Food Service Worker

SummaryThis Food Service Worker position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service for the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System. Some positions will report to Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee - Oklahoma until the opening of the new facility at James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center in Tulsa - Oklahoma. Applicants willing to relocate should select they are interested in both locations - Muskogee and Tulsa.QualificationsTo qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/30/2026. 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.DutiesIMPORTANT NOTICE: This is an open continuous announcement until September 30 - 2026Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become availableThis announcement may close without advanced noticeThis position independently performs duties that require proficiency in special procedures and broad knowledge of service operations - such as food and beverage preparation - modified diets - computer proficiency - dishwashing - dry and refrigerated storage - and safety and sanitationMajor duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to): Sets up and breaks down assigned station with the correct supplies and food itemsPortions food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishwareDecides what food items to serve for the most common diets when the diet card or tray ticket identifies only the kind of diet called forProvides patients with basic information about modified diets and the nutrition services that are availableIdentifies obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menuFollows directions in assembling - measuring - weighing - or mixing ingredients for basic formulas and supplemental feedings following standardized recipes and using sanitary techniquesDelivers meal trays to the patients' bedsidesreporting the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitianProvides assistance to cooks in the food preparation area including assembling - labeling and arranging completed recipe items in preparation for use by cooksPrepares fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts along with individual and bulk nourishments and supplement foods and beverages for patientsMakes final check of diet trays assembled by lower grade workers for completeness - correct food temperaturesWorks in one or more functional areas of the kitchen such as food preparation - dish and pot washing - dry and refrigerated storage and receiving - and the serving linePerforms heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areasPerforming other duties as assignedWork Schedule: Rotating Schedules 6:00 a.m- 2:30 p.mand 10:30 a.m- 7:00 p.m. - including weekends and holidaysPosition Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker / PD# 99836S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increasesWhen setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay - higher or unique qualifications - or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experienceParental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a childChild Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VAInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)Remote: This is not a remote positionTelework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Effort and Work Conditions: Work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidityFood service workers are regularly exposed to hot liquids - sharp cutting blades - hot working surfaces and extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration unitsPerforms work requiring light to moderate physical effortMay 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 suppliesSubject to continuous standing and walking - and frequent stooping - reaching - pushing - pulling - and bendingFrequently 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.