Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Chicago, IL

21d • Onsite

About The Position

The Food Service Worker position is aligned under Nutrition and Food Service at the Chicago, Illinois VA Medical Center. The worker independently performs duties requiring proficiency in special procedures and broad knowledge of service operations, including food and beverage preparation, modified diets, computer proficiency, dishwashing, dry and refrigerated storage, and safety and sanitation. The work schedule is Friday through Tuesday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling, telework, and virtual work are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Must be suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a testing-designated position must submit to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Selected applicants must complete the online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Must complete all application requirements described in the announcement's Required Documents section.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period and receive written certification that continued employment advances the public interest to remain employed after that period.
• No specific length of training or experience is required, but applicants must provide evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to demonstrate ability to perform the work.
• Resume descriptions must support the applicant's knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties.
• Must meet the prescribed screen-out element and demonstrate job-related 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.
• Work requires light to moderate physical effort and may require heavy work, including scouring and scrubbing large cooking utensils and pushing heavy carts and trucks.
• Must be able to stand and walk continuously and frequently stoop, reach, push, pull, and bend.
• Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds without assistance and occasionally lifts or moves objects weighing more than 40 pounds with assistance.
• As VA health care personnel, must receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain a medical or religious exemption; a face mask is required when an exemption is granted.

Responsibilities

• Set up and break down the 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 the diet card or tray ticket identifies only the type of diet.
• Provide patients with basic information about modified diets and available nutrition services.
• Identify obvious discrepancies between prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu.
• 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 patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian.
• Assist cooks in food preparation, including assembling, labeling, and arranging completed recipe items for use.
• Prepare fresh fruit, cold salads and dressings, sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches, simple cold desserts, and individual and bulk nourishments and supplemental foods and beverages for patients.
• Make a final check of 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

• VA may grant newly appointed Federal employees credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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