Food Service Worker

Full Job Description

This position is located in Memphis, Tennessee at the Memphis VA Medical Center in Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) department. Incumbent will work under the supervision of the Supervisor.

WG-4 Food Service Workers independently perform duties that require proficiency in special procedures.

They require a broad knowledge of service operations, such as food and beverage preparation, modified diets, computer proficiency, dishwashing, dry and refrigerated storage, and safety and sanitation.

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.

Major Duties:

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has adopted the Nutrition and Food Service (NFS) Workforce Modernization Plan, one of the largest workforce innovation efforts undertaken by VHA to articulate future states of NFS operations across enterprise, identifies key priorities for NFS to modernize workforce, recognize unique positions within VHA to support Veterans NFS and established consistency of functions and streamlines hiring process.

As the Food Service Worker, the incumbent's duties include, but are not limited to: Receive and Input patient orders into Computrition Software.

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 other food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware. Prepare boxed/to go meals.

Make final check of diet trays assembled by lower grade workers for completeness, correct food temperatures. Verify that food items on the tray are appropriate for the prescribed diet.

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 when the diet card or tray ticket identifies only the kind of diet called for. Distributes menus and surveys to patients.

Provide patients with basic information about modified diets and the nutrition services that are available. Prepare individual and bulk nourishments and supplemental foods and beverages for patients.

Work Schedule: Rotating TOD (6:00am-2:30pm or 10:30am-7:00pm).Tour of duty is based on the needs of the service that will includes working weekends and holidays based on rotating off days per quarterly schedule.

Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99836-S Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to lift and/or move heavy objects weighing up to 45 pounds.

Work requires continuous standing, walking and bending as well as frequent stooping, reaching, pushing and pulling.