Food Service Worker

Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The initial cut-off date for referring eligible applications will be April 24, 2026, and applicants will be referred on an "as needed" basis thereafter. The Announcement will remain open through July 10, 2026, but may be extended if needed before the initial closing date.

Vacancies may not currently exist at all advertised locations, but may later occur before the closing date. Applicants will be notified at the time of referral.

Major duties and responsibilities

• Sets up and breaks down assigned station with the correct supplies and food items.
• Portion food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware.
• Selects and places correct items on patient trays.
• Decides what food items to serve for the most common diets.
• Identifies obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu.
• Sets up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as necessary.
• Delivers meal trays to the patients' bedsides, reporting the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian.
• Provides assistance to cooks in the food preparation area, such as weigh, measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes.
• Prepares fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts.
• Reads and interprets regular or modified menus, individual diet cards, tray tickets or patient selections.
• Performs heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Benefits

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• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full-time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

Work Schedule

A variety of work schedules are available; work schedule will be determined upon selection. May be expected to work rotating weekends and holidays.

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity.
• Performs work requiring light to moderate physical.
• 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.
• Subject to continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending.
• Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.

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 of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume.
• SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:
• Dexterity and Safety
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Work Practices