Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center : Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.
Organization:
General Pediatrics
Job Summary:
We are seeking a PRN Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD Required) to join our team and support the DOSE Study, a multi-site, five-year clinical trial designed to identify optimal intervention strategies for effective weight loss in children with obesity. This research-based, fully remote position requires approximately 15 hours per week and involves no inpatient clinical responsibilities. The nutritionist will work closely with participating families, through virtual telehealth sessions, to deliver personalized nutrition counseling using a motivational interviewing-based approach focused on seven key health behavior targets: fruits and vegetables, snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages, physical activity, healthy sleep, healthy media use, and engaged parenting. Sessions will follow a structured guide that includes assessing weight changes and progress toward goals, delivering evidence-based nutrition education and medical nutrition therapy for obesity, and identifying barriers to healthy behavior change. In addition to counseling, the nutritionist will adhere to study protocols, monitor intervention fidelity, and collaborate with the research team to ensure successful implementation of all study phases. Approximately five hours per week will be dedicated to administrative tasks and attending relevant meetings.
The ideal candidate will hold a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN) credential, with Tennessee licensure preferred (or willingness to obtain if hired). Previous experience applying motivational interviewing techniques to counsel families, particularly those with high social needs or from rural backgrounds, is essential, and research experience is preferred. Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a team environment are critical. Scheduling flexibility is required, as the position includes two evening counseling sessions per week (approximately five hours each) and the possibility of one Saturday morning session per month. Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is preferred.
This role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on families across middle Tennessee, as the study will enroll 450 children between the ages of 5 and 17 and their parents or caregivers. The intervention will be delivered via telehealth and supported by an online, on-demand platform.
REQUIRED:
- Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent experience)
- TN-state issued Registered Dietitian Nutrition credential; this credential is not required to be hired but must be willing to obtain if hired.
- Bilingual English/Spanish fluency
In this PRN role, your work will be 100% remote and as mentioned previously, you will have 1-2 sessions weekly, predominantly occurring during weekday evening hours with the possibility of 1 Saturday monthly. The department will extend flexibility with scheduling. Compensation for this role will be $40/hr.
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DEPARTMENT SUMMARY :
The Department of Pediatrics at VUMC is one of the largest departments within the medical center and we are proud to be home to some 460 primary faculty, 270 community-based volunteer faculty, 82 clinical fellows, 127 residents, and over 300 administrative and research staff. The Department is rooted in a rich history of commitment to excellence in research, education, and patient care. Our faculty, clinicians, fellows, and trainees represent the very best of academic medicine – extraordinary people doing incredible things to advance the care for children in Middle Tennessee, across the nation, and throughout the world. The result is a Department which reaches far beyond the walls of our hospital to provide high-quality patient care, to train the next generation of leaders in pediatric medicine, and to advance our knowledge of important conditions that affect vulnerable infants and children through world class research. For more information, please visit https://pediatrics.vumc.org/message-chair .
Key Functions & Expected Performances:
Provides medical nutrition therapy, including nutrition counseling and education, to participants using evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines and appropriate instructional methods and tools.
Facilitate care coordination with other study interventionists.
Problem-solve with study team to ensure high fidelity of the curriculum.
Contributes to the success of the study by actively participating in process improvement initiatives and shared decision making.
Adhere to study protocols around intervention implementation, including fidelity monitoring.
Regularly completes quality check protocols to ensure data have been entered correctly, efficiently, and effectively.
Participate in participant retention efforts.
Work well with other team members, including adhering to professional communication standards.
Maintains professional documentation which meets department and VUMC standards as it relates to compliance.
Nutritionist should be organized and self-directed.
Nutritionist must have reliable internet access.
Preferred Qualifications:
A background in Health Behavior/Health Education, Dietetics, or Nutrition is required. RD/RDN license required. Experience working with children and adults is required.
A minimum of 24 months of experience in these areas is preferred. Experience in health communication skills such as motivational interviewing and shared goal setting is preferred as is experience working with underserved populations.
Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred.
Additional Information:
This is a PRN position; 15 hours per week; will include evenings and weekends.
Some heavy lifting is required.
Salary is dependent upon years of education and experience.
Background screens will be performed, and education will be verified prior to employment. Please be prepared to provide required information and/or documentation.
Vanderbilt is a smoke-free workplace in compliance with the Non-Smoker Protection Act, Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-1801-1810. In accordance with that law and Vanderbilt policy, smoking is prohibited in all buildings on Vanderbilt property and on the grounds of the campus with the exception of designated outdoor smoking areas.
Vanderbilt is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.
Our supporting roles are the core of all we do at Vanderbilt Health, helping us personalize the patient experience through our caring spirit and distinctive capabilities. We support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at VUMC for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose.
We support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce as we place a priority on designing with and for our patients and families.
Core Accountabilities:
Organizational Impact: Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area/team with some guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Uses existing procedures, research and analysis to solve standard job related problems that may require some judgement. Breadth of Knowledge: Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements. Team Interaction: Individually contributes to project/ work teams.
Core Capabilities :
Supporting Colleagues: - Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas. - Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner. Delivering Excellent Services: - Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service. - Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department. Managing Resources Effectively :- Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error. Fostering Innovation: - Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.- Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action. - Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.
Position Qualifications:
Responsibilities:
Certifications:
LIC-Licensed Dietician/Nutritionist - Tennessee, Registered Dietician - Commision on Dietetic Registration
Work Experience:
Relevant Work Experience
Experience Level:
Less than 1 year
Education:
Bachelor's
This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.
Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.
