Company: Skyway Behavioral Health  

Title: Clinical Lead Dietitian  

FLSA Status: Exempt   

Location: Skokie, IL   

Skyway Behavioral Health is an innovative behavioral health center that goes beyond the treatment of psychiatric symptoms to address underlying biological, behavioral, and psychosocial causes of psychiatric disorders.  Our belief is that maladaptive coping strategies are adopted by patients for survival.  While adaptive at one time or in specific ways, these coping strategies are now preventing patients from living the life they want to live.  Our treatments teach patients new skills that enable them to serve as their own behavioral therapists- thereby helping them to maintain recovery and generalize skills to their home environments.     

At Skyway, we provide a fully immersive, intensive, whole-person experience that covers everything from neuroscience to nutrition.  We believe that the path to recovery from traumatic stress requires a focus that encompasses not just symptom management but also the treatment of underlying individual, systemic, developmental, and familial traumas. We use leading-edge, specialized, evidence-based treatment modalities to help our patients address the trauma and pain behind their behaviors and diagnoses – thereby empowering them to make lasting changes in their lives.  

Our team has extensive clinical and leadership experience in the areas of traumatic stress, eating disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders/pathology. At Skyway, we are committed to building a culture and team that cares for one another such that we may care for our families, communities, and clients.  At Skyway, we believe that recovery is not only possible but also attainable for all patients.  

Role Description  

The Clinical Lead Dietitian reports to the Dietitian Manager at Skyway Behavior Health and is responsible for providing nutrition therapy to individual clients and in group context with a specific focus on co-occurring eating disorders. Also, provides direction, education of nutrition care to staff members and assists in upholding, evaluating and enhancing the structure of EDS programming. At Skyway Behavioral Health, we believe that learning to nourish yourself is a skill that empowers clients with both traumatic stress only and traumatic stress and eating disorder pathology.  

Essential Functions/Core Responsibilities  

• Responsible for initial nutritional assessments and individualized treatment planning for clients with co-occurring eating disorders/allergies or medical conditions 

• Preps, delivers and expands curriculum for nutrition experiential group 

• Conducts individual sessions with patients based on individualized dietary needs  

• Develops individualized meal plans based on MD orders 

• Promotes quality patient services and overall patient satisfaction. Responsible for resolution of any patient or customer concerns regarding nutrition team.  

• Demonstrates ability to build rapport with patients and engage patients in recommended level of care and treatments.

• Completes progress notes in a timely fashion.

• Attends and participates in patient care and DBT consultation team meetings.

• Establishes and maintains effective communications and working relationships within a multidisciplinary team. Responds in a timely fashion to provider concerns and resolves problems as appropriate. 

• Provides “On the floor” staff support, milieu containment and direction, and community support. 

• Coordinates program coverage with clinical and dietary team where gaps are present.

• Serves as an advisor and provides counsel to dietitians and other staff in need of guidance and/or validation of approaches to clinical treatment.

• Participates in interview and screening process for hiring of new dietitians and other clinical positions if applicable.

• Assists Dietitian Manager, Director of Training and Development and Eating Disorder Specialist with the Eating Disorder Training Path by providing resources and education to staff on eating disorder care at Skyway.

• Co-leads and provides coverage in collaboration and absence of Dietitian Manager for weekly nutrition department team meeting. 

• Coordinates food service needs with both dietary technician and catering company in absence of Dietitian Manager

• Overseas the coordination of CNC assessments, providing guidance of nutrition recommendations and client transitions to EDS when indicated in collaboration and absence of Dietitian Manager

• Participates in weekly supervisions and quarterly trainings as needed. 

• Supports the organization's mission, vision, values, and strategic initiatives. 

• Assists Dietitian Manager in the development and administration of policies and procedures to accomplish department-specific and organizational initiatives. 

• Ensures compliance with all applicable local, state, federal regulations, and guidelines.  

• Maintains completion of all competencies associated with their role and in accordance with Skyway Behavioral Health policies and subsequent Joint Commission standards. 

• Follows policies and procedures to accomplish department and organizational initiatives. 

• In coordination with leadership team, responsible for overseeing clinical operations and programs to achieve established strategies, goals and objectives aligned with Joint Commission Standards elevated to the nutrition department, safe food storage, and preparation.  

• Performs other job duties as assigned. 

Minimum Requirements  

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program and registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), Master’s Degree in dietetics, food, or nutrition preferred 

• 2 or more years of experience working as a Registered Dietitian, experience with eating disorders/trauma patient population preferred.  

• Exceptional organization skills, reliable and timely. 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills that are clear, respectful, and considerate of other’s perspectives. 

• Must be fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English

• Clinical proficiency in treatment, diagnosis, and documentation. 

• Reliable form of transportation to work. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft products (Word, Outlook, Excel), and familiarity with use of EHR systems. 

Additional Preferred Skills  

• A passion for coaching, mentorship, and team-development.  

• A problem-solving orientation and eagerness to identify process gaps and implement practical solutions. 

• Ability to work independently as needed, recognizes the need for support and demonstrates the willingness to ask for help. 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond with confidence during challenging or chaotic situations.  

• Someone who embodies Skyway values:  

o Embraces the whole person.  

o Commits to innovative research-based programs.  

o Believes we are better together.  

o Celebrates expressions of diversity.  

o Believes in service and supporting our communities. 

o Views leadership as a privilege to elevate others to their highest potential.  

Physical Demands  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 

Benefits:

• Medical benefits- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

• Dental benefits-Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

• Vision benefits-Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

• Short Term & Long Term Disability

• 401K Safe Harbor Match- Ameritas BlueStar 

• PTO

• Paid Holidays

• Paid Sick Time

• Paid Wellness Days

• Regular clinical supervision

• Collaborative professional growth development

Work Environment 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work hours may vary in this leadership role and may require responding to phone calls from direct reports during off hours. 

Skyway Behavioral Health is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.