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Posted: January 26, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Cook

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$25.27 - $29.47

per hour

Closes

February 4, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves preparing and cooking nutritious meals for veterans in a hospital setting, including special diets for health needs like diabetes or low sodium.

The role requires working independently in a kitchen to follow recipes, handle various cooking methods, and ensure food is ready on time.

It's a good fit for someone with hands-on cooking experience who enjoys serving others and can handle a busy schedule with weekends and holidays.

Key Requirements

  • Demonstrated cooking experience or training sufficient to prepare a variety of meals, including therapeutic diets
  • Ability to follow menus, recipes, and production sheets accurately
  • Knowledge of multiple cooking techniques such as grilling, baking, roasting, frying, and steaming
  • Dexterity and safety in handling kitchen tools, equipment, and food preparation
  • Skill in interpreting instructions and specifications for food quantities and portions
  • Proficiency in using and maintaining kitchen tools and equipment without close supervision
  • Adherence to work practices ensuring timely meal production at proper temperatures

Full Job Description

This Cook position is located in the Butler VA Health Care System, New Castle Road Campus - Nutrition and Food Services, and is responsible for providing meals and nutritional care to Veteran patients at the Medical Center.

The primary purpose of the Cook, WG- 6, is to prepare nutritious, high quality meals for service to the Veterans.

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 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.

Major Duties:

Major duties include but are not limited to: Works independently to prepare and cook 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. Cooks hot cereals, concentrated or dehydrated soups, sauces, gravies.

Grills eggs, hamburgers, meat patties, pancakes, French toast; 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, muffin batters.

Prepares and heats convenience items; 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.

Plans cooking processes to produce complete meals on time and at the proper temperature which may require coordination of cooking several items with different cooking times.

Work Schedule: 9:30am-6:00pm, with rotating days off, working some weekends and holidays. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#:Cook/PD99818S Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/26/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/27/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBSZ-12868488-26-CB