Fresh Listing

Posted: February 5, 2026 (7 days ago)

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

Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$19.35 - $22.58

per hour

Closes

February 17, 2026More VA jobs →

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working in a hospital kitchen to prepare, serve, and clean up food for veterans, following simple routines like setting up stations, portioning meals, and delivering trays to patients.

It's a hands-on role in food service that requires reliability and attention to detail.

A good fit would be someone with basic kitchen experience or volunteer work in food handling who is comfortable working in a team and following instructions.

Key Requirements

  • Ability to perform repetitive tasks with attention to detail and follow set procedures
  • Knowledge of safe food handling practices and dexterity in using kitchen tools
  • Experience in food preparation, such as washing, peeling, cutting, and assembling ingredients
  • Skill in serving food cafeteria-style, portioning items, and setting up dining areas
  • Ability to operate, clean, and maintain kitchen equipment without close supervision
  • Capability to read and interpret menus, diet cards, and tray tickets accurately
  • Evidence of training or experience in food service, including volunteer work

Full Job Description

Wage Grade 3 Food Service Workers perform tasks with several steps or a sequence of tasks that requires attention to work operations.

They follow set procedures in accomplishing repetitive assignments and follow an established sequence of work. Wage grade 3 workers can do all the duties of a lower grade worker.

They can work in one or more functional areas of the kitchen such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving.

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: Set up assigned station with the correct supplies and food items. Serve food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers'/patients'/residents' plates.

Break down and clean the station when assigned. Set up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as necessary.

Return soiled trays and dishes to the dish room. Deliver meal trays to the patients' bedsides and report the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian.

Prepare beverages according to the number of servings required. Prepare fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts in specified quantities.

Sort, wash, peel and cut cold foods using knives or other equipment.

Provide assistance to cooks in the food preparation area, such as weigh, measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes.

Prepare uncooked food items, such as sandwich spread and salad dressings. Operate and break down and clean all equipment assigned to food service and related areas.

Portion food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware. Prepare boxed/to go meals. Select and place correct items on patient trays.

Read and interpret a regular or modified menu, individual diet cards, tray tickets or patient selections.

Identify obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu. Decide what food items to serve for the most common diets.

Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas. Separate food waste, trash/recyclables from dishes, glasses and silverware. Unload food/tray delivery carts.

Store sanitized dishes, glasses and silverware. Scrape, soak, scour, and scrub cookware and utensils. Move garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area.

Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center. Work Schedule: 11:00AM-7:30PM; Days may vary.

Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99920S Working Conditions: The work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity.

The work area is well-lighted but usually noisy from food service activities, and there is danger of slipping on floors where food or beverages have been dropped.

Food service workers are regularly exposed to hot liquids, sharp cutting blades, hot working surfaces, and extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration or freezing units.

Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes

Browse Similar Jobs

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

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBSS-12880756-26-SWH