The Dietetics Practice Coordinator (DPC) is a full-time, permanent staff position responsible for planning, implementing and coordinating internship and practicum activities for multiple Master's programs within the Department of Nutrition Sciences. This includes vetting and onboarding of preceptors, managing student internship contracts with both local and remote sites, and supporting Program Directors with orientations and other key events. The DPC also plays a vital role in promoting the internship/practicum programs across hospitals and the broader community by building and maintaining strong partnerships.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

1. Coordinate Internship/Practicum Rotations: Arrange and manage internship and practicum placements for current and incoming students in ACEND-accredited and other Master's programs of the Department of Nutrition Sciences. This includes fostering current relationships with ongoing preceptors/practicum sites, and networking to continuously create new placement opportunities.
2. Maintain Schedules and Records: Organize and update internship/practicum schedules in a variety of formats, including spreadsheets, forms, and electronic internship management systems.
3. Ensure accurate and up-to-date records of preceptor qualifications, site details, and affiliation agreements/contracts for accreditation compliance (e.g., ACEND, SACSCOC, NC-SARA).
4. Student Support and Communication: Provide training and maintain consistent, clear, communication with both local and remote students regarding their internship/practicum experiences.
5. Internship Clearance Coordination: Serve as a liaison between students and school leadership to ensure all clearance requirements (e.g., background checks, immunizations, training modules) are completed and documented prior to internship participation.
6. Preceptor Evaluation and Training: Assess prospective preceptors to ensure they meet program qualifications. Provide guidance and training to preceptors on working with students and managing internship/practicum expectations.
7. Contract and Agreement Management: Collaborate with preceptors and sites and school leadership to establish and maintain written affiliation agreements and complete necessary other paperwork and documentation as needed.
8. Program Support: Assist Master's Program Directors and designees with student orientations and other key program events.
9. Other Duties: Performs additional responsibilities as assigned to support the success of the internship programs and department initiatives.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interact effectively with students, faculty, preceptors, and external partners.
• Proficiency in both desktop and cloud-based productivity tools, including Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook), Microsoft Teams, Box, and other collaborative platforms.
• Experience with electronic internship or academic management systems such as E*Value or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of accreditation standards (e.g., ACEND, SACSCOC, NC-SARA) and experience maintaining compliance-related documentation.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in recordkeeping and scheduling.
• Experience working with dietetic internship programs or graduate-level health sciences education.
• Familiarity with student clearance processes (e.g., background checks, immunizations, onboarding requirements).
• Experience developing and maintaining affiliation agreements or contracts.

Annual Salary Range: $43,890 - $71,320

Bachelor's degree in a health related field required. Work experience may NOT substitute for education requirement. Currently licensed as a Registered Dietitian (RD) by the Alabama State Board of Examiners for Dietetics (BOED) required. Must currently hold active certification as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.