Food Service Worker

About the Role

Food Service Workers in Nutrition and Food Service perform a wide range of tasks in all areas of the Food Service/Food Production kitchen. They follow set procedures in accomplishing assignments and follow an established sequence of work. This position will provide service at the offsite VA Valor Center as well as the Detroit VA Medical Center.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Experience: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to demonstrate your ability to perform the duties of this position. Evidence must be supported by detailed descriptions on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

Screen-Out Element: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against a prescribed screen-out element. Those who meet the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating.

Driving Requirement: A valid State Driver's License is required for the position.

Experience Consideration: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited based on time spent in appropriate activities.

Responsibilities

• 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, 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 weighing, measuring, and assembling ingredients according to standardized recipes
• Prepare uncooked food items, such as sandwich spread and salad dressings
• Operate, 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, and 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
• Operate assigned motor vehicles for the pickup and delivery of food, supplies, and equipment from the Detroit VA to the VA Valor Center Domiciliary on a daily basis
• Perform driving assignments in all traffic and weather conditions to provide uninterrupted service to the Veterans
• Load and unload food, supplies, and equipment, ensuring proper distribution and security to prevent damage or loss while in transit
• Check materials loaded or delivered against appropriate documents to prevent error and certify the condition of the items, obtaining signatures from receiving personnel
• Ensure quantities loaded are in accordance with requirements to prevent delays in meal service and eliminate the need for additional trips
• Observe sanitation and safety policies and procedures in transporting food supplies
• Coordinate equipment issues with the assigned transportation service
• Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

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.

• 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
• Must be able to reach, bend, turn, and move hands, arms, feet, and legs to operate hand and foot controls of motor vehicles
• When assigned as a driver, work is performed outside, and vehicles are operated in all types of traffic and weather

Schedule

12-hour shifts (work 7 non-consecutive days every 2 weeks), rotating weekends and holidays. Schedule may be subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.