Summary This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service at the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The primary purpose of the Cook, is to prepare nutritious, high quality meals for service to the Veterans Responsibilities Prepare of regular or special diet food and meals such as cooking meats, poultry, fish, shellfish and vegetables and making soups, gravies, sauces, desserts and other foods. Follows menus, production sheets and recipes to prepare items in the quantity needed. Slices meat items by hand confirming to specific size requirements or weight specifications. Operates a variety of kitchen equipment: oven, combination oven/steamer, grill, slicer, mixer, steam kettles, blender, food processor, scale. Gather test data to assist management in making purchases and menu pricing decisions. Follows sanitary food handling procedures; covers, labels and dates food items; Cleans and sanitizes assigned work areas: worktables, sinks, blast chillers, racks, carts. Performs deep cleaning tasks such as cleaning walk-in refrigerators and freezers. Receives, rotates and stores perishable and non-perishable items according to service polices. Work Schedule: 5am-130pm Wednesday-Sunday, Monday/Tuesday OFF Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99818S Physical Requirements: Performs work in areas of extreme of temperature, such as walk-in refrigeration or freezing units. Environment includes exposure to extreme cold while working in walk-in refrigeration and freezing units for extended periods of time. Exposure to steam, cooking odors, and noise from equipment and conversation. Subject to hazard of cuts, bruises, strains, burns, and fall in the kitchen environment. Exposure to strong cleaning and sanitizing solutions which may frequently be skin and respiratory irritants. Perform work in patient care settings where there may be exposure to contagious disease. May have contact with patients who demonstrate verbally and/or physical aggressive behavior. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Pre-employment physical 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 or trial 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, 04/13/2026. 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 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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. 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. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
