This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service at the Bruce W. Carter Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami.The primary purpose of the Cook is to prepare nutritious, high quality meals for service to the Veterans,which include the preparation of regular or special diet foods and meals,and inventory control, rotation, and management. Position has a sequence of steps that require attention to work operations,sanitation and safety;work assignments may require knowledge and judgement.

Duties

Major duties and responsibilities include, but 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 duties related to inventory rotation, control and management. Applicants with ServSafe Manager Certification preferred. Work Schedule: Determined by the needs of the service at the time of hire Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99818S Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approve Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/09/2024. 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. Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: - Is subject to continuous standing, walking, frequent bending, reaching, pushing, and pulling. - Lifts or moves 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. - 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. Environment includes exposure to extreme cold while working in walk-in refrigerators and freezers for extended periods of time to complete duties. 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.

Education

There is no substitution of education for this occupational series.

Contacts

• Address Bruce W Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1201 Northwest 16th Street Miami, FL 33125 US
• Name: Miguel Viera-Rodriguez
• Phone: 787-641-7582
• Email: [email protected]