Location: ChristianaCare Health System - Newark Campus
Department: Food & Nutrition Services
Schedule: Full-Time - Rotating Shifts - 7:30am - 6pm, 7:45am - 6:15pm, 8am - 6:30pm, 8:15am - 6:45pm, 8:30am - 7pm, 6:30am - 3pm and 11am - 7:30pm

About the Role

ChristianaCare is seeking a compassionate and customer-focused Diet Clerk I to support patient nutrition services and meal operations. In this role, you will serve as a key liaison between patients, nursing staff, dietitians, and Food & Nutrition Services team members to ensure patients receive meals that meet their physician-ordered dietary requirements while providing an exceptional dining experience.

The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills, a passion for customer service, and an understanding of nutrition and therapeutic diets. This position combines patient interaction, meal service coordination, quality assurance, and administrative responsibilities to support optimal patient care.

Key Responsibilities

Patient Nutrition & Customer Service

• Review and oversee patient meal selections to ensure compliance with physician-ordered diets and nutritional goals.
• Interview patients regarding meal satisfaction, nutritional concerns, and educational needs.
• Resolve food service issues and perform service recovery to ensure a positive patient experience.
• Collaborate with dietitians to support patients' nutritional needs and improve overall nutritional status.
• Communicate with nursing staff to clarify diet orders and address patient concerns.

Meal Service Operations

• Monitor patient meal assembly and tray line operations to ensure accuracy and quality.
• Provide direct support during meal service and foster a team-oriented work environment.
• Address menu concerns, substitutions, and special dietary requests with appropriate nutrition staff.
• Oversee the delivery of tube feeding formulas and monitor patient tolerance to nutritional supplements.

Administrative & Quality Assurance

• Utilize the CBORD system to process diet requisitions, tray changes, inventory, production sheets, and general ledger billing requests.
• Generate reports and maintain accurate meal service records.
• Conduct patient satisfaction surveys and follow up on feedback, comments, and complaints.
• Participate in performance improvement initiatives and quality assurance activities.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and organizational food safety standards.

Team Support & Training

• Monitor daily workflow assignments and adjust staffing priorities as needed.
• Assist with training and onboarding of new diet clerks, hostesses, tray line personnel, and diet clerk trainees.
• Support department goals related to patient satisfaction, food quality, and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Basic computer proficiency and ability to learn food service management systems.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

Preferred

• Completion of post-secondary nutrition coursework or Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) certification.
• Previous food service and clerical experience in a healthcare or hospital setting.
• Experience working with therapeutic and modified diets.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Understanding of food and nutrition principles and therapeutic diets.
• Knowledge of menu management and food service operations.
• Ability to evaluate dietary habits and communicate nutritional information effectively.
• Ability to calculate tube feeding formulations.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, lift, carry, push, pull, and perform other physical activities associated with meal service and patient care support.

Work Environment

This position works in both hospital patient care areas and office environments. Regular interaction with patients, families, clinical staff, and Food & Nutrition Services team members is expected. Potential exposure to infectious diseases may occur in accordance with hospital safety protocols.

Why Join ChristianaCare?

At ChristianaCare, our values of Love and Excellence guide everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where team members can grow professionally while making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and communities.

Apply today and help us deliver exceptional nutrition services and compassionate care to every patient we serve.