Program Aide (Research Dietitian)

Job Title

Program Aide (Research Dietitian)

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Nutrition

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Temporary/Casual Staff (Fixed Term)

About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University
• Texas A&M Forest Service
• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world!

Position Information

The Research Dietitian will oversee the implementation of a dietary intervention for adolescents with PCOS living in Texas as part of a two-year grant. The Research Dietitian will update and revise an intervention handbook, conduct and/or oversee the bi-weekly nutrition consultations with study participants and at least one parent to support meal planning and dietary behavior change, record detailed meeting notes, and support the interpretation and publication of study findings. The Research Dietitian will coordinate purchasing of intervention foods from local grocers with the families. They may also support the conduct of 24-hour diet recalls. This role is open to remote and hybrid candidates for up to 15 hours per week for approximately two years and is contingent on continued grant funding and approval and/or eligibility. This role will include weekends and evenings and hours worked per week may range based on participant enrollment/interaction in accordance with the design of the research study. We ideally seek on RDN who is committed to the duration of the study. Position compensation will be based on experience and the Academy’s Salary Survey on Research Dietitians.

Job Responsibilities

Intervention preparation support - 15%

• Assist in the development of the intervention protocols and research documentation templates
• Develop a dietary intervention handbook to aid in the implementation of the dietary intervention across study participants and ensure
• Develop research nutrition notes and a protocol to document nutrition counseling meetings

Support virtual/hybrid dietary intervention - 70%

• Coordinate with families to set-up bi-weekly nutrition counseling meetings, or weekly, if required
• Conduct and oversee dietary intervention counselling to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with the dietary intervention handbook
• Support training of the Research Coordinator and graduate student for successful implementation of the intervention
• Aid in coordination of food purchasing by families, recipe development, meal planning, and answering questions related to the dietary intervention from study staff and participants
• Track food purchasing expenditures

Interpretation and publication - 15%

• Assist in the interpretation, analysis, and publication of nutrition-related study findings

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree program approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
• Completed pre-professional experience approved by ACEND
• Passed or forthcoming within 3 months the national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
• Completed continuing professional education requirements
• Active Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) License within at least 3 months of hire date
• At least two years of related experience providing nutrition counseling to adolescents and/or patients with PCOS
• At least two years of related experience in research
• CITI training

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing
• Ability to positively and professionally interact with participants and their families and the research study staff
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Working knowledge of office software and instructional programs
• Knowledge of principles and methods for dietary interventions
• Skilled in utilizing various learning and active listening strategies
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others

Other Requirements

• This position is security sensitive in that it will involve research with minors.
• This position requires compliance with state and federal laws/codes and Texas A&M University System/TAMU policies, regulations, rules and procedures.
• All tasks and job responsibilities must be performed safely without injury to self or others in compliance with System and University safety requirements.
• This position will frequently require work beyond normal office hours and/or work on weekends.
• Remote work options may be available for this position, depending on the nature of the role and employee eligibility, in accordance with AgriLife Alternate Work Location Procedures.
• This is a wage position established to accommodate a temporary organizational need. As such, TAMU does not guarantee any set number of hours or length of employment in this role.
• This position may direct and/or evaluate the work of others.

Position Funding: This position is grant funded and availability is contingent on grant funding.

Applicant Instructions

Applications received by Texas A&M AgriLife must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application.

Required Documents

CV/ Resume

Cover letter

List of references

Certifications/ additional documentation

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.