Per Diem Research Dietetic Technician

$69,722 - $69,722/Yr

University of California - Los Angeles, CA

Full-time - Entry Level

Los Angeles, CA

Educational Services

About the position

As our Per Diem Research Dietetic Technician, your duties encompass a wide range of specialized clinical nutrition and foodservice functions, including several unique to the research environment. You will work under the direct supervision of the Nutrition Research Manager, providing food and nutrition care services to research participants and patients using the dedicated resources of the Clinical and Translational Research Center clinical facilities and metabolic kitchen. Your role will involve preparing research diets in accordance with protocol requirements and participating in all related food service activities. This includes assisting with the preparation of test meals and food challenge materials by accurately measuring ingredients and following detailed protocols. Quality control activities are a significant part of your responsibilities, which include the use of safe food handling techniques, maintaining food safety and sanitation records, conducting inspections, and keeping temperature records and cleaning schedules. You will also ensure that all food service and nutrition equipment are in good working condition and submit requests for services as needed. Communication is key in this role, as you will be responsible for conveying meal selections to patients on ad lib diets and serving meals at times and in quantities required by protocol. Maintaining a clean and sanitary workspace in the metabolic kitchen is essential, as is compliance with CTRC metabolic kitchen policies and procedures regulating dress, safety, and sanitation. You will collect and record medical, laboratory, dietary, or other necessary information as directed by the Nutrition Research Manager, adhering to patient privacy guidelines. Additionally, you will interview study participants to obtain diet history and food preferences, provide diet and research protocol instructions, and offer nutrition education as directed. Participation in the orientation of study participants and staff about the nutrition component of research projects is also part of your role, along with providing diet counseling for all patients on modified diets who require it. Maintaining open and effective professional communication with other staff members is crucial to ensure the success of the research projects.

Responsibilities

• Prepare research diets in accordance with protocol requirements and participate in all related food service activities.
• Assist with preparation of test meals and food challenge materials by accurately measuring ingredients and following detailed protocols.
• Conduct quality control activities: use of safe food handling techniques, food safety and sanitation records and inspections, temperature records, cleaning schedules, etc.
• Ensure all food service/nutrition equipment are in good working condition and submit requests for services as needed.
• Communicate selections to patients on ad lib diets, and serve meals at times and in quantities required by protocol.
• Maintain office workspace and metabolic kitchen foodservice equipment in clean and sanitary condition and good working order.
• Comply with CTRC metabolic kitchen policies and procedures regulating dress, safety and sanitation.
• Collect and record medical, laboratory, dietary or other necessary information as directed by the Nutrition Research Manager; adhere to patient privacy guidelines.
• Interview study participants to obtain diet history and food preferences, provide diet and research protocol instructions and nutrition education as directed.
• Participate in the orientation of study participants and staff about the nutrition component of research projects.
• Provide diet counseling for all patients on modified diets who require it.
• Maintain open and effective professional communication with other staff members.

Requirements

• Dietetic Technician, Registered (D.T.R.) or Nutrition and Dietetic Technician
• ANSI-CFP food safety certification required (ServSafe, Prometric, NRFSP, 360 Training)
• Some post-secondary experience in a field related to research
• A minimum of one year's experience as a Diet Technician or Dietetic Assistant in a hospital food service setting
• Must demonstrate competency with basic arithmetic skills, including percentage and decimal calculations
• Must be familiar with the basic techniques of quality food preparation and foodservice safety and sanitation principles.