Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Houston, TX

11d • Onsite

About The Position

This Food Service Worker position is located within Nutrition & Food Service at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. The role involves preparing and serving food for patients and dining areas, supporting cooks, and cleaning food-service spaces. Work is performed in kitchen areas where cooking and dishwashing equipment can create high temperatures and humidity. The position requires continuous standing and walking and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. Workers may lift objects up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally move objects over 40 pounds with assistance.

The schedule consists of rotating shifts Monday through Sunday between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., including weekends and holidays, and may change based on agency needs. A current, valid state-issued driver's license is required. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and meet other federal employment conditions, including applicable Selective Service registration, a background/security investigation, a pre-employment physical, seasonal influenza vaccination, and completion of a probationary or trial period. No specific length of training or experience is required, but applicants must demonstrate sufficient relevant knowledge and ability. There is no education qualification requirement.

Requirements

• A current, valid state-issued driver's license is required.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Applicants must be able to pass a background/security investigation and pre-employment physical.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel.
• Applicants must complete the required online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for employment verification.
• Applicants must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• No specific length of training or experience is required, but applicants must show evidence of training or experience demonstrating the ability to perform the work.
• Applicants must demonstrate relevant knowledge and ability in areas 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.
• The work requires continuous standing and walking and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending; workers may need to perform heavy work and lift or move objects.

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 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 for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as necessary.
• 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.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The announcement states that federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits for this position are not listed.

What This Job Offers

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