Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Indianapolis, IN

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The WG-3 Food Service Worker is part of the Nutrition and Food Service department at the Indianapolis VAMC, a Level 1a complexity VHA facility. The incumbent independently performs duties requiring proficiency in specialized food service procedures, including station setup, food portioning and tray preparation, dining-room service, meal delivery, food preparation assistance, and cleaning. The position also involves interpreting menus and diet information and identifying obvious discrepancies between prescribed diets and menu items.

The work schedule is 5:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with rotating weekends and holidays. The work requires light to moderate physical effort and may include heavy cleaning and moving carts or supplies. Employees stand and walk continuously and frequently stoop, reach, push, pull, and bend. They may work on ladders and use powered cleaning equipment. They frequently lift or move up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally move more than 40 pounds with assistance.

Requirements

• Meet the U.S. citizenship requirement; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Be suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• Selected applicants for testing-designated VA positions must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Register with Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete the online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Complete all application requirements in the announcement's Required Documents section.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• Demonstrate training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required.
• Provide detailed resume descriptions supporting the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the work.
• Meet the screen-out element and demonstrate applicable job elements, including dexterity and safety; interpreting instructions and specifications; materials; technical practices; using and maintaining tools and equipment; working without more than normal supervision; and work practices.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza program by receiving annual vaccination or obtaining a medical or religious exemption; employees with an exemption must wear a face mask.

Responsibilities

• Set up and break down the assigned station with the correct supplies and food items.
• Portion food into standard serving sizes using proper utensils and specified dishware.
• Select and place the correct items on patient trays.
• Decide which food items to serve for the most common diets.
• Identify obvious discrepancies between prescribed diets and menu-designated food items.
• Set up dining room tables, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as needed.
• Deliver meal trays to patients' bedsides and report patient comments and complaints to a supervisor or dietitian.
• Assist cooks with food preparation, including weighing, measuring, and assembling ingredients according to standardized recipes.
• Prepare fresh fruit, cold salads and dressings, sandwich fillings, cold sandwiches, and simple cold desserts.
• Read and interpret regular or modified menus, individual diet cards, tray tickets, or patient selections.
• Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout food service and related areas.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive a comprehensive benefits package for themselves and their families.
• VA may grant newly appointed federal employees credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual; approval is required and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed