Job opening: Cook

Salary: $20 - 23 per hour

Published at: Aug 18 2023

Company: Veterans Health Administration

Employment Type: Full-time

This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service of a Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Nutrition and Food Services is responsible for providing meals and nutritional care to Veteran patients at the Medical Center. The primary purpose of the Cook is to prepare nutritious, high-quality meals for service to the Veterans. There are two positions currently available - one full-time and one part-time position. Selectee may be required to report to the Fort Thomas, KY duty station.

Duties

Major Duties: Performs a full range of simple cooking which entails the preparation and cooking of meals that require little or no processing. Follows menus, production sheets and recipes to prepare items in the quantity needed. Performs full range of simple cooking by preparing and cooking items requiring little or no processing such as hot cereals, concentrated or dehydrated soups, sauces, and gravies. Grills eggs, hamburgers, meat patties, pancakes, French toast, broils meats, makes cold sandwich fillings and assembles a variety of sandwiches. Prepares fresh, canned, and frozen vegetables; bakes frozen potatoes, pre-made cookie dough, muffin batters. Prepares and heats convenience items such as frozen hash browns, fish fillets, and chicken nuggets; prepares pureed foods and adjusts consistency with thickeners. Washes, peels and cuts fruits and vegetables by hand or machine. Assembles and mixes salad ingredients and dessert items including gelatin molds and fruit crisps. Washes, peels, chops, grinds, pares, cuts, slices, dices, purees, dredges, flours, breads items. Weighs, measures, assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets. Combines ingredients according to precisely written recipes to produce quality food items, minimizing preparation time and food waste. Pans foods for bulk re-thermalization according to recipe guidelines and production guidelines. Covers, dates, and stores leftovers according to established local policies/procedures. Operates a variety of kitchen equipment: oven, combi oven/steamer, grill, slicer, mixer, steam kettles, blender, food processor, scale; follows safety procedures regarding the operation of equipment. Food Safety/Sanitation Follows sanitary food handling procedures; covers, labels and dates food items; utilize or discard ingredients by expiration date. Disassembles and assembles component parts and accessories for cleaning. Cleans, stores and maintains all kitchen utensils, equipment and work areas practicing a "clean as you go" concept. Cleans and sanitizes assigned work areas: worktables, sinks, blast chillers, racks, carts. Achieves certification in ServSafe and can apply knowledge of food safety, food temperatures, etc. Operates dish machine; checks detergent level and water temperature before washing and sanitizing cook's equipment. Checks equipment to make sure it is free of food residue and soap. Cleans ovens, oven/steamer, slicer, mixer, steam kettles, grill daily. Collects trash, sorts and prepares items for recycling. Cleans floors, walls, shelves as assigned. Performs deep cleaning tasks such as cleaning walk-in refrigerators and freezers. May operate powered floor cleaning or steam equipment for deep cleaning. Food Storage Rotates and stores perishable and non-perishable items according to service policies. Removes outdated or damaged goods from stock. Labels all food items with contents and dates per labeling guidelines. Weighs, measures, and assembles ingredients accurately and according to standardized recipes or requisitions. Monitor and maintain proper spacing of food products from floor, ceiling and shelving to ensure adequate air flow and spacing of products for optimal food safety. Monitor for signs of pest notifying the appropriate individual as determined by your local policy. Maintain accurate food inventories. Maintains strict security of all areas. Work Schedule: Part-time, 20 hours per week, 2/3 weekends, 5:30am-2:00pm, 11:00am-7:30pm, 3:30pm-7:30pm, 10:00am-6:30pm; 5:30am-9:30am Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, 2/3 weekends, 5:30am-2:00pm, 11:00am-7:30pm, 10:00am-6:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99819S Physical Requirements: Subject to continuous standing, walking, frequent bending, reaching, pushing and pulling. Lifts or moves objects weighing up to 40 lbs. Manipulate heavy objects - washing stainless steel mixing bowls, pushing heavy carts on caster, or operating heavy equipment. Manual dexterity needed to safely operate equipment and handle sharp knives and blades. Hand-eye coordination and ability to concentrate and react quickly to serve food and operate equipment. Works in areas of temperature extremes. Work is carried out in kitchen/dish room areas that are often hot, uncomfortable, and noisy. Work Environment: Includes exposure to extreme cold working in walk-in refrigerators and freezers for extended periods of time to complete duties. Exposed to stems, cooking odors, and noise from equipment and conversation. Hazards of cuts, bruises, strains, burns and falls in kitchen. Strong cleaning / sanitizing solutions may be skin and respiratory irritants. Work in patient care settings where there may be exposure to contagious disease. May have contact with patients who can be verbally and/or physically aggressive. Required to wear hair covering, a clean uniform, disposable gloves and proper protective equipment.

Requirements

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, Transcripts, etc.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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 SafetyInterpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)MaterialsTechnical PracticesUse and Maintain Tools and EquipmentWithout more than normal supervisionWork 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.