Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Bronx, NY

24d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nutrition and Food Services department at the Bronx, NY VA Medical Center is hiring intermittent Food Service Workers at the WG-3 level. The position performs tasks involving multiple steps or sequences that require attention to work operations. Workers follow established procedures and sequences while completing repetitive assignments.

Duties include setting up and breaking down assigned stations; portioning food into standard serving sizes; selecting items for patient trays; identifying obvious discrepancies between prescribed diets and menu items; setting up dining room tables and replenishing food and beverages; delivering meal trays to patients and reporting comments or complaints; assisting cooks with food preparation; preparing cold foods and simple desserts; reading menus, diet cards, tray tickets, and patient selections; and performing heavy-duty cleaning and other assigned duties.

The work requires light to moderate physical effort and may include heavy tasks such as scrubbing large cooking utensils and pushing heavy carts. Workers 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 objects up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects over 40 pounds with assistance.

Requirements

• Evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to demonstrate ability to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required.
• Demonstrated competencies in 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.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Suitability for federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Completion of required online onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Successful completion of a one-year probationary period, including written certification for continued employment.
• Annual seasonal influenza vaccination or an approved medical or religious exemption; employees with an exemption must wear a face mask.

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 correct items on patient trays.
• Determine food items to serve for the most common diets.
• Identify obvious discrepancies between prescribed diets and menu items.
• Set up dining room tables, place food and beverages on them, 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, and patient selections.
• Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout food service and related areas.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive access to a benefits package for themselves and their families; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• VA may approve credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service toward the rate of annual leave accrual, if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed