This position is in Nutrition & Food Services, Birmingham, Alabama Veterans Health Care System. The primary purpose of the Food Service Worker is to support the food service operations provided to Veterans. Work is performed in one or more functional areas such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, and the serving area.

Duties

The primary duties for the Food Service Worker position include, but are not limited to: Set up assigned station with the correct supplies and food items. Serve food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers'/patients'/residents' plates. Break down and clean the station when assigned. Set up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as necessary. Return soiled trays and dishes to the dish room. Deliver meal trays to the patients' bedsides and report the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian. Prepare beverages according to the number of servings required. Prepare fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts in specified quantities. Sort, wash, peel and cut cold foods using knives or other equipment. Provide assistance to cooks in the food preparation area, such as weigh, measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes. Prepare uncooked food items, such as sandwich spread and salad dressings. Operate and break down and clean all equipment assigned to food service and related areas. Portion food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware. Prepare boxed/to go meals. Select and place correct items on patient trays. Read and interpret a regular or modified menu, individual diet cards, tray tickets of patient selections. Identify obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu. Decide what food items to serve for the most common diets. Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas. Separate food waste, trash/recyclables from dishes, glasses and silverware. Unload food/tray delivery carts. Store sanitized dishes, glasses and silverware. Scrape, soak, scour, and scrub cookware and utensils. Move garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area. Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center. Work Schedule: 5:30 a.m. - 2:00 pm. Rotating days, holidays, and weekends Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker / PD99920A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

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
• Pre-employment physical required
• 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, 01/31/2025. 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; religious; 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: May be required to perform heavy work such as scouring and scrubbing large-size cooking utensils. He/she may also be required to push heavy carts and trucks in unloading, storing, and delivering supplies. May be required to work on ladders and use powered cleaning equipment. Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 40 pounds or heavier amounts with or without assistance. There are long periods of standing and/or walking on tile floors, frequent bending, pulling, pushing, reaching, and stooping. A physical examination is required prior to being hired for this position. Working Conditions: The work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dish-washing equipment often cause uncomfortable high temperatures and humidity. The work area is well lighted but is usually noisy from food service activities. There is danger of slipping on floors where food and beverages have been dropped. The employee is regularly exposed to hot liquids, sharp cutting blades, hot working surfaces and extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration or freezer units.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Birmingham VA Medical Center 700 South 19th Street Birmingham, AL 35233 US
• Name: Tykie Patterson
• Phone: 6592106254
• Email: Tykie.Patterson@va.gov