Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Canandaigua, NY

5d • Onsite

About The Position

This Food Service Worker position is in Nutrition & Food Service at the VA Medical Center in Canandaigua, New York. The worker independently performs duties requiring proficiency in special procedures and broad knowledge of food service operations, including food and beverage preparation, modified diets, computer proficiency, dishwashing, dry and refrigerated storage, and safety and sanitation.

Work is performed in kitchen areas that may be hot and humid due to cooking and dishwashing equipment. Workers may be exposed to hot liquids, sharp blades, hot surfaces, and extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration units. The work involves light to moderate physical effort and may include heavy tasks such as scrubbing large cooking utensils and pushing heavy carts. It requires continuous standing and walking, frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending, and lifting or moving objects up to 20 pounds regularly and over 40 pounds occasionally with assistance. The work schedule is 10:45 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.

Requirements

• Evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to demonstrate the ability to perform the work; no specific length of training or experience is required.
• Provide detailed resume descriptions supporting knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties.
• U.S. citizenship is required, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Must be suitable for federal employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete the required online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• Meet the job's competencies, 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.
• VA Health Care Personnel must receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain a medical or religious exemption; those with an exemption must wear a face mask.

Responsibilities

• Set up and break down an assigned station with the correct supplies and food items.
• Portion food items into standard serving sizes using proper utensils and specified dishware.
• Select food items for common diets when a diet card or tray ticket identifies only the diet type.
• Provide patients with basic information about modified diets and available nutrition services.
• Identify obvious discrepancies between prescribed diets and menu-designated food items.
• Assemble, measure, weigh, or mix ingredients for basic formulas and supplemental feedings according to standardized recipes and sanitary techniques.
• Deliver meal trays to patients' bedsides and report their comments and complaints to a supervisor or dietitian.
• Assist cooks by assembling, labeling, and arranging recipe items for use in food preparation.
• Prepare fresh fruit, cold salads, dressings, sandwich fillings, cold sandwiches, simple cold desserts, and individual and bulk nourishments and supplemental foods and beverages for patients.
• Check diet trays assembled by lower-grade workers for completeness and correct food temperatures.
• Work in one or more kitchen functional areas, including food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, and the serving line.
• Perform heavy-duty cleaning throughout food service and related areas.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• VA may approve credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual, if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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