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Posted: January 9, 2026 (6 days ago)

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Food Service Worker

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$22.53 - $26.31

per hour

Closes

January 16, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working in a hospital kitchen to prepare, serve, and clean up food for veterans, including tasks like washing dishes, sanitizing equipment, and delivering meals to patient rooms.

It's a hands-on role focused on keeping food areas clean and safe.

A good fit would be someone reliable and dependable with basic experience in food handling or cleaning, even from volunteer work or school, who can follow instructions and work steadily in a team environment.

Key Requirements

  • Demonstrated reliability and dependability, such as consistent attendance and positive performance in past roles, school, or volunteer work
  • Ability to perform physical tasks like cleaning, lifting weights, and handling loads safely
  • Dexterity and safety awareness for operating kitchen equipment and following sanitation protocols
  • Skill in following directions and work practices in a food service setting
  • Special aptitude for food service work, shown through relevant training, experience, or life experiences
  • No specific length of experience required, but evidence of sufficient training or scope in food-related duties

Full Job Description

This Food Service Worker position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service at the VA Medical Center in American Lake VA Medical Center in Tacoma, WA.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of 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.

The screen-out element is reliability and dependability.

Examples include high school diploma/GED, completed a lengthy training program, performed substantial volunteer work, or have other life experiences (e.g., armed forces) that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of a Food Service Worker dependably.

You never had an unexcused absence from school or work.

You received recognition and/or positive performance evaluations for my work and/or attendance, or you have been selected for special job(s) because you are reliable.

OR You are able to provide continuous and dependable service performing work of a Food Service Worker.

Your past performance in school, in the community, armed forces, and/or part-time jobs has been above average.

You have performed above average on school or work projects that were assigned to me, and have had very few unexcused absences from school or work.

OR Your past performance in school, in the community, armed forces, and/or part-time jobs has been average, and you have the potential to perform work of a Food Service Worker dependably.

I am generally reliable and responsible, but have occasionally had unexcused absences from school or work.

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 Follow Directions Handle Weights and Loads Reliability And Dependability Special Aptitude - Food Service Work 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 (but are not limited to): Cleans serving areas by sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning/sanitizing work surfaces, and other food service equipment, such as refrigerators, toaster, and coffee machines; Cleans production equipment including steam jacketed kettles, tilt skillets, etc.

using appropriate and safe sanitation techniques; Loads and operates dishwashers and cart washing station; Performs necessary preventative maintenance on equipment; Transports tray carts to wards and individually delivers trays directly to the patient's bedside or assists patients with transport of their meal trays; Sets-up serving areas with hot and cold foods, keeping foods appropriately stocked during meal service; Identifies discrepancies between the prescribed diet and/or listed food allergies and the food items listed on the tray ticket; Assembles a variety of items while working in cold food preparation and nourishment area; Make cold sandwiches using prepared ingredients; Performing other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Multiple tour of duty; Will discuss during interview Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99921S Physical Requirements: Work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity.

Performs work requiring light to moderate physical.

May be required to perform heavy work, such as scouring and scrubbing large size cooking utensils and pushing heavy carts and trucks in unloading, storing, and delivering supplies.

Subject to continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending.

Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/9/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/9/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBSV-12862325-26-SL