Dietitian Job Description

What is the job description of a Dietitian? What are the duties and responsibilities of a Dietitian? What does a Dietitian do?

Job description of a Dietitian

Dietitians help people achieve health goals by analyzing their physical conditions and other health concerns and creating a nutrition plan that meets their individual needs and dietary preferences. Many dietitians work in National Health Institutions, where their role is varied.

They may focus on specialist areas, such as diabetes or children’s health, and may also work in community settings. Other dietitians work in the food industry, sport, the media, education and research. Tasks vary widely between individual jobs and the areas of employment.

For example, community dietitians and those working in public health may see a much wider range of patients in a variety of settings.

This Dietitian job description example includes the list of most important Dietitian duties and responsibilities as shown below. It can be modified to fit the specific Dietitian profile you're trying to fill as a recruiter or job seeker.

Dietitian Duties and Responsibilities

Dietitian job description should contain a variety of functions and roles including:

  • Educating and advising a wide range of patients with diet-related disorders on the practical ways in which they can improve their health by adopting healthier eating habits;
  • Delivering group sessions to a variety of audiences, including children and patient groups;
  • Calculating patients’ nutritional requirements using standard equations based on assessments of blood chemistry, temperature, stress, mobility and other relevant factors;
  • Preparing information packs, flyers and other promotional materials;
  • Educating other healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, biochemists, social workers, care workers and community workers) about food and nutrition issues;
  • Advising athletes and sportspersons on how diet can optimise performance and recovery from injury;
  • Educating sportspersons to understand the physiology and biochemistry of different types of exercise and the role nutrition has in these processes;
  • Writing reports and case notes and maintaining accurate records;carrying out visits to people’s homes, including nursing homes;
  • Working as part of a multidisciplinary team in hospitals or in a community setting to gain patients’ cooperation in following recommended dietary treatments;
  • Advising the food and pharmaceutical industry.
  • Analysing the nutritional content of food (including new products, if you work in the food industry);
  • Advising hospital catering departments about the specific dietary requirements of patients;
  • Running clinics in hospital outpatients departments or general practitioners’ (GP) surgeries for patients who have been referred by hospital consultants, GPs or health visitors;

Dietitian Requirements / Skills / Qualifications

Dietitian job description should include these common skills and qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, health, or a related field.
  • More education or experience may be preferred.
  • State licenses or additional certifications may be required.
  • Exceptional communication, problem-solving, public speaking, and listening skills.
  • Willingness to continue training and research to keep current on the latest discoveries and developments in the field.
  • Strong computer and data entry skills.
  • Compassion and genuine interest in helping others develop better eating habits.

As a hiring manager, recruiting an ideal Dietitian starts with crafting a good job description. Use this Dietitian job description template to save yourself time and help you attract the most qualified candidates. Feel free to revise it to meet your specific needs.

Job seekers interviewing for the role of a Dietitian may also reference it in preparation for the interview.