Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration•Fargo, ND

10d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is in Nutrition and Food Service at the Fargo VA Health Care System in Fargo, North Dakota. Wage Grade 3 Food Service Workers perform repetitive tasks involving multiple steps or a sequence of work operations, following established procedures. Duties include setting up and breaking down assigned stations; portioning food; selecting items for patient trays and identifying obvious discrepancies between prescribed diets and menu items; setting up dining room tables and replenishing food and beverages; delivering meal trays to patients; reporting patient comments and complaints; assisting cooks with food preparation; preparing cold foods and simple desserts; interpreting menus and patient diet cards or selections; and performing heavy-duty cleaning and other assigned duties. The schedule varies Sunday through Saturday and includes rotating weekends and holidays. Typical shifts are 6:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 6:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., or 6:45 a.m.–3:15 p.m.; the schedule is determined upon hire and may vary according to scheduling needs. The work involves light to moderate physical effort, with occasional heavy tasks. It is performed in kitchen areas that can be hot, humid, noisy, and slippery, with exposure to hot liquids, sharp blades, hot surfaces, and temperature changes from entering refrigeration or freezer units. Employees may use ladders and powered cleaning equipment. Applicants must provide evidence of training or experience sufficient to demonstrate ability to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required. There is no educational requirement for this job series and grade. The position requires U.S. citizenship unless an exception applies, suitability for federal employment, and a one-year probationary period. VA health care personnel must receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an approved exemption; masking is required when an exemption is granted.

Requirements

Provide evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to demonstrate the ability to perform the work; no specific length of experience is required.
Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the work, 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.
Be a U.S. citizen, unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
Be suitable for federal employment as determined by a background investigation.
Register with Selective Service if required.
Complete required onboarding and provide acceptable identification.
Serve a one-year probationary period.
Meet VA health care personnel seasonal influenza vaccination requirements or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption.

Responsibilities

Set up and break down an assigned station with the correct supplies and food items.
Portion food into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and dishware.
Select and place the correct food items on patient trays.
Decide which food items are appropriate for the most common diets and identify obvious discrepancies between prescribed diets and menu 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 throughout food service and related areas.
Perform other duties as assigned.