Job Location:
Cincinnati, OH - USA
Hourly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service of a Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Nutrition and Food Services is responsible for providing meals and nutritional care to Veteran patients at the Medical Center. The primary purpose of the Cook WG-4 is to prepare nutritious high quality meals for service to the Veterans. The position has a sequence of steps that require attention to work operations sanitation and safety; work assignments may require knowledge and judgment.
Duties listed are not limited to
Food Preparation
- Performs a full range of simple cooking which entails the preparation and cooking of meals that require little or no processing.
- Follows menus production sheets and recipes to prepare items in the quantity needed.
- Performs full range of simple cooking by preparing and cooking items requiring little or no processing such as hot cereals concentrated or dehydrated soups sauces and gravies.
- Grills eggs hamburgers meat patties pancakes French toast; broils meats; makes cold sandwich
fillings and assembles a variety of sandwiches.
- Prepares fresh canned and frozen vegetables; bakes frozen potatoes pre-made cookie dough muffin batters.
- Prepares and heats convenience items such as frozen hash browns fish fillets and chicken nuggets; prepares pureed foods and adjusts consistency with thickeners.
- Washes peels and cuts fruits and vegetables by hand or machine. Assembles and mixes salad ingredients and dessert items including gelatin molds and fruit crisps.
- Washes peels chops grinds pares cuts slices dices purees dredges flours breads items.
- Weighs measures assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets.
- Combines ingredients according to precisely written recipes to produce quality food items minimizing preparation time and food waste.
- Pans foods for bulk re thermalization according to recipe guidelines and production guidelines.
- Covers dates and stores leftovers according to established local policies/procedures.
- Operates a variety of kitchen equipment: oven combi oven/steamer grill slicer mixer steam kettles blender food processor scale; follows safety procedures regarding the operation of equipment.
Food Safety/Sanitation- Follows sanitary food handling procedures; covers labels and dates food items; utilize or discard ingredients by expiration date.
- Disassembles and assembles component parts and accessories for cleaning.
- Cleans stores and maintains all kitchen utensils equipment and work areas practicing a clean as you go concept.
- Cleans and sanitizes assigned work areas: worktables sinks blast chillers racks carts.
- Achieves certification in ServSafe and can apply knowledge of food safety food temperatures etc.
- Operates dish machine; checks detergent level and water temperature before washing and sanitizing cooks equipment. Checks equipment to make sure it is free of food residue and soap.
- Cleans ovens combi oven/steamer slicer mixer steam kettles grill daily.
- Collects trash sorts and prepares items for recycling.
- Cleans floors walls shelves as assigned.
- Performs deep cleaning tasks such as cleaning walk-in refrigerators and freezers. May operate powered floor cleaning or steam equipment for deep cleaning
Food Storage
- Rotates and stores perishable and non-perishable items according to service policies. Removes outdated or damaged goods from stock.
- Labels all food items with contents and dates per labeling guidelines.
- Weighs measures and assembles ingredients accurately and according to standardized recipes or requisitions.
- Monitor and maintain proper spacing of food products from floor ceiling and shelving to ensure adequate air flow and spacing of products for optimal food safety.
- Monitor for signs of pest notifying the appropriate individual as determined by your local policy.
- Maintain accurate food inventories.
- Maintains strict security of all areas.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 5:00a.m-1:30p.m. 6:00a.m.-2:30p.m. 11:00a.p.-7:30p.m. and 2 of 3 weekends
Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99819S
- 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 cannot 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)
- 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.
To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 08/31/2026.
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:
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.
Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:
- Performs work in areas of extremes of temperature. Work is carried out in kitchen/dish room areas that are often hot uncomfortable and noisy. Environment includes exposure to extreme cold while working in walk-in refrigerators and freezers for extended periods of time to complete duties.
-Works with other cooks food service workers and supervisors.
- Is exposed to steam cooking odors and noise from equipment and conversation.
- Is subject to continuous standing walking frequent bending reaching pushing and pulling.
- Lifts or moves objects weighing up to 40 lbs. unassisted and occasionally lifts or moves objects weighing more than 40 lbs. with assistance of a lifting device or other workers.
- Manipulates cumbersome heavy objects such as washing stainless steel mixing bowls pushing heavy carts on casters or operating heavy equipment.
- Possesses manual dexterity to operate equipment and to handle sharp knives and blades safely.
- Utilizes eye-hand coordination and the ability to concentrate and react quickly to serve food and operate equipment.
- Is subject to hazards of cuts bruises strains burns and falls in kitchen environment.
-Uses strong cleaning and sanitizing solutions which may frequently be skin and respiratory irritants.
- Performs work in patient care settings where there may be exposure to contagious disease. May have contact with patients who demonstrate verbally and /or physical aggressive behavior.
- Required to wear proper hair covering and clean uniform. Wear disposable gloves when handling food for service and proper protective equipment when completing cleaning activities.
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
IC
