Cook

Cook Position

This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Providence. The person in this position prepares nutritious, high quality meals for service to veterans. Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Independently prepares and cooks a variety of items including regular and therapeutic diet (diabetic, low sodium, low protein, gluten free, etc.) entrees and dessert items.
• Follows menus, production sheets, and recipes to prepare items in the quantity needed.
• Grills eggs, meat patties, pancakes, French toast; broils meats; makes cold sandwich fillings and assembles a variety of sandwiches.
• Uses a variety of methods to prepare meats, fish, and poultry including broiling, roasting, baking, frying, boiling, steaming, stewing, braising, and grilling.
• Slices meat items by hand, confirming to specific size requirements or weight specifications.
• Prepares fresh, canned, and frozen vegetables; bakes frozen potatoes, pre-made cookie dough, and muffin batters.
• Prepares and heats convenience items, and prepares pureed foods and adjusts consistency with thickeners.
• Washes, peels, and cuts fruits and vegetables; assembles and mixes salad ingredients and dessert items, including gelatin molds and fruit crisps.
• Plans cooking processes to produce meals on time and at the proper temperature which may require coordination of cooking several items with different cooking times.
• Makes a variety of desserts such as cobblers, brownies, cookies, and pastries.
• Weighs, measures, and assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets.
• Operates a variety of kitchen equipment and follows appropriate safety procedures.
• Follows sanitary food handling procedures.
• Disassembles and reassembles equipment for cleaning.
• Cleans and sanitizes work areas, and performs deep cleaning tasks when needed.
• Operates industrial dish machine.
• Performs other related duties.

Work Schedule: The work schedule will be determined based on the needs of the Medical Center and include rotating days, weekends, holidays, and shifts between the hours of 5:30am to 7:00pm. The Providence VA Medical Center is an acute care facility operating 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Shift changes will be considered based on patient and facility needs.

Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99818S

Physical Requirements: Incumbent is subject to continuous standing, walking, frequent bending, reaching, pushing, and pulling; Lifting or moving objects weighing up to 40 lbs. unassisted and occasionally lifts or moves objects weighing more than 40 lbs. with assistance of a lifting device or other workers; Manipulates cumbersome, heavy objects, such as washing stainless steel mixing bowls, pushing heavy carts on casters or operating heavy equipment; Possesses manual dexterity to operate equipment and to handle sharp knives and blades safely; Utilizes eye-hand coordination and the ability to concentrate and react quickly to serve food and operate equipment.

Working Conditions: Performs work in areas of extremes of temperature, such as walk-in refrigeration or freezing units. Work is carried out in kitchen/dish room areas that are often hot, uncomfortable and noisy. Works with other cooks, food service workers and supervisors. Is exposed to steam, cooking odors, and noise from equipment and conversation. Is subject to hazards of cuts, bruises, strains, burns and falls in kitchen environment. Uses strong cleaning and sanitizing solutions which may frequently be skin and respiratory irritants. Performs 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. Required to wear proper hair covering and clean uniform. Must wear disposable gloves when handling food for service and proper protective equipment when completing cleaning activities.

Notifications: This position is a LIUNA Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.