Lead - Dietician

The Lead Dietitian is responsible for providing strategic, professional, and operational leadership for dietetic services across the hospital and its satellite clinics. The post holder will be accountable for the smooth running of both inpatient and outpatient dietetic services, ensuring high standards of clinical care, patient safety, and service quality. This role involves developing and implementing dietetic standards in line with organisational key performance indicators, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) regulations, Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) standards, and Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements.

The Lead Dietitian will also provide professional leadership and mentorship to the dietetic team, supporting service development, performance improvement, and staff growth. In addition, the role will work closely with catering services to ensure patients’ clinical nutrition needs are consistently met and maintained, contributing to safe, effective, and patient-centred care delivery.

Position Overview:

The Lead Dietitian is responsible for providing strategic, professional, and operational leadership for dietetic services across the hospital and its satellite clinics. The post holder will be accountable for the smooth running of both inpatient and outpatient dietetic services, ensuring high standards of clinical care, patient safety, and service quality. This role involves developing and implementing dietetic standards in line with organisational key performance indicators, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) regulations, Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) standards, and Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements.

The Lead Dietitian will also provide professional leadership and mentorship to the dietetic team, supporting service development, performance improvement, and staff growth. In addition, the role will work closely with catering services to ensure patients’ clinical nutrition needs are consistently met and maintained, contributing to safe, effective, and patient-centred care delivery.

Key Accountabilities:

Clinical Responsibilities

• Ensure smooth delivery of inpatient and outpatient dietetic services, based on evidence‑based practice.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient nutrition needs, including enteral feeding services.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, and carers, respecting confidentiality, dignity, culture, and beliefs.
• Provide health education to patients and families to promote healthy lifestyles.
• Maintain accurate patient records in line with DHA and organisational standards.

Leadership & Professional Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership to the dietetic team, supporting and supervising junior staff.
• Conduct training, induction and appraisals; ensure compliance with statutory/mandatory training.
• Represent the dietetic profession in MDT meetings and working groups.
• Support practice development, audits, and research to strengthen evidence‑based care.
• Promote dietetic services within the organisation and wider community.

Operational & Administrative Responsibilities

• Organising daily, weekly and monthly team schedules
• Oversee hospital catering standards to meet clinical nutrition requirements.
• Manage stock levels and requisitions for nutritional products.
• Ensure safe use of all dietetic equipment and compliance with infection control.
• Prepare diet sheets, teaching materials and service literature.
• Maintain statistical records for service evaluation and improvement.
• Work collaboratively with physicians, nurses, catering and MDT colleagues to deliver holistic care.
• Use effective communication skills to engage patients and families, often dealing with complex or sensitive information.

Education, Qualification and

Experience:

Education & Qualification

• Dubai Health Authority (DHA) licence.
• Bachelor’s degree Dietetics or Bachelor’s degree in a related health science field with a concentration in dietetics and postgraduate training (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Dietetics

Experience

• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience in a related field.
• For managerial roles, at least 2 years of experience in a senior role within healthcare administration or hospital support services.