Summary Wage Grade 4 Food Service Workers independently perform duties that require proficiency in special procedures. They require a broad knowledge of service operations, such as food and beverage preparation, modified diets, computer proficiency, dishwashing, dry and refrigerated storage, and safety and sanitation. Wage grade 4 workers can do all the duties of a lower grade worker, but also may help with making patient selections, thickening items and checking trays. Responsibilities Major duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to): Set up assigned station on the tray line with the correct supplies and food items Serve food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers'/patients'/residents' plates Break down and clean the station when assigned Set up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as necessary Return soiled trays and dishes to the dish room Deliver meal trays to the patients' bedsides and report the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian Prepare beverages according to the number of servings required Prepare fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts in specified quantities Sort, wash, peel and cut cold foods using knives or other equipment Provide assistance to cooks in the food preparation area, such as weigh, measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes Prepare uncooked food items, such as sandwich spread and salad dressings Operate and break down and clean all equipment assigned to food service and related areas Portion other food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware Prepare boxed/to go meals Make final check of diet trays assembled by lower grade workers for completeness, correct food temperatures Verify that food items on the tray are appropriate for the prescribed diet Identify obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu Decide what food items to serve for the most common diets when the diet card or tray ticket identifies only the kind of diet called for Distributes menus and surveys to patients Provide patients with basic information about modified diets and the nutrition services that are available Prepare individual and bulk nourishments and supplemental foods and beverages for patients Follow directions in assembling, measuring, weighing, or mixing ingredients for basic formulas and supplemental feedings following standardized recipes and using sanitary techniques Determine the quantities of ingredients needed to prepare required yield Make conversions between the metric system to the standard system Take nourishment inventories, stocking using first in-first out procedures, replacing expired items Label and distribute individual nourishments Sterilize equipment and sanitize work areas Work in one or more functional areas of the kitchen such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, and the serving line Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas Separate food waste and trash from dishes, glasses and silverware in the dish washing area Unload food/tray delivery carts Store sanitized dishes, glasses and silverware Scrape, soak, scour, and scrub cookware and utensils Move garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area Provide assistance to cooks in the food preparation area including assembling, labeling and arranging completed recipe items in preparation for use by cooks. Use a computer terminal to record and retrieve recipe, menu and inventory data and to produce reports Work Schedule: 5:30am-2:00pm, rotating weekends/holidays Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99836S Physical Requirements: Perform work requiring light to moderate physical effort. They are subject to continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. They frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 9 kilograms (20 pounds) unassisted (e.g., pushing small carts of dirty dishes) and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 9 kilograms (20 pounds) (e.g., filling beverage dispensers) with the assistance of other workers. Food service workers may be required to perform heavy work, such as scouring and scrubbing large-size cooking utensils and pushing heavy carts and trucks in unloading, storing, and delivering supplies. They also may be required to work on ladders and use powered cleaning equipment. They frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 18 kilograms (40 pounds) Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job Subject to a background/suitability investigation Designated and/or random drug testing may be required Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period , your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Materials Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision Work Practices Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Education Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE"). As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips.
