Food Service Worker

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This is an open continuous announcement until September 30 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. This announcement may close without advanced notice.

This position independently performs duties that require proficiency in special procedures and broad knowledge of service operations such as food and beverage preparation modified diets computer proficiency dishwashing dry and refrigerated storage and safety and sanitation.

Major duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Sets up and breaks down assigned station with the correct supplies and food items;
• Portions food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware;
• Decides what food items to serve for the most common diets when the diet card or tray ticket identifies only the kind of diet called for;
• Provides patients with basic information about modified diets and the nutrition services that are available;
• Identifies obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu;
• Follows directions in assembling measuring weighing or mixing ingredients for basic formulas and supplemental feedings following standardized recipes and using sanitary techniques;
• 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 including assembling labeling and arranging completed recipe items in preparation for use by cooks;
• Prepares fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts along with individual and bulk nourishments and supplement foods and beverages for patients;
• Makes final check of diet trays assembled by lower grade workers for completeness correct food temperatures;
• Works in one or more functional areas of the kitchen such as food preparation dish and pot washing dry and refrigerated storage and receiving and the serving line;
• Performs heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas;
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Rotating Schedules 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. including weekends and holidays.
Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker / PD# 99836S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave 13 days of sick leave 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment 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 $144000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy 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).
Remote: This is not a remote position.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Physical Effort and Work Conditions: Work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity. Food service workers are regularly exposed to hot liquids sharp cutting blades hot working surfaces and extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration units. Performs work requiring light to moderate physical effort. 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.

Conditions of employment

• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement
• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

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 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 09/30/2026.

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. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

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
• Without more than normal supervision
• Work Practices

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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies knowledge and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.