Dietetic Technician - Tate Lab

Must be able to work a flexible work schedule as needed, including early morning and some Saturday hours (weekends occasionally).

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) is a world-renowned center and a global leader in precision nutrition research. Our on-site facilities include multiple wet labs and clinical facilities as well as a vivarium and a metabolic chamber. Approximately two hours from UNC-Chapel Hill, the NRI is located on the beautiful North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis, NC, a mid-size city with a small-town feel. The institute is within walking distance of the city center which includes shops, restaurants, a minor-league ballpark, theater, and music hall of fame. We are also a short drive to Charlotte and Winston-Salem/Greensboro. The NRI offers programs that support a healthy work/life balance. We also offer professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development, and lifelong learning.

Learning how people can eat uniquely!

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute ( NRI) is an internationally recognized center conducting innovative basic and translational science to establish how individual differences in nutrient requirements and responses to diet affect our nutritional needs. Our research contributes to the prevention and mitigation of chronic disease across the lifespan from periconception through aging.

Our Mission is to lead precision nutrition research through understanding how genetics and environment affect an individual's requirements for and responses to nutrients.

NRI principal investigators hold faculty appointments in the departments of Nutrition and Psychology at UNC Chapel Hill. Their research interrogates nutrient roles in disease prevention, disease risk factors, and the impact of gene-environment and gene-nutrient interactions.

The NRI promotes excellence in nutrition knowledge, teaching, and research. We seek and encourage a diversity of experiences and ideas and provide the tools and flexibility for all employees to achieve success and excellence within their chosen occupations and aspirations.

We are committed to open dialogue, careful listening, becoming educated about the systems that hinder or prevent success, and taking action to ensure that all are equally acknowledged for their contributions and equally reap the benefits of being part of our community.

Our Vision is to use scientific discovery to ensure optimal health through individualized nutrition.

Everyone who works at the NRI supports this hopeful vision. Working at the NRI means doing good for the world. Join us!

The NRI and this position are in Kannapolis, NC, in the Charlotte region.

NOTE: This position is located in Kannapolis, NC, appx. 2 hours from UNC's main campus.

Chapel Hill received funding to establish both a targeted Health Care Provider Organization ( HPO) for the All of Us Research Program and a Clinical Center ( UNC-CC) site for the first ancillary study, Nutrition for Precision Health ( NPH). All of Us is a unique research program funded by NIH to build one of the most diverse health databases in history. Nutrition for Precision Health, powered by the All of Us Research Program is a new initiative to develop algorithms that predict individual responses to food and dietary patterns. The NPH Consortium consists of 12 awardees across the US with whom UNC is partnering to implement data collection and analysis. The UNC-CC includes two recruitment/clinical data collection locations, one in Chapel Hill, NC, ( UNC-CH), and one in Kannapolis, NC, located at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute ( NRI).

Come join our team as we work on these innovative studies. Working under the general supervision of the Research Project Managers and Coordinators, the Dietetic Technician will play a key role in study intervention to assess individualized dietary requirements. The Dietetic Technician will procure and prepare food products for the Nutrition for Precision Health Study at the Nutrition Research Institute in Kannapolis according to protocol and food safety and sanitation guidelines. This includes strict control of ingredients and precise and accurate measurement of critical ingredients. It is also critical to the integrity of the study data to practice the utmost precision in the calculation, labeling, record-keeping and accuracy of research foods. Additional duties may include participant data collection including but not limited to obtaining study measurements and providing instructions to study participants. This position will work closely with both the Chapel Hill and Kannapolis research teams.

Our goal is to work together as a cohesive team to ensure successful implementation of the study protocols.

Additional benefits associated with this position include the opportunity to join a research team that highly values professional development. We will work with the selected candidate to help build the skills and experiences desired to further their individual career goals.

High school diploma or equivalency and one year of experience in food service with special emphasis on health care dietetics or related health care work, or equivalent combination of training and experience.

- Strong attention to detail and ability to follow established policies and procedures precisely.
- Strong computer skills, technical skills, critical thinking, basic math skills, and acute vision. Must demonstrate considerable mental concentration skills with precise attention to detail.
- Must be able to use computer software to navigate to study documents, access production sheets, communicate via email, document, and communicate and record data in Office 365, REDCap and additional programs as required. The position will engage in training for other specialized nutrition software such as ProNutra, if needed.
- Must be able to use mathematical calculations to adjust ordered recipe volumes.
- Ability to work independently, organize and prioritize work with multiple requests at the same time.
- Ability to communicate politely and effectively over the phone and in person. Must be able to communicate clearly and respectfully with research participants and study staff.
- Ability to make decisions consistent with the research and NRI policies.
- Must have knowledge of the proper use of food preparation equipment and the ability to clean and maintain equipment appropriately to prolong the life of the equipment.
- Must maintain quality control of study activities including monitoring temperature standards for food storage, refrigerators, and freezers.
- Willingness to be flexibility and demonstrate professional behavior in the workplace.
- Ability to handle multiple and often rapidly shifting priorities.
- Ability to complete all assigned training specific to research practices, safe food practices, and study-specific protocols.
- Must be able to work a flexible work schedule as needed, including early morning and some Saturday hours (weekends occasionally).

- Prior experience in nutritional science, culinary trades, clinical research or a related field. Nutrition or food service experience preferred with an understanding of food safety, food preparation and food composition.
- Knowledge of clinical research and understanding of importance of following protocol and reporting any formulation changes or errors immediately as it relates to study integrity.
- ServSafe certification preferred.
- Bilingual (Spanish) candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Must be able to perform the following functions with or without reasonable accommodations:

- Must be comfortable using industrial kitchen appliances and tools.
- Ability to move objects weighing up to 50 lbs.
- Ability to stand for extended periods of time; bend, stoop, and pull to complete work.
- Must have strong hand-eye coordination and work with detailed precision while maintaining quality assurance expectations.
- Visual attention, mental concentration, and manipulative skills are critical when ordering materials, calculating units of measurement, and recording data.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu

Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.