Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Columbia, MO

25d • Onsite

About The Position

Wage Grade 3 Food Service Workers perform tasks involving several steps or a sequence of tasks that require attention to work operations. They follow established procedures and sequences for repetitive assignments and may work in one or more kitchen functional areas, including food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage, and receiving. They can perform all duties of a lower-grade worker. The position supports food service operations at a Medical Center, with other duties assigned as needed.

The work is performed in kitchen areas that can be uncomfortably hot and humid due to cooking and dishwashing equipment. Areas are well-lighted but usually noisy, and floors may be slippery from dropped food or beverages. Workers are regularly exposed to hot liquids, sharp cutting blades, hot surfaces, and temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration or freezing units. The scheduled hours are 11:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m., 20 hours, with days that may vary.

Requirements

• Demonstrate training or experience of sufficient scope and quality 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.
• Meet the position's screen-out element and be assessed on dexterity and safety, interpreting instructions and specifications, materials, technical practices, use and maintenance of tools and equipment, work without more than normal supervision, and work practices.
• Be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens under VA policy.
• Be suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete required onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• As Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel, receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain a medical or religious exemption; wear a face mask if exempt.

Responsibilities

• Set up assigned stations with the correct supplies and food items, then break down and clean stations when assigned.
• Serve uniform portions cafeteria-style and portion food using proper utensils and specified dishware.
• Set up dining room tables, place food and beverages, replenish items, and return soiled trays and dishes to the dish room.
• Deliver meal trays to patients' bedsides and report patient comments and complaints to a supervisor or dietitian.
• Prepare beverages, fresh fruit, cold salads, dressings, sandwich fillings, cold sandwiches, simple cold desserts, and boxed or to-go meals in specified quantities.
• Sort, wash, peel, and cut cold foods using knives or other equipment.
• Assist cooks by weighing, measuring, and assembling ingredients according to standardized recipes, and prepare uncooked items such as sandwich spreads and salad dressings.
• Operate, break down, and clean assigned food-service equipment and related areas.
• Select and place correct items on patient trays; read and interpret regular or modified menus, individual diet cards, tray tickets, or patient selections.
• Identify obvious discrepancies between prescribed diets and menu-designated food items, and decide which foods to serve for the most common diets.
• Perform heavy-duty cleaning throughout food-service and related areas.
• Separate food waste and trash or recyclables from dishes, glasses, and silverware; unload delivery carts; and store sanitized dishes, glasses, and silverware.
• Scrape, soak, scour, and scrub cookware and utensils.
• Move garbage cans while collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• VA may approve credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual; approval must be requested before appointment and is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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