Become a Clinical Dietitian with the Veterans Health Administration in Marion, Illinois

Are you a nutrition professional passionate about making a difference in the lives of those who have served our country? The Department of Veterans Affairs is hiring a Clinical Dietitian to join the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) team in Marion, Illinois. Offering a rewarding career trajectory from entry-level GS-07 to full-performance GS-11, this position combines the stability of federal service with the profound reward of supportive patient care.

With a salary range of $50,460 to $97,087 per year and eligible student loan repayment of up to $200,000 through the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), this opportunity represents an outstanding path for both newly registered and highly experienced dietitians.

About the Agency: The Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration is America's largest integrated healthcare system, serving millions of Veterans across the country. Guided by Abraham Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors," the VA delivers compassionate, whole-health clinical support.

By joining the VHA team in Marion, Illinois, you become part of a unified, multidisciplinary healthcare family. The Marion VA facility focuses on providing clinical care that integrates physical nutrition with rehabilitation, mental health support, and medical therapies to optimize health outcomes. Here, nutrition is treated not just as a dietary plan, but as a critical pillar of recovery and long-term wellness.

Job Responsibilities

As a Clinical Dietitian, you will operate as the clinical nutrition expert within the outpatient Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) and provide essential backup coverage for acute care medical units. This is an autonomous role where you will apply evidence-based guidelines to formulate highly customized medical nutrition therapies.

Key duties include:

Comprehensive Clinical Assessments: Utilize the formalized Nutrition Care Process (NCP)—including nutrition-focused physical exams—to diagnose nutritional risks, identify metabolic deficiencies, and assess degrees of malnutrition.
Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT): Design and implement targeted clinical dietary plans for patients with complex medical conditions. Constantly monitor patient progress and modify interventions as needed to ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes.
Veterans Education and Counseling: Lead individual counseling sessions and interactive, group-based cooking and nutrition classes. Empower Veterans and their caregivers with functional dietary knowledge tailored to their unique rehab and health recovery goals.
Kitchen & Operations Collaboration: Work closely with the Food Operations Section and nutrition leadership to enhance the general dining experience for residents, oversee aspects of the RRTP kitchen, and serve as an active liaison ensuring patient satisfaction and clinical standards align.
Technology Integration: Leverage state-of-the-art virtual care and telehealth technologies to provide remote nutritional counseling, increasing accessibility for outpatient Veterans.

Position Grade Levels and Qualifications

This position is open to various stages of career development. Applicants can qualify under three distinct General Schedule (GS) grade levels, allowing room for professional advancement:

GS Grade Level	Education & Experience Requirements	Key Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs) Required
GS-07 (Entry-Level)	Meet the basic requirements (bachelor's degree from an ACEND-accredited program and completed supervised practice) without additional post-graduate experience.	Basic understanding of clinical nutrition; ability to conduct lower-acuity assessments using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) under developmental supervision.
GS-09 (Developmental)	At least 1 year of professional clinical experience equivalent to the GS-07 level OR a master's degree in dietetics or a closely related field from an accredited institution.	Competency in NCP assessments, utilizing virtual telehealth care platforms, and assisting with clinical data collection for departmental performance improvement.
GS-11 (Full-Performance)	At least 1 year of specialized, autonomous experience equivalent to the GS-09 level as a registered dietitian.	Independent application of complex MNT, advanced data analysis for departmental performance studies, expert collaboration with food service leadership, and full regulatory compliance.

Basic Requirements for All Candidates:

U.S. Citizenship: Applicants must be U.S. citizens. (Non-citizens may only receive consideration if no qualified citizens are available for recruitment).
Professional Credentials: You must be a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
- Temporary Appointment Exception (GS-07/GS-09 only): Candidates who have completed their ACEND-accredited degree and supervised practice but have not yet cleared their registration exam may be given a temporary, non-promotable appointment for up to one year to obtain their credential.

Salary and Federal Benefits

This role offers a competitive salary of $50,460 to $97,087 annually, determined by individual qualifications, academic degrees, and qualifying experience. In addition to base pay, the Department of Veterans Affairs provides an industry-leading benefits package:

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): This position is fully eligible for the EDRP. Approved applicants can receive up to $200,000 in tax-free student loan reimbursement paid over a one-to-five-year period.
Retirement Pension: Coverage under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension plan and matching Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) up to 5%.
Time Off: Generous annual vacation leave and sick leave accruals. New employees may also qualify to receive service credit toward vacation accrual rates based on prior relevant private-sector or military experience.
Health and Wellness: Premium federal health, vision, dental, and life insurance options.

Step-by-Step Application Instructions

To apply for this opportunity, you must complete your application package through USAJOBS by August 10, 2026. Follow these precise steps to ensure your resume is not disqualified by automated filters:

Download the Required Template: Visit the official VA Careers portal and download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
The Resume Upload Hack: Upload this unaltered, blank one-page document into the standard "Resume" document slot on USAJOBS. (This meets the system's strict page restriction parameters without stripping your credentials).
Submit Your Full Resume: Upload your actual, detailed, and unrestricted CV or professional resume into the "Other" document upload slot.
Attach Supporting Documentation: Ensure you upload your transcripts (proving degree conferral), active CDR registration card, and an SF-50 form if you are a current or former federal employee.
Complete the Questionnaire: Navigate through USA Staffing to answer the specific occupational questions regarding your experience and grade-level competence.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Where is this position located and is there telework?

