted service appointment.

Basic Requirements:

1. U.S. Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of the United States. Non-citizens are only considered in exceptional circumstances when qualified citizens are unavailable.
2. Professional Credentialing: You must hold the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietitian (RD) credential issued by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
   • Temporary Exception: Candidates applying at the GS-07 or GS-09 levels who are registration-eligible but have not yet passed their CDR exam may receive a temporary appointment not to exceed one year. Successful completion of the credentialing exam is required for permanent appointment and promotion.
3. Academic Credentials: You must hold a bachelor's or advanced degree in dietetics or a closely related field from an institution accredited by a regional agency recognized by the Department of Education. Foreign degrees must undergo formal equivalency evaluations by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' ACEND team.
4. Supervised Practice: Candidates must have completed an ACEND-accredited supervised practice or experiential program and provide a signed program director verification statement.

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Salary Structure and Grade Classifications

The compensation for this clinical dietitian opportunity is governed by the Federal General Schedule (GS) pay system. Grade levels are determined based on your professional experience and academic background. Progression through the steps within each grade offers steady, predictable salary growth.

Pay Grade	Educational Requirements	Experience Requirements	Primary Focus
GS-07	Accredited Bachelor's or higher degree in dietetics	None beyond the basic qualifying ACEND credentials	Entry-level clinical training and developmental support
GS-09	Accredited Master's degree in dietetics or related field	1 year of professional clinical experience equivalent to the GS-07 level	Intermediate clinical assignments, virtual care delivery, and research translation
GS-11	Accredited Master's or higher degree	1 year of professional clinical experience equivalent to the GS-09 level	Fully autonomous clinical practice, complex MNT, and program improvement

The baseline salary range for this position is $50,460 to $97,087 per annum, depending on the grade and step at which you are hired.

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Exceptional Benefits Package

Federal employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs provides an excellent suite of benefits designed to support your physical, financial, and personal well-being.

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): This position qualifies for the EDRP, which offers student loan payment reimbursements of up to $200,000 over a five-year period. Applicants must apply for this incentive within the first four months of their appointment.
• Retirement Security: Employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which features a traditional defined-benefit pension alongside the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with up to 5% agency matching.
• Comprehensive Healthcare: Choose from a wide selection of premium-class health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans, with substantial employer premium contributions.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Earn paid annual (vacation) leave, dedicated sick leave, and enjoy 11 paid federal holidays each year. New hires with previous military or non-federal clinical experience may qualify for credit toward higher vacation accrual rates.
• Stable Schedule: Enjoy a balanced professional life with a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule (8:00 AM to 4:30 PM) and no mandatory weekend shifts.

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Application Tips and Guidelines

Applying for federal jobs requires attention to detail. Follow these strategic guidelines to ensure your application package passes the administrative screening:

1. Review the Resume Rule: The Marion VA facility has a unique, mandatory resume structure. Download the official, one-page Clinical Resume Document from the VA Careers website. This template must be uploaded into the official 'Resume' document field on USAJOBS. You may upload your comprehensive, multi-page CV into the 'Other' document category to ensure your full career history is reviewed.
2. Document Everything: Verify that your transcripts, ACEND verification statement, and proof of CDR registration are clear and attached. Missing documents will lead to your application being excluded from consideration.
3. Tailor Your Content: Write your CV with clear, active language that details your familiarity with the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and medical nutrition therapy. Ensure your experience descriptions align with the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) listed for your target GS grade.
4. Apply Early: Submit your complete application package before the closing deadline on August 10, 2026 to ensure full consideration.

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Q: Is relocation assistance or PCS authorized?

No. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses and relocation incentives are not authorized for this specific vacancy.

Q: What is the physical location of the job?

This position is based entirely onsite at the VA Medical Facility in Marion, Illinois, servicing the residential rehab and acute care units.

Q: Are there health mandates for employment?

Yes. Participation in the seasonal influenza immunization program is a mandatory requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

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Becoming a Clinical Dietitian for the Veterans Health Administration is more than a career move—it is an opportunity to serve those who have served our country. Working in Marion, Illinois, you will enjoy clinical independence, a stable schedule, robust federal benefits, and the chance to receive up to $200,000 in student loan reimbursement.

If you are a Registered Dietitian dedicated to clinical excellence and compassionate, whole-person care, prepare your application package today and take the next step toward an exceptional federal career.