Position Description: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Director of Clinical Nutrition

This position is no longer open, but you are welcome to submit your information so that we have it on hand for future similar positions. Also, if you haven't already, please be sure to set up a notifier so you will be alerted when there are new positions that meet your criteria.

Opportunity Snapshot

You will assume leadership of a smooth-running program and talented staff, providing you the opportunity to grow and craft the program, taking it in multiple directions. This is a clinical and research oriented position -- you won't manage any cafeterias -- and you'll enjoy strong support from the clinical staff, which recognizes the importance of dietetics and nutrition in patient outcomes. You'll have support and resources not only for your program, but also for your own professional development, such as attending conferences, developing research protocols, or even pursuing a doctorate.

Overseeing a team of 15, you will coordinate all aspects of Clinical Nutrition Services, including ensuring high standards of quality, developing your staff, directing research, and more. To be a good fit for this opportunity you will have a master's degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, or other relevant discipline, and at least seven years of clinical nutrition experience, including at least two years in supervisory/management roles. We're looking for a professional with a strong interest in clinical research, and research experience is strongly preferred. You also will need demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to influence and motivate others.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is one of the world's premier pediatric cancer research centers. We practice patient care the way you learned it in school, and every St. Jude employee is deeply committed to our mission: to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. If you are new to Memphis, you'll find a thriving music scene (among other cultural amenities), a mild climate, and a low cost of living, including home prices.

What Else You'll Bring to the Table

In addition to the qualifications detailed above, you'll need:

Registration as a Dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration for the American Dietetic Association.
Licensure by the State of Tennessee Division of Health Related Boards as a Dietitian/Nutritionist, or the ability to obtain such licensure shortly after hire (we'll assist you in this effort).
Knowledge of and ability to develop and implement long term goals and objectives.
Knowledge of:
- Pediatric metabolic support.
- Supervisory managerial techniques.
- Quality issues.
- Project development, implementation, and assessment, and performance improvement.
The ability to:
- Interact effectively with all levels of personnel.
- Communicate clearly and appropriately verbally and in writing.
- Deal effectively with multiple priorities.
- Provide clear, consistent direction to personnel.

What's in It for You

Help improve quality of life for children -- you will contribute to a mission that has driven St. Jude since our founding by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962. We live it day in and day out, and any employee you ask can tell you how his or her role fits into the mission. And the commitment delivers results: discoveries made here have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

High impact -- yes, you will supervise meal planning for patients, but this position involves so much more. The Clinical Nutrition Services team is a welcome contributor to our multidisciplinary approach to patient care, and you'll also find the clinical staff supportive of research projects in dietetics and nutrition. While we won't hold you to a "quota" of protocols, if you're the person we're looking for, you are excited about the prospect of discovering new ways to improve patient outcomes and contributing to your profession.

Career development -- we are always growing the next leaders for St. Jude and the community, and just as we'll expect you to support your team, we'll support your efforts to stay at the forefront of your profession. In fact, this position is open because the incumbent completed her Ph.D. and is now teaching at the University of Memphis.

Excellent compensation -- in addition to a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes all you would expect plus some pleasant surprises, such as flexible spending accounts and tuition reimbursement.

Music and more in Memphis -- situated on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, the greater Memphis area offers something for everyone. Residents of Memphis enjoy a relatively low cost of living, the purest water supply in the country, and more trees per square mile than any other city. We're known for strong traditions in Blues, Gospel, and Rock n' Roll, but you'll also find symphony, ballet, and opera. The city offers a variety of museums, from the Brooks Museum of Art (the oldest and largest fine arts museum in the state of Tennessee) to Graceland, college and professional sports events, and more. Relocation assistance is available.

More About Your Role

If you're a good fit for this position, you already know most of what this job entails. However, to be sure we're providing a complete picture, here are some details.

Reporting to the Vice President, Patient Care Services, you will be one of 15 Clinical Service Directors. In turn, you will provide leadership to a Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, 13 Registered Dietitians, and a part-time Clinical Research Nurse. The team includes both full and part time Dietitians, and each is assigned to a practice unit, such as hematology, leukemia, bone transplant, etc. You also will oversee a steady flow of master's-level student interns throughout the year, through our strong association with the University of Memphis and other graduate programs.

In general your activities will focus on two main areas: ensuring excellence in the nutritional care of patients, including continuously looking for ways to better serve the patients and the St. Jude mission, and managing your staff and the operation of the department.

More specifically, your activities will include:

Directing and managing the Clinical Nutrition Services department, including goals and objectives, budgets, quality improvement, and more.
Managing staff performance, including mentoring and coaching, completing performance appraisals, and supporting the ongoing development and professional growth of your staff.
Developing standards, policies, and procedures for clinical nutrition care of patients, ensuring we comply with all policies and procedures and regulatory agencies, including Joint Commission and state and local health departments.
Directing clinical research on nutrition, including participating in the development and execution of departmental and interdisciplinary research projects, and contributing at every phase of the research process.
Serving as a clinical resource for Food Services, which will involve assisting with the development, maintenance, interpretation, and/or implementation of policies and procedures; contributing to the review and revision of patient menus; and more.
Participating in institutional and professional activities to promote the profession, the department, and the organization.

The list above is intended to give you an overview of the position, and is not exhaustive.

Keys to Success

To excel in this role you will bring strong leadership abilities, including a proven ability to motivate and influence others, present effectively in meetings, and represent the discipline in a variety of settings. In addition, in order to be an outstanding Director of Clinical Nutrition Services, you will:

Lead a high quality program forward, leveraging the strengths of the staff to build toward a vision of world-class excellence.
Advocate for clinical nutrition and embrace the St. Jude mission.
Bring a strong desire to grow and develop your staff, mentoring and inspiring them.
Convey the confidence that comes with professional maturity, and keep your sense of humor handy.

If this sounds like the right mix of challenge and opportunity for you, and you meet the minimum qualifications, we want to hear from you!

Who We Are

St. Jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility. With research and patient care under one roof, St. Jude is where some of today's most gifted researchers are able to do science more quickly. All patients accepted for treatment at St. Jude are treated without regard to the family's ability to pay.

St. Jude researchers are published and cited more often in high impact publications than any other private pediatric oncology research institution in America. St. Jude is a place where many doctors send some of their sickest patients and toughest cases, and a place where cutting-edge research and revolutionary discoveries happen every day. We've built America's second-largest health-care charity so the science never stops.

We are an equal opportunity employer. EOE M/F/D/V