Dietetic Assistant

Salary : $66,863.68 - $80,766.40 Annually
Location : San Jose Metropolitan Area, CA
Job Type: Full-Time/Part-Time
Job Number: 26-H64-A
Department: Santa Clara Valley Health Care - Valley Medical Center
Division: Dietary/Food Services
Opening Date: 05/14/2026
Closing Date: 5/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 03


Description


Under supervision, to perform specialized clerical duties in an institutional kitchen; to monitor tray line assembly in a hospital or correctional facility kitchen, to assist patients in selecting menu items; and to assist Registered Dietitians in collecting nutrition assessment data for patient education.
The Power of WE : Together, we can make a greater impact. Bringing better care and expanding healthcare services across the community.

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the second largest public healthcare system in California and includes four acute care hospitals, 14 clinics and 60+ specialty and sub-specialty services. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County.


Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - SCVMC is a full-service tertiary acute care teaching hospital with 699 licensed beds providing wide range of specialized services, including Rehabilitation, Burn, Trauma, and NICU. SCVMC was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #6 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation and #1 in the West and designated as a 2024 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care, Heart Failure, Stroke, Hip Fracture, and Pneumonia.

O'Connor Hospital - O'Connor Hospital (OCH) is a 358 licensed bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to residents of Santa Clara County. It was founded in 1889 as one of the first hospitals in the county. OCH has grown significantly over the past five years in both its inpatient volume and its Emergency Department visits. Along with these volume increases other ancillary and clinical departments like imaging, lab, pharmacy, and respiratory have seen growth as well.

St. Louise Regional Hospital - Since 1989, St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH) has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. SLRH has 93 beds, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, SLRH maintains a CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter base on the premises.
Regional Medical Center - Regional Medical Center (RMC) is a 258-bed hospital that is the main emergency healthcare provider for East San José, treating a wide range of critical and life-threatening conditions for more than 60 years. Since the SCVH integration of RMC effective 4/1/25, RMC has expanded the critical services including Level II trauma, Thrombectomy capable Stroke Center and STEMI care, and has been seeing an increased number of emergency visits and inpatient volume.
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Typical Tasks

• Processes and implements diet orders and diet order changes by completing or modifying individual patient menu information on a form or by entering into the Food Service Unit's diet system;
  
  
• Informs the appropriate cook of diet changes ordered;
  
  
• Interviews patients to obtain pertinent dietetic information, such as allergies, food preference, food intolerances, texture modifications, and/or religious dietary restrictions;
  
  
• Tallies specialized menu items requested for assembling meals;
  
  
• Receives and transmits phone messages between Physicians, nursing staff, Dietitians, and the kitchen staff;
  
  
• Monitors and labels prepared food trays for compliance with diet orders, cleanliness, and attractiveness;
  
  
• May set up menus for the tray assembly line;
  
  
• On request, calculates calorie, protein, and carbohydrate content of specified feedings;
  
  
• Assists patients in making selections of menu items within their prescribed dietary pattern, ensuring nutritional balance and that special restrictions are observed;
  
  
• Explains dietary principles and special restrictions to patients and relatives, as appropriate;
  
  
• Reconciles patient menu selections to ensure conformance with diet orders and Registered Dietitian's requests and advises appropriate parties of discrepancies;
  
  
• Updates diet file to confirm the diet modifications;
  
  
• May oversee and participate in the distribution of meal trays and/or between meal nourishments;
  
  
• Acts as trayline checker and/or provides direction to food service staff who are performing trayline duties;
  
  
• Keeps track of supplies as necessary;
  
  
• May assist in special dietary related projects;
  
  
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
  
  
• Performs other related duties as required.

Employment Standards


Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:


Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through graduation from high school


and


Successful completion of a Dietetic Assistant program approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics;


OR


Possession of 30 semester units (45 quarter units) in nutrition coursework, including diet therapy;
OR


One (1) year of experience equivalent to a Dietetic Assistant in the County of Santa Clara working under the direct supervision of a Registered Dietitian.
OR


Two (2) years of experience in institutional food preparation, including modified diets, and completion of one (1) college level course in nutrition.


Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of food preparation and service;
  
  
• Basic principles of nutrition;
  
  
• Special diets;
  
  
• Kitchen sanitation methods;
  
  
• Record keeping methods;
  
  
• Common computer applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases;
  
  
• Basic arithmetic.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively with co-workers;
  
  
• Meet, guide, interview, instruct, and deal tactfully with patients regarding diet;
  
  
• Exercise independent judgment and decision making;
  
  
• Work accurately with figures and other detail;
  
  
• Maintain a record system and operate office equipment;
  
  
• Follow written and oral instructions in English.

The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more


The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.

In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.

Retirement Benefits
The County offers robust retirement plans including a (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.

Health Flexible Spending Account
The empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
The enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the , an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.

Life and AD&D
The County offers life and disability benefits including , Insurance, These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.

Employee Wellness
The offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.

Education Reimbursement
A generous program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.

NOTE : Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.

Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.
01


Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Please include the name of employers, job titles, dates of employment, and hours worked per week for questions asking about work experience.
Do you understand the requirement to provide complete answers in order to determine relevant experience for each area in question?)

• Yes
• No

02


What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• None
• 8th Grade
• High School or GED equivalent
• College (1 to 29 semester units / 1 to 44 quarter units)
• College (30 to 59 semester units / 45 to 89 quarter units)
• College (60 to 89 semester units / 90 to 134 quarter units)
• College (90 to 119 semester units / 135 to 179 quarter units)
• College (120 or more semester units / 180 or more quarter units)
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree

03


Have you successfully completed a Dietetic Assistant program approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you have possession of 30 semester units (45 quarter units) in nutrition coursework, including diet therapy?

• Yes
• No

05


Please list the course(s) completed in nutrition, diet therapy and/or modified diets. In your response, include
A) the discipline,


B) the number of semester/quarter units for each course, and


C) the name of the college or university.
If you have not completed college courses in nutrition, diet therapy or modified diets, type NA.
06


How many years of experience do you possess working as a Dietetic Assistant under the direct supervision of a Registered Dietitian?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three or more years

07


Describe your Dietetic Assistant experience working under the direct supervision of a Registered Dietitian.Please include name of employer, dates of employment, job title, duties performed, and hours worked per week. If no experience, type "N/A".
08


How many years of experience do you have in institutional food preparation, including modified diets?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four or more years

09


Describe in detail your experience in institutional food preparation, including modified diets. Please include the name of employer, job title, job duties, dates of employment, hours worked per week, number of meals served per day, and the number of people served per meal. If no experience, type "N/A".
10


Do you have experience mixing formula or human milk (breast milk)?

• Yes
• No

11


Describe your work experience mixing formula or human milk (breast milk). Please include name of employer, job title, job duties, dates of employment and hours per week. if none, type "N/A".
12


Do you have experience checking trayline in a hospital kitchen? If yes, describe your responsibility on trayline and the specific elements of tray accuracy you monitored. If none, type "N/A".
13


Do you have experience interacting directly with patients to inquire about food allergies and preferences? If yes, describe how you recorded and communicated the information for the diet office records and for the dietitians. If none, type "N/A".
14


Describe your experience in assisting patients with menu selections either at bedside and/or phone call. If none, type "N/A".
15


Which of the following shifts are you willing to work? Select all that apply.

• 5AM - 1:30PM
• 6AM - 2PM
• 6:30AM - 3PM
• 7:30AM - 11:30AM
• 10:30AM - 7PM
• 11AM - 3:30PM
• 11:15AM - 7:45PM
• 12:30PM - 9PM
• 5PM - 9PM

16


Are you willing to work part time (20 hrs/week)?

• Yes
• No

17


Are you willing to work weekends and holidays?

• Yes
• No

18


Are you willing to work in a locked facility?

• Yes
• No

19


I understand that if I am selected, I may be required to pass an extensive background investigation for positions in the Department of Correction.

• Yes
• No

20


How did you find out about this job?

• Contacted by County Recruiter
• Contacted by a Recruitment Firm
• County Employee Referral
• County of Santa Clara Career Website
• County of Santa Clara Job Interests Email Notification
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Virtual Job Fair
• In Person Job Fair
• In-Person Networking Professional Event
• Virtual Networking Event
• Community Event
• Glassdoor
• Governmentjobs.com
• Professional Association
• Search Engine (Google, Bing, online search, etc.)
• Hospital Website: SCVMC, O'Connor Hospital, St. Louise Regional Hospital Website
• Handshake
• Student Career Center
• County Text Message
• Other (Specify in the next question)

21


If you selected an event/fair or other in the question above, please specify. If not, type n/a.
Required Question