Food Service Worker

Summary

This Food Service Worker position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service at the VA Medical Center in Alexandria, Louisiana.

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Duties

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Major Duties:

• Setting up assigned station with the correct supplies and food items
• Serving food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers'/patients'/residents' plates
• Breaking down and cleaning the station when assigned
• Setting up dining room tables for service, placing food and beverages on tables, and replenishing items as necessary
• Returning soiled trays and dishes to the dish room
• Delivering meal trays to the patients' bedside and reporting the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian
• Preparing beverages according to the number of servings required
• Preparing fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts in specified quantities
• Sorting, washing, peeling and cut cold foods using knives or other equipment
• Providing assistance to cooks in the food preparation area, such as weighing, measuring and assembling ingredients according to standardized recipes
• Preparing uncooked food items, such as sandwich spread and salad dressings
• Operating and breaking down and cleaning all equipment assigned to food service and related areas
• Portioning food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware
• Preparing boxed/to go meals
• Selecting and placing correct items on patient trays
• Reading and interpreting a regular or modified menu, individual diet cards, tray tickets or patient selections
• Identifying obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu
• Deciding what food items to serve for the most common diets
• Performing heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas
• Separating food waste, trash/recyclables from dishes, glasses and silverware
• Unloading food/tray delivery carts
• Storing sanitized dishes, glasses and silverware
• Scraping, soaking, scouring, and scrubbing cookware and utensils
• Moving garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Sunday to Saturday, 5:30am to 2:00pm. Subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Position Description Title/PD# : Food Service Worker/PD99920S

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI) : Not approved

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized

Requirements

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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 ( 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.
• 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, 06/22/2026.

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.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: Work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity. Performs work requiring light to moderate physical. 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. Subject to continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

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.

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.