Food Service Worker

Food Service Workers perform tasks with several steps or a sequence of tasks that requires attention to work operations. They follow set procedures in accomplishing repetitive assignments and follow an established sequence of work. They can work in one or more functional areas of the kitchen such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, as well as doing work such as portioning cold food, dipping hot food, working in the dish room and passing trays.

Major duties include, but are not limited to: Set up assigned station with the correct supplies and food items. Serve food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers'/patients'/residents' plates. Break down and clean the station when assigned. Set up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as necessary. Return soiled trays and dishes to the dish room. Deliver meal trays to the patients' bedsides and report the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian. Prepare beverages according to the number of servings required. Prepare fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts in specified quantities. Sort, wash, peel and cut cold foods using knives or other equipment. Provide assistance to cooks in the food preparation area, such as weigh, measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes. Prepare uncooked food items, such as sandwich spread and salad dressings. Operate and break down and clean all equipment assigned to food service and related areas. Portion food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware. Prepare boxed/to go meals. Select and place correct items on patient trays. Read and interpret a regular or modified menu, individual diet cards, tray tickets or patient selections. Identify obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu. Decide what food items to serve for the most common diets. Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas. Separate food waste, trash/recyclables from dishes, glasses and silverware. Unload food/tray delivery carts. Store sanitized dishes, glasses and silverware. Scrape, soak, scour, and scrub cookware and utensils. Move garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area. Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center. Work Schedule: Variable with Rotating Days Off. Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99920S Physical Requirements: Wage Grade 3 Food Service Workers perform work requiring light to moderate physical effort. They may be required to perform heavy work, such as scouring and scrubbing large size cooking utensils and pushing heavy carts and trucks in unloading, storing, and delivering supplies. They are subject to continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. May be required to work on ladders and use powered cleaning equipment. They frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.

U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.