Food Service Worker

Summary

This position is located at the Kerrville VA Medical Center, Kerrville, Texas. The Food Service Worker prepares and serves food, assembles patient trays, ensures sanitation, assists in food preparation, and performs heavy-duty cleaning tasks. Duties include portioning food, delivering trays, cleaning equipment, storing dishes, and maintaining food safety standards. They work in noisy, high-heat environments, handle customer service, and follow privacy/security regulations for data handling.

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Duties

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Major Duties:

• Sets up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenishes items as necessary.
• Identifies obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu.
• Uses general sanitation principles to safeguard food against spoilage and waste.
• Prevents contamination by cleaning equipment previously used for raw food.
• Prepares boxed/to go meals.
• Organizes work in a logical sequence.
• Serves food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers'/patients'/residents' plates.
• Prepares fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts in specified quantities.
• Provides assistance to cooks in the food preparation area, such as weigh, measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes.
• Prepares uncooked food items, such as sandwich spread and salad dressings.
• Portions food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware.
• Prepares beverages according to the number of servings required.
• Selects and places correct items on trays.
• Read and interpret a regular or modified menu, individual diet cards, tray tickets or patient selections.
• Understands of food terminology, measurements, and serving information in standardized recipes and menus.
• Sorts, washes, peels and cuts cold foods using knives or other equipment.
• Sets up assigned station with the correct supplies and food items.
• Operates and breaks down and cleans all equipment assigned to food service and related areas,
• Scrapes, soaks, scours, and scrubs cookware and utensils.
• Breaks down and cleans food stations.
• Separates food waste, trash/recyclables from dishes, glasses and silverware.
• Stores sanitized dishes, glasses and silverware.
• Returns soiled trays and dishes to the dish room.
• Performs heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas.
• Unloads food/tray delivery carts.
• Moves garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area.
• Delivers meal trays.

Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts, 5:00am - 8pm, Includes nights, weekends and holidays.

Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99920A

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds, Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds, Pushing (8 hours), Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (8 hours), Standing (8 hours), Climbing, legs only (0.5 hours), Both legs required, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Specific visual requirement (specify) 20/40 both eyes, Hearing (aid may be permitted), Specific hearing requirements (specify) Hearing with or without hearing aids to normal conversation level without visual cues, Mental & emotional stability

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( 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.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

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. 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.

Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

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

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.