Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Chicago, IL

7d • 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 food service 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 position involves preparing and serving food for patients, supporting cooks, checking diet trays, delivering meals, and working in kitchen areas such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, storage and receiving, and the serving line. Work is performed in kitchen conditions that may be hot, humid, and involve exposure to hot liquids, sharp blades, hot surfaces, and temperature changes in walk-in refrigeration units. The schedule is listed as Sunday–Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m., or Friday–Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.–7:00 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.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment; refusing testing results in denial of employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Must complete all application requirements listed 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 show training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to demonstrate ability to perform the work; supporting details must be included on the resume.
• Must demonstrate the competencies assessed in the job elements: dexterity and safety; interpreting instructions and specifications; materials; technical practices; use and maintenance of tools and equipment; working without more than normal supervision; and work practices.
• Must meet all requirements by the announcement closing date.
• Must receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain a medical or religious exemption; employees with an exemption must wear a face mask.

Responsibilities

• Set up and break down the assigned station with the correct supplies and food items.
• Portion food 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 using standardized recipes and sanitary techniques.
• Deliver meal trays to patients' bedsides and report patient comments and complaints to a supervisor or dietitian.
• Assist cooks by 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 supplement 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 tasks throughout food service and related areas.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• VA may offer newly appointed Federal employees credit for job-related non-Federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval before appointment; this is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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