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Posted: February 3, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Cook

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$23.34 - $27.24

per hour

Closes

February 10, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves preparing simple, nutritious meals for veterans in a hospital kitchen, following recipes and safety rules to serve high-quality food.

It suits someone with basic cooking experience who can work independently, handle kitchen tools safely, and maintain a clean environment.

Ideal candidates are reliable team players comfortable with rotating shifts, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Key Requirements

  • Demonstrated cooking experience or training sufficient to prepare basic meals like soups, sandwiches, grilled items, and vegetables
  • Ability to follow menus, recipes, and production sheets accurately to meet quantity needs
  • Knowledge of safe food handling, sanitation procedures, and kitchen equipment operation
  • Dexterity and safety skills for handling tools, ingredients, and heavy lifting up to 40 lbs
  • Capability to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment
  • Physical ability to stand continuously, bend, reach, push, pull, and perform cleaning tasks
  • Availability for 8-hour shifts, 5 days a week, with rotating weekends and holidays (5:00am to 7:30pm)

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee.

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 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 and responsibilities include: Independently 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: 8 hour tours, 5 days per week.

Rotating weekends and holidays required.(Earliest to clock in is 5:00am and latest to clock out is 7:30pm.) Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99818S Physical Requirements: Will be 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.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/3/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/4/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBTG-12872483-26-CMC