Cook (DODEA) NA-08

Department of Defense

Department of War Education Activity

Fort Stewart School Meals Lunch Program

Summary

The position is located within the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) School Lunch Program Division, Fort Stewart, GA.

Army NAF Pay setting rules apply to this vacancy.

Incentives and Bonuses

Incentives will not be paid.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

United States (U.S.) Citizens and Non-U.S. Nationals who have resided in the U.S. or U.S. territory for three (3) or more continuous years immediately preceding the start of Federal affiliation.

Duties

Serves as a Cook in a Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Cafeteria, utilizing recipes and cycle menus IAW USDA CACFP and Department of Army policies, regulations and standards.
Plans and coordinates the preparation of meals based on master menus. Reviews recipes, menus, and worksheets to determine ingredients needed to prepare various menu items for regular or modified diets for children with special needs.
Makes decisions regarding recipe adjustments for the number of servings and size of equipment to use. Accomplishes meal preparation duties using a variety of utensils and equipment such as knives, mixers, steam kettles, ovens, grills etc.
Observes products for quality and freshness prior to preparation. Prepares and cooks all types of meats, poultry, seafood, fresh and cooked salads and vegetables, grains, pasta, fruits, sauces, gravies, breads, and desserts.
Utilizes special and/or complex recipes and various cooking methods such as roasting, broiling, baking, frying, boiling, steaming, or sauteing. Modifies or substitutes ingredients to make foods flavorful or to accommodate special diets.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Direct Deposit and Social Security Card is required.
Meet qualification/eligibility/background requirements for this position.
A one-year probationary period may be required.
Satisfactorily complete an employment verification (E-Verify) check.
Subject to satisfactory completion of all pre-employment checks in accordance with AR 215-3, para.2 and a Child Care Tier 1 background investigation.
Must have a current health assessment and immunizations IAW current Army and DoD policy including annual influenza vaccinations.
The ability to obtain (within first six months of employment) and maintain a Food Protection Manager Certification acquired through an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited agency is required.
The work involves frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. Required to frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 40 pounds, e.g., utensils or containers of food.
Work also involves continual standing and walking. Occasional lifting of over 5O pounds with assistance of lifting devices or other workers, e.g., pans of meat, if required.

Qualifications

Resumes must be two pages (or less). Resumes should clearly demonstrate the applicant's relevant experience, skills, knowledge and abilities as they pertain to this position.

A qualified candidate must possess the following:

1. Candidates must indicate the ability to perform the work of Cook, NA-08 without more than normal supervision.
2. Must have experience demonstrating knowledge of a full range of food preparation techniques needed to: Develop and revise standardized recipes, coordinate cooking in large quantities using complex recipes and varied cooking methods, prepare foods for special/modified diets (i.e., diabetic exchanges, low sodium, food allergies), and instruct lower-level cooks.
3. Must have experience using a variety of commercial food service tools and equipment to include cleaning and sanitation practices.
4. Must have basic math skills needed to modify recipes for large quantities and to determine portion sizes. Must be able to communicate in English both verbally and in writing.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Area of Consideration

This job is open to candidates who are within the Local / Surrounding Commuting Area. NOTE: Local / Surrounding Commuting area defines as within 50 miles of Fort Stewart. (Military Spouse Preference (MSP) and Involuntarily Separated Military Preference (ISMP) eligible candidates are included in the area of consideration.)

Manual Application Option

If you are unable to apply online, you can complete a paper application. To get started, contact servicing NAF Human Resources representative or office listed in the Agency Contact Information section (at the bottom of this announcement) to request a copy of the application form.
Be sure to submit your completed application form, along with your resume and any required supporting documents, no later than 03:00PM EST on 07/14/2026 to ensure timely processing.
Important: Incomplete applications, including missing responses to questionnaire items may result in an ineligible rating.

PCS Costs

Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized. based on a determination that a PCS move not in the Government's interest.

Allowances and Differentials

This job falls under the Federal Wage Schedule (FWS) pay system. FWS employees earn overtime pay for working more than 8 hours in a day or more than 40 hours in a week -- whichever gives the employee more benefit. Regular full-time, regular part-time, and regularly scheduled flexible employees may receive Sunday premium pay for working on Sundays. Employees may also be eligible to receive extra pay if the majority of their scheduled hours falls after 3:00 PM.
Non-foreign overseas allowances, cost of living (COLA), and differentials will not be paid, contingent upon eligibility.

Important Information Regarding Access to Certain Federal Facilities:

Access to certain federal facilities may require a REAL ID-compliant driver's license/ID (marked with a star) or an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) from WA, MI, MN, NY, or VT. See https://www.tsa.gov/real-id for details.

Your Application may be Considered for Multiple Opportunities:

After you apply, your application remains valid for 90 days and may be referred to hiring officials as new vacancies arise. Additional referrals may occur for up to 90 days after the closing date.

Termination of Spouse Employment Preference

Refusal of a military spouse to participate in established recruitment procedures for a Regular Full-Time (RFT) or Regular Part-Time (RPT) position (for example, interview, and so forth) is considered a declination of employment and is a basis for termination of Spouse Employment Preference (SEP) entitlement for the current Permanent Change of Station (PCS) of the sponsor.

