University of Iowa logo
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

NICU Clinical Dietitian I or II

DietitianNo callNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$58k–$61k

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the work setting, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

The University of Iowa Healthcare department of Food & Nutrition is seeking a Clinical Dietitian II or Dietitian I to use Nutrition Care Process to assess, evaluate, and provide medical nutrition therapy for patients in Stead Family Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Newborn Nursery, and Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic.

Teaches dietetic students. Participates in multidisciplinary teams and develops nutritional components of care. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development appropriate to the patient’s status according to age.

Use Nutrition Care Process to assess, evaluate, and provide medical nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling for adult and geriatric outpatients and inpatients

Teaches Master of Clinical Nutrition Students.

Participate in multidisciplinary teams and develop nutritional components of care

Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development appropriate to the patient’s status according to age

The University of Iowa Health Care Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Stead Family Children’s Hospital is a nationally recognized leader in neonatal care, offering a world-class clinical environment and unparalleled opportunities for professional growth.

As Iowa’s only Level IV NICU, the highest level designated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, our team cares for the tiniest and most critically ill infants, including those born at the edge of viability, with outcomes that rank among the best in the nation.

The NICU is part of a nationally ranked neonatology program and has earned prestigious recognitions such as the Beacon Award for Excellence for exemplary patient care and a recent special designation from the American Academy of Pediatrics highlighting clinical expertise and outcomes.

Our multidisciplinary team is deeply involved in groundbreaking research, quality improvement initiatives, and leadership in state and national neonatal care standards, making this an exceptional place to build a career in advanced neonatal nursing and medicine.

The department intends to hire one candidate from either Clinical Dietitian I or Clinical Dietitian II based on the qualifications of the successful candidate. Please address in your application the specific position for which you which to be considered or both.

  • Percent of Time: 100%25
  • Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm with rotating on call weekends
  • Pay Grade: hr.uiowa.edu
  • Dietitian II: $60,740
  • Dietitian I: $57,850

Benefits Highlights

  • Regular salaried position located in Iowa City, Iowa
  • Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans
  • For more information about Why Iowa?, click here

Clinical Dietitian II

Required Qualifications

  • Master’s Degree in Food and Nutrition or Dietetics or an equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Excellent written and verbal communication
  • 5-7 years of clinical nutrition experience
  • Demonstrated competency of patient care in the neonatal patient population across a wide range of medical conditions in the inpatient and outpatient setting.
  • Experience making enteral and parenteral recommendations and selecting appropriate formulas

Certifications

  • Registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration is required
  • Licensure by the State of Iowa is required
  • Clinical Dietitian I

Required Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Food and Nutrition or Dietetics or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Candidates registered prior to January 1 2024, a Bachelor's degree in Food and Nutrition or Dietetics is required.

Excellent written and verbal communication

Certifications

  • Registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration is required
  • Licensure by the State of Iowa is required

Application Process: In order to be considered, applicants must upload a resume and cover letter (under submission relevant materials) that clearly address how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check.

Additional questions, please reach out to Tamara Griffith at tamara-griffith@uiowa.edu.

Key Responsibilities

The Clinical Dietitian will assess, evaluate, and provide medical nutrition therapy for patients in the NICU and outpatient settings. They will also participate in multidisciplinary teams and provide instruction to dietetic and Master of Clinical Nutrition students.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Food and Nutrition or Dietetics, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and licensure by the State of Iowa are required.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
5+ years of experience

Key Skills

Neonatal nutritionEnteral nutritionParenteral nutritionPatient assessmentMultidisciplinary team collaborationGrowth and development principlesFormula selectionDietetic student instruction

Dietitian Career Context

Of the 50 active Clinical Nutrition listings this role was benchmarked against, 18% are remote, 24% have no call, 88% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Iowa is 87.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$59k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $68k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Iowa clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates NICU Clinical Dietitian I or II at University of Iowa a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Clinical Nutrition (Dietitian) — ranked against 3,208 active Clinical Nutrition (Dietitian) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements.

Top Dietitian Jobs

16 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution16 jobs · 12 employers

3
<$80k
8
$80k-95k
2
$95k-110k
2
$110k-125k
1
$125k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks12 jobs

401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
58%
Relocation assistance
25%
Sign-on bonus
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Regional Registered Dietitian

Medical Nutrition Therapy Associates · Baltimore, Maryland

$100k-$125k
#2

Regional Dietitian Wellbeing Director- Allergen Management

Compass Group · Costa Mesa, California

$110k-$120k
#3

Clinical Dietitian

$95k-$110k
#4

Regional Registered Dietitian

$90k-$100k
+ 14 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 7.2
Better work-life than 90% of Clinical Nutrition (Dietitian) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,208 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
  • No weekends

Living in Iowa City

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$296k≈ 5.1× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,270/mo≈ 26% of gross pay
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.5
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026).

BEA 2024 · Iowa City, IA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

University of Iowa logo

About University of Iowa

Hospitals and Health Care
Iowa City, Iowa
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid Vacation
Sick Leave
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Retirement Plans