Research Dietitian

at  community servings

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Research Dietitian Reports To: Senior Research Project Manager
Department: Policy and Research FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Labor Status: Non-Union Temporary Full-Time Position
Community Servings’ mission is to actively engage the community to provide medically tailored, nutritious, scratch-made meals to chronically and critically ill individuals and their families. In addition, we are committed to prioritizing racial and economic justice and health equity in all our programs and business practices.
We are a dynamic and fast-growing agency at the forefront of the “Food is Medicine” field, providing over 1M medically tailored meals annually to clients and their families experiencing illness and food insecurity in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In addition, our work strongly focuses on supporting the regional local food system, delivering high-quality nutrition education to the community, and hosting an on-site food-service workforce development program. Over the past 34 years, the agency has provided 13M+ free, scratch-made meals.
The research dietitian’s role will focus on provision of care for participants in the “usual care” arm of each study below. This position will support and participate in the interdisciplinary process of research protocol review, implementation, and outcome evaluation. The research dietitian will provide quality nutrition care and education based on approved research protocol, participant needs and professional/agency standards. This position will participate in quality improvement activities and contribute to scholarly research manuscripts and grant preparation. The position reports to the senior research project manager and works closely with the principal investigator.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree from accredited college or university, Master’s Degree preferred
• Two or more years’ experience in nutrition research
• Current Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Familiarity with the latest nutritional standards, practices, and procedures, especially for individuals with diabetes
• Effective interpersonal and written communication skills, as an individual and as a member of a team.
• Ability to translate complex scientific and nutritional information into simple messaging for diverse audiences; provide quality and compassionate care to a diverse population.
• Able to organize work, complete tasks efficiently and independently with attention to detail, meet deadlines for multiple tasks and inquiries.
• Research knowledge with ability to understand and implement procedures/research protocols.
• Able to use judgment and solve problems; assess research literature and quality improvement parameters
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Experience using Salesforce, RedCap and SmartSheet software a plus
• Able to successfully pass a criminal background check upon hire. Community Serving is a CORI-friendly employer

• Oversees monthly check-in calls with participants randomized to the food subsidy arm of the FAME-D study and with participants randomized to the meals only arm of the FAME-H study
• May conduct screening interviews with potential participants to assess eligibility for the designated study protocol. Obtain informed consent as approved by principal study investigator.
• Completes collection and interpretation of nutrition related data consistent with standards for nutrition research data completion and may participate in the publication and presentation of research findings.
• Documents research nutrition data including participant understanding of protocol requirements and compliance to the nutrition component of the research protocol.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide age-appropriate care of research study participants. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of diabetes and HIV care management, possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the study participants status.
• Works closely with Senior Project Manager to ensure smooth and efficient study progress.
• Maintains good clinical practice and compliance with all regulatory bodies and study protocols.
• Maintains strong and effective working relationships with co-workers and study staff.
• Participates in continuing education activities and learning on an ongoing basis.
• Complete additional study-related tasks as assigned.