Fresh Listing

Posted: March 11, 2026 (1 day ago)

This job was posted recently. Fresh listings typically have less competition.

Cook

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$23.17 - $27.02

per hour

Closes

March 19, 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 includes tasks like cooking basic items, handling ingredients, cleaning equipment, and maintaining a clean workspace.

A good fit would be someone with basic cooking experience who pays attention to details, works safely, and enjoys serving others in a team setting.

Key Requirements

  • Demonstrated ability to prepare and cook basic meals, such as cereals, soups, grilled items, and sandwiches
  • Knowledge of sanitary food handling and safety procedures in a kitchen environment
  • Skill in operating, maintaining, and cleaning kitchen equipment and tools
  • Ability to follow menus, recipes, production sheets, and instructions accurately
  • Experience with weighing, measuring, and assembling ingredients for regular and modified diets
  • Dexterity and attention to technical practices for food preparation and portioning
  • Willingness to work independently with minimal supervision and perform cleaning tasks

Full Job Description

This position is located at the Clement Zablocki Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI and is aligned under the Nutrition and Food Division.

N&F Services is responsible for providing meals and nutritional care to Veteran patients at the Medical Center.

The primary purpose of the Cook, WG- 4, is to prepare nutritious, high quality meals for Veterans.

The position has a sequence of steps that require attention to work operations, sanitation, safety; work assignments may require knowledge and judgment.

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: 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: Schedule may be 10:30 am - 7:00 pm or 11:00 am - 7:30 pm; working 5 days every two weeks (off every other weekend); works holidays as they fall on the schedule.

Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99819S Physical Requirements: 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 objecting weighing more than 40 lbs. with assistance of a lifting device or other workers.

Manipulates cumbersome, heavy objects, such as washing stainless steel mixing bowls, pushing heavy carts on casters or operating heavy equipment.

Possesses manual dexterity to operate equipment and to handle sharp knives and blades safely.

Utilizes eye-hand coordination and the ability to concentrate and react quickly to serve food and operate equipment.

Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes

Browse Similar Jobs

Posted on USAJOBS: 3/11/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/12/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CAZP-12903162-26-KJ