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Posted: March 5, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Cook

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$19.85 - $23.15

per hour

Closes

March 13, 2026More VA jobs →

Job Description

Summary

This job involves preparing simple, nutritious meals for veterans in a hospital kitchen, following recipes and safety rules to ensure food is safe and tasty.

It suits someone with basic cooking experience who enjoys working in a team to serve others, even if from volunteer or entry-level roles.

No advanced skills are needed, just a reliable approach to food prep and cleaning.

Key Requirements

  • Demonstrated cooking experience or training sufficient to prepare basic meals like cereals, soups, grilled items, and sandwiches
  • Ability to follow menus, recipes, production sheets, and instructions accurately
  • Knowledge of safe food handling, sanitation, and hygiene procedures
  • Proficiency in operating, maintaining, and cleaning kitchen equipment
  • Dexterity and attention to safety in a fast-paced kitchen environment
  • Experience weighing, measuring, and assembling ingredients for regular and modified diets
  • Willingness to perform cleaning tasks and deep sanitation of work areas

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham VAMC.

The person in this position prepares 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 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.

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

Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).

Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

An applicant that is not in compliance should not be on a referral or certificate for the selection process Major Duties:

Major duties and responsibilities include: Prepares and cooks meals that require little or no processing, such as hot cereals, concentrated or dehydrated soups, sauces, and gravies Follows menus, production sheets, and recipes to proper items in the quantity needed Grills eggs, 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, and muffin batters Prepares and heats convenience items such as frozen hash browns, fish fillets, and chicken nuggets; Prepares purred 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 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 dish machine Performs other related duties Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 5:00am-1:30pm; 9:00am-5:30pm; 10:30am-7pm ( Mandatory Every other weekend) Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99819A Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be physically able to do continuous walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, pulling and pushing; lifting and moving objects such as lightweight cleaning equipment and other objects; and climbing step ladders.

Frequent lifting or moving objects up to 25 pounds is required. Must be physically able to remain engaged in manual work requiring muscular effort for the entire eight-hour shift.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/5/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/6/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBTA-12903176-26-KLM