Duties
Food Preparation
- Works independently to prepare and cook a variety of items including regular and therapeutic diet (diabetic, low sodium, low protein, gluten free, etc.) entrees and dessert items.
- Follows menus, production sheets and recipes to prepare items in the quantity needed.
- Cooks hot cereals, concentrated or dehydrated soups, sauces, gravies.
- Grills eggs, hamburgers, meat patties, pancakes, French toast; makes cold sandwich fillings and assembles a variety of sandwiches.
- Uses a variety of methods to prepare meats, fish, and poultry including broiling, roasting, baking, frying, boiling, steaming, stewing, braising, and grilling
- Slices meat items by hand confirming to specific size requirements or weight specifications.
- Prepares fresh, canned, and frozen vegetables; bakes frozen potatoes, pre-made cookie dough, muffin batters.
- Prepares and heats convenience items; prepares pureed foods and adjusts consistency with thickeners.
- Washes, peels and cuts fruits and vegetables by hand or machine. Assembles and mixes salad ingredients and dessert items including gelatin molds and fruit crisps.
- Plans cooking processes to produce complete meals on time and at the proper temperature which may require coordination of cooking several items with different cooking times.
- Attractively presents and garnishes food.
- Makes a variety of desserts such as cobblers, brownies, cookies and pastries.
- Washes, peels, chops, grinds, pares, cuts, slices, dices, purees, dredges, flours, breads items.
- Weighs, measures, assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets.
- Combines ingredients according to recipes to produce quality food items, minimizing preparation time and food waste.
- Pans foods for bulk rethermalization according to recipe guidelines and production guidelines.
- Covers, dates, and stores leftovers according to established local policies/procedures.
- Operates a variety of kitchen equipment: oven, combi oven/steamer, grill, slicer, mixer, steam kettles, blender, food processor, scale; follows safety procedures regarding the operation of equipment.
- Gathers test data to assist management in making purchasing and menu pricing decisions.
Food Safety/Sanitation
- Follows sanitary food handling procedures; covers, labels and dates food items; utilize or discard ingredients by expiration date.
- Disassembles and assembles component parts and accessories for cleaning.
- Cleans, stores and maintains all kitchen utensils, equipment and work areas practicing a "clean as you go" concept.
- Cleans and sanitizes assigned work areas: worktables, sinks, blast chillers, racks, carts.
- Achieves certification in food safety such as ServSafe and is able to apply knowledge of food safety, food temperatures, etc.
- Operates dish machine; checks detergent level and water temperature before washing and sanitizing cook's equipment. Checks equipment to make sure it is free of food residue and soap.
- Cleans ovens, combi oven/steamer, slicer, mixer, steam kettles, grill daily.
- Collects trash, sorts and prepares items for recycling.
- Cleans floors, walls, shelves as assigned.
- Performs deep cleaning tasks such as cleaning walk-in refrigerators and freezers. May operate powered floor cleaning or steam equipment for deep cleaning.
- Prepares food production worksheets from computerized recipe files.
Food Storage
- Receives, rotates and stores perishable and non-perishable items according to service policies. Removes outdated or damaged goods from stock.
- Labels all food items with contents and dates per labeling guidelines.
- Weighs, measures, and assembles ingredients accurately and according to standardized recipes or requisitions.
- Monitor and maintain proper spacing of food products from floor, ceiling and shelving to ensure adequate air flow and spacing of products for optimal food safety.
- Monitor for signs of pest notifying the appropriate individual as determined by your local policy.
- Maintain accurate food inventories.
- Provides assistance to supervisor or higher grade worker in ordering food in accordance with daily and weekly menu requirements.
- Maintains strict security of all areas.
Work Schedule: Full-time, Rotating Shifts between 5:00 am - 8:00 pm, including weekends & holidays
Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99818S
**Physical Requirements contained in Qualifications Section**
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/11/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12757562.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.