Discover Your Path to Success

Before you apply, take a moment to explore our Applicant Information Kit, your go-to guide for understanding our hiring processes and making your application stand out.
Inside you will find helpful tips, insights, and everything you need to feel confident and prepared.
Click this URL to view the kit: https://publicfileshare.chra.army.mil/Applicants/NAF_Applicant_Information_Kit.pdf

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Working for Army Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF) can offer numerous advantages. Army NAF employment can provide a sense of pride and fulfillment, as you'll be supporting communities comprised of military and civilian personnel, and their families, which contributes to the Department of Defense's overall mission. We offer a wide range of career opportunities, including jobs in childcare, recreation, hospitality, and more. Many employees have opportunities for professional development, including training, education, and certification programs to help towards career advancement. As an Army NAF employee, you'll have access to some on-base facilities, including fitness centers, libraries, and many other amenities.

Regular full-time and part-time employees are eligible for enrollment in health and life insurance, participation in 401k and retirement plans, and paid personal time off and federal holidays. NAF flexible employees, working in the United States or a U.S. citizen or spouse or child of a U.S. citizen working for a NAFI in a foreign area, are eligible to participate in the NAF 401(k) plan. Some flexible employees may also be eligible to receive health insurance.

For a slideshow presentation regarding these benefits, please click the Review Our Benefits link below.

Review our benefits

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your Application Matters: How We Will Review It

We want to help you put your best foot forward! Please take time to carefully follow all application instructions - missing information or skipped steps could impact your eligibility.

Your application will be thoughtfully reviewed to see how well your experience and qualifications align with the requirements listed in this announcement. This includes your resume, supporting documents, and responses to the assessment questionnaire.
We will consider your responses to our application questionnaire.
If you're tentatively qualified, we'll take a closer look to ensure your questionnaire responses match the experience reflected in your resume and documentation.

Note: If it's later found that qualifications or experience were overstated, it may affect your consideration for the position - so honesty and clarity are key.

Understanding Eligibilities: What You Can Claim When Applying

When you apply for a federal position through USAJOBS or USA Staffing, you may be eligible for selection preference or priority consideration based on your background or status. These eligibilities can improve your chances of being considered or referred for a position.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to claim one or more of the following eligibilities:

NAF Preference 1 Spouse Employment Preference (SEP)
NAF Preference 2 Involuntarily Separated From the Military (ISMP)
NAF Priority Consideration 1 Business Based Action (BBA)
NAF Priority Consideration 2 Former NAF Employee (FNE)/Current NAF (CNE)/Current APF Employee (CAE)
NAF Priority Consideration 3 Outside Applicant Veteran (OAV) (Includes spouses and parents)

Tip: Be sure to review each eligibility question carefully and provide the required documentation. Claiming an eligibility without proper support may affect your application status. Looking for more details? Refer to the Who Gets Initial Consideration (Selection Preferences) and the What Other Considerations are Available sections of our Applicant Information Kit.

Required Documents

About Your Resume

Federal agencies are required to limit resumes to two pages or less and it must support the general or specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes must adhere to the two-page limit and must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications, and other position requirements listed in this job opportunity announcement. For additional information on the two-page resume limit, refer to:
- https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/merit-hiring-plan-resources/applicant-guidance-on-the-two-page-resume-limit/.
Your resume must be 5 megabytes (MB) or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting and page count (https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit).
Please do not include photographs, personal images or other inappropriate content in your application materials.

Expedite Your Hiring

To better expedite the hiring process, we recommend including contact information (name, email, phone number) for professional references in your resume.

Required Documents

Required documents may vary based on the requirements for the position. The below document(s) are required and MUST be submitted with your application by the closing date of this job announcement:

Resume

Other Accepted Documents

Other accepted documents to support a qualification and/or claimed preference/priority eligibility may include:

Cover Letter
DD-214/ Statement of Service
DA Form 3434
Sponsor's PCS Orders to Fort Stewart
Marriage Certificate (required if your name does not appear on the PCS Orders)
Separation Notice (RIF)
Resume
SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

How to Apply

You may submit your application package using one of the two methods identified below:

1. Electronically (preferred) at https://www.usajobs.gov/ and search for Announcement number O2NAFDN-26-13001168. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on 07/14/2026 to receive consideration.

Click Apply to access the online application.
- You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
- Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to include in your application.
  - Reminder: Federal agencies are required to limit resumes to two (2) pages or less. Please review the Required Documents section of this announcement for more details.
- You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the IncludePersonal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account and designate the document type when submitting your application.
It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that the application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Click this link to preview the application:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13001168.
Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found at https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us.
To verify of check the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account. Once logged in, the Welcome screen lists your applications, your application status, and the date it was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

2. Manually: Please refer to the "Additional Information" section of this announcement for instructions on how to request a paper application.

Agency contact information

Kegan Job

Phone: (910) 396-7900
Email: kegan.h.job.naf@army.mil

Address: DODEA South East
Do Not Use
Fort Rucker, AL 36362
US

Next steps

Our Next Steps to Review Your Application and Keep You Informed

1. Application Review

Once you submit your application, the system will automatically review your answers to the application questionnaire to determine if you meet the basic qualifications for the job.
If you meet the qualifications, your application will move to the next step, where our HR representatives will carefully review your experience, skills, education (if applicable), and how well you match the job requirements.

2. