Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Leeds, MA

12d • Onsite

About The Position

This Food Service Worker position is in Nutrition & Food Service at the Central Western Massachusetts VA Medical Center. The worker supports kitchen and patient food-service operations in areas such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, storage and receiving, and the serving line. Duties include preparing and serving foods, delivering meals and nourishments to patients, checking diet trays, maintaining inventories, operating and cleaning equipment, and keeping work areas sanitary. The position requires working multiple shifts based on service needs.

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.
• Ability to perform duties assessed through the job elements: Dexterity and Safety; Interpret Instructions and Specifications; Materials; Technical Practices; Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment; Work Practices; and working without more than normal supervision.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless 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 VA employment in a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis screening for illegal drug use; refusal 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 serve a one-year probationary period.
• VA Health Care Personnel must receive an annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain a medical or religious exemption; those with an exemption must wear a face mask.

Responsibilities

• Set up assigned tray-line stations with required supplies and food items; serve uniform portions and clean the station afterward.
• Set up dining tables, serve and replenish food and beverages, return soiled trays and dishes, and deliver meal trays to patients while reporting comments or complaints to a supervisor or dietitian.
• Prepare beverages, fresh fruit, cold salads, dressings, sandwich fillings, cold sandwiches, simple cold desserts, uncooked food items, 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, assembling, labeling, and arranging ingredients and recipe items.
• Operate, break down, and clean assigned food-service equipment; portion food items using proper utensils and dishware.
• Check diet trays assembled by lower-grade workers for completeness, correct food temperatures, and consistency with prescribed diets; identify discrepancies and select foods for common diets when diet cards specify only the type of diet.
• Distribute menus and surveys to patients and provide basic information about modified diets and available nutrition services.
• Prepare individual and bulk nourishments and supplemental foods and beverages according to standardized recipes and sanitary procedures; determine ingredient quantities and convert between metric and standard measurements.
• Take nourishment inventories, restock using first-in, first-out procedures, replace expired items, and label and distribute individual nourishments.
• Sterilize equipment and sanitize work areas; perform heavy-duty cleaning throughout food-service and related areas.
• Separate food waste and trash from dishes, unload delivery carts, store sanitized tableware, clean cookware and utensils, and move garbage cans to disposal areas.
• Use a computer terminal to record and retrieve recipe, menu, and inventory data and produce reports.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for approved job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service, if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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