Job Details
Summary **A Recruitment/Retention incentive may be approved for highly qualified candidates** The Full Time Food Service Worker position(s) are located within the Nutrition and Food Service at the VA Medical Center in Muskogee. The position(s) contribute to the preparation of meal items, the assembly of meal trays and the delivery of meals to Veterans. Responsibilities This is an open-continuous announcement closing Monday, September 30, 2024. IMPORTANT NOTICE: This announcement will remain open until filled and may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred once a month or as vacancies become available. This announcement may close without advanced notice. This position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service at the VA Medical Center in Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System. Duties and Skills include, but are not limited to: Using proper cleaning solutions to sanitize food preparation surfaces. Cleaning walk-in refrigerators and freezers in a food service or food handling organization. Handling and storing sanitized dishes, glasses and silverware for public use. Making sandwiches using prepared ingredients for cafeteria or buffet lines. Portioning food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and containers. Assembling and tossing fresh fruit or green salads in large quantities for public consumption. Brewing coffee in a restaurant/commercial size coffee maker. Setting up glasses, silverware, dishes, trays, and condiments in communal dining areas. Scouring and scrubbing heavy cooking utensils such as mixing bowls and pots. Performing heavy duty cleaning tasks such as ceilings and/or exhaust hoods. Loading and operating a continuous conveyor belt feeding dishwasher. Setting up cafeteria lines and/or steam-tables with hot and cold food items. Standing/walking to clear tables and carrying trays of heavy dishes for several hours or more at a time. Sweeping and mopping floors repetitively in high traffic areas such as corridors, entry ways, cafeterias and other areas. Moving kitchen equipment such as stand mixers, weight scales and meat slicers to clean spaces behind and under such equipment. Delivering meals, which may include hot foods and liquids, to patients' bedsides or patrons. Emptying trashcans containing food scraps and waste. Reading and understanding written material such as time and duty schedules. Reading and following instructions with regard to safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals. Reading and following instructions on menus, recipes, and/or basic work instructions. Following label directions in using cleaning or disinfecting/sanitizing agents. Applying sanitation principles to safeguard food against spoilage and waste. Adhering to safety policies and procedures when performing manual work involving lifting, carrying, transporting and delivering food or other items. Working quickly without accidents while at the same time being attentive to the quality of your work. Recognizing typical health and safety hazards for yourself and other workers around you. Working rapidly and accurately under the pressure of deadlines. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, Reliability and Dependability. Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume. Recruitment/Retention Incentive: A Recruitment/Retention incentive may be approved for highly qualified candidates Work Schedule: Varies to include Weekends and Holidays Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99921S Physical Requirements: Wage Grade 2 Food Service Workers perform work requiring light to moderate physical effort. Work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity. 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, frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lifts or moves objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others. 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. May serve a probationary period. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. A complete application package; Resume, supporting documents confirming eligibility status, etc. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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: Reliability and Dependability Work Practices Special Aptitude - Food Service Work Handle Weights and Loads Follow Directions Dexterity and Safety 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees 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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.