Clinical Dietitian, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 223016 
Department/Program: Allied Health NICU, Women's & Newborn Health 
Location: Halifax  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE) x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: September 6, 2026
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $37.2747 - $51.6218 /hour
Closing Date: July 8, 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager, Neonatal Care Team, the Clinical Dietitian is a key member of the interprofessional NICU Care Team. The role of the Dietitian is to work collaboratively with the team to develop a plan of nutritional care to meet the nutritional needs of infants admitted to NICU. The Dietitian is recognized as the expert in neonatal nutrition and shares this expertise through education with medical/nursing/allied health staff.

The Clinical Dietitian provides assessment, intervention, and follow-up (as indicated) on a direct, consultative or monitoring basis. The Clinical Dietitian consults and collaborates with health care providers regarding clients. The Clinical Dietitian participates in the professional development of services through care team meetings, working groups, and sub-committees as appropriate. The Clinical Dietitian shares responsibility with all dietitians to provide caseload coverage throughout the Health Centre, as well as weekend standby and call back coverage, as required.

The Clinical Dietitian works in collaboration with the Professional Practice Leader for issues pertaining to professional standards of practice. The Clinical Dietitian will assist in the education of IWK Health staff, dietetic interns, and affiliating students on normal and therapeutic nutrition, in accordance with the mission, vision, and philosophies of the IWK Health Centre.

The Dietitian will also work collaboratively with the Family Newborn Care Unit team (as needed) for any advanced nutritional needs of their long-stay infants.

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday 8am until 4pm (call shifts on weekends); 75 hours bi-weekly.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with major credits in nutrition or dietetics required; Masters degree preferred
• Graduate of a Dietitians of Canada accredited Dietetic Internship Program 
• Licensed member of the Nova Scotia Regulator of Dietetics (NSRD), or eligible for licensure
• Member of Dietitians of Canada (DC), or eligible for membership
• Advanced Food Safety training
• Previous experience in a health care setting required
• Previous experience as a Clinical Dietitian required
• Minimum two (2) years hospital clinical experience in neonatal or pediatric care preferred
• Minimum two (2) years hospital clinical experience with parenteral nutrition preferred
• Demonstrates ability to work collaboratively as a key member of NICU multidisciplinary team as well as the ability to work independently.
• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of neonatal/pediatric enteral and parenteral nutrition.
• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Family Integrated Care as a guiding principle for NICU care.
• Demonstrates commitment to the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFI) to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication (verbal & written) skills.
• Excellent time management, organization and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of human nutrition and critical illness, and integrates knowledge, evidence, and skills to the nutrition treatment of neonates, infants, and pediatric patients and specifically neonatal medical/surgical conditions.
• Competencies in other languages an asset.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Healthcare  bargaining  unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.