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Posted: February 5, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Cook

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$21.72 - $25.32

per hour

Closes

February 17, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves preparing simple, everyday meals in a hospital kitchen for veterans, focusing on tasks like grilling, baking, chopping ingredients, and following recipes to serve nutritious food efficiently.

It's part of a modernized nutrition service in a VA medical center in Columbia, Missouri.

A good fit would be someone with basic cooking experience from any setting, who is reliable, pays attention to details like food safety, and enjoys hands-on food preparation without needing advanced culinary skills.

Key Requirements

  • Demonstrated ability to perform simple cooking tasks with minimal processing, such as grilling, baking, and preparing vegetables
  • Knowledge of following menus, recipes, production sheets, and dietary guidelines accurately
  • Dexterity and safety in handling kitchen tools, equipment, and ingredients
  • Ability to interpret instructions and specifications for food preparation
  • Proficiency in technical practices for cooking, including measuring, mixing, and portioning
  • Skill in using and maintaining kitchen tools and equipment without close supervision
  • Adherence to work practices that minimize waste and ensure quality in a fast-paced environment

Full Job Description

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has adopted the Nutrition and Food Service (NFS) Modernization Initiative or Standardization Implementation Plan which is a new model of organizing and consolidating essential Nutrition and Food Service functions and services to the Medical Center.

This streamlined and focused approach moves VHA forward in its continuum of providing comprehensive, compassionate, and coordinated care to 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: 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 according to recipe guidelines and production guidelines.

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.

Work Schedule: 11:00AM-7:30PM; Days may vary. 20 Hours per week.

Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99819S Physical Requirements: This position is subject to continuous standing, walking, frequent bending, reaching, pushing, andpulling.

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.

Working Conditions: The work is performed 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.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/5/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/6/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBSS-12880918-26-SWH