This position is physically located in Marion, Illinois. It is an on-site, inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation and acute care role. Telework is not authorized.

2. How does the student loan reimbursement program (EDRP) work?

Upon receiving a tentative job offer, you must submit an application to the EDRP coordinator within four months of your official start date. Once approved, the VA will reimburse qualifying, verified student loan payments up to $200,000 over your years of employment.

3. What is the work schedule for this dietitian role?

This is a full-time, permanent position with a standard administrative schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

4. Do I need to be vaccinated against the flu to work at the VA?

Yes. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a strict condition of federal employment for all VA Health Care Personnel. Approved medical or religious exemptions require wearing administrative face masks during active influenza seasons.

If you are searching for a stable clinical career that allows you to work autonomously, apply cutting-edge evidence-based nutrition science, and serve those who have protected our country, the Clinical Dietitian role in Marion, Illinois, is your next logical step. Secure your career, pay off your student loans, and enjoy premium federal benefits. Take the step to apply today!

Why This Clinical Dietitian Job Matters

Transform Veteran healthcare through the power of nutrition! Join the Veterans Health Administration in Marion, Illinois, as a Clinical Dietitian and qualify for up to $200,000 in student loan reimbursement.

Clinical Dietitian Job Overview

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a passionate and autonomous Clinical Dietitian to join the clinical team at the Veterans Health Administration in Marion, Illinois. In this dynamic outpatient role, you will serve as the premier nutritional expert for the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) while also providing clinical coverage for acute care units. Working alongside a collaborative multidisciplinary team, you will direct nutrition education, lead interactive group cooking and lifestyle classes, manage dietary guidelines for the RRTP kitchen, and formulate evidence-based medical nutrition therapies. This career path offers developmental entry points from GS-07 up to the full-performance GS-11 level, allowing you to advance your skills while actively serving those who served our nation.

Requirements for Clinical Dietitian

United States Citizenship (Non-citizens may only be appointed if qualified citizens are unavailable).
Registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) as a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is generally required (Exceptions apply for temporary GS-07 and GS-09 appointments).
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Successful completion of a background and security investigation.
Participation in the annual seasonal influenza vaccination program (or approved medical/religious exemption).
Must serve a 1-year or 2-year trial period to evaluate fitness for federal service.
REAL ID compliant identification (required starting May 7, 2025).

Preferred Qualifications for Clinical Dietitian

Experience in a residential rehabilitation or acute care clinical setting.
Demonstrated ability to utilize virtual care and telehealth technologies for patient counseling.
Strong collaborative track record working with food operations and dining service departments.

Federal Benefits & Perks

✓Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) offering up to $200,000 in student loan reimbursement.
✓Comprehensive federal health, dental, vision, and life insurance programs.
✓Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching.
✓Flexible annual and sick leave accrual, with potential service credit for prior non-federal experience.
✓Robust retirement pension under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).

💡 How to Apply Clinical Dietitian Job & Insider Tips

Application Steps for Clinical Dietitian Job

Download the mandatory standard Clinical Resume Document template from the VA Careers portal.
Upload this unaltered one-page template into the restricted 'Resume' document field on USAJOBS.
Upload your comprehensive, unrestricted CV/resume into the 'Other' document field.
Compile and upload supporting documents such as transcripts, professional certifications, CDR registration card, and SF-50 (if a current federal employee).
Complete the full online occupational questionnaire through USA Staffing.
Submit your complete application package before 11:59 PM Eastern Time on August 10, 2026.

💡 General Tips

Do not miss the special resume submission rule: Upload the blank standard VA clinical resume template to the standard resume field, and place your real, detailed CV in the 'Other' document slot to bypass the page-restriction filter.
Clearly highlight your experience with the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and clinical dietetics using specific metrics and patient outcomes.
Ensure your academic transcripts are official or highly legible copies that clearly show your degree major and conferral date.
When claiming Veterans' Preference, double-check that your DD-214 clearly displays your character of service (must be honorable or general).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this position eligible for remote work or telework?

No, this is an on-site position based in Marion, Illinois, and telework is not available.

Can I apply if I have completed my dietetic program but have not yet passed the CDR exam?

Yes. Non-credentialed dietitians who have completed an ACEND-accredited program and have a verification statement may be appointed on a temporary basis for up to one year at the GS-07 or GS-09 levels while preparing for the credentialing exam.

What is the maximum student loan assistance available?

Eligible employees can receive up to $200,000 in student loan reimbursements through the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program approval and guidelines.

Are there relocation incentives offered?

No, Relocation or Recruitment Incentives and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses are not authorized for this position.