Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Richmond, VA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Food Service Worker position is within Nutrition & Food Service at the Richmond VA Medical Center. The worker follows established procedures and sequences to complete repetitive assignments and may work in food preparation, dishwashing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, or the serving area. Tasks include portioning cold food, serving hot food, working in the dish room, and passing trays.

The position operates on one of two schedules: 6:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. or 11:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Days off are to be determined. Both schedules include weekends and holidays. Work takes place in kitchen areas that can be hot and humid due to cooking and dishwashing equipment. Duties require continuous standing and walking, frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending, and lifting or moving items weighing up to 20 pounds frequently and more than 40 pounds occasionally with assistance.

Applicants must demonstrate training or experience sufficient to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required. There is no education qualification requirement. Employment is subject to federal suitability and onboarding requirements, including a background investigation, pre-employment drug testing for selected applicants in testing-designated positions, and a one-year probationary period. VA Health Care Personnel must receive annual influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption; those with an exemption must wear a face mask.

Requirements

• Demonstrate training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required.
• Provide resume descriptions supporting the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties.
• Meet the position's screen-out element and job elements, including dexterity and safety, interpreting instructions and specifications, materials, technical practices, tool and equipment use and maintenance, working without more than normal supervision, and work practices.
• Be a U.S. citizen, unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Be suitable for federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions must submit to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Complete the online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification and required application documents.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• As VA Health Care Personnel, receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain a medical or religious exemption; wear a face mask when an exemption is granted.

Responsibilities

• Set up and break down assigned stations 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.
• Determine appropriate food items 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, 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, 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 throughout food service and related areas.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; eligibility depends on position type, including whether the position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.
• Potential to request 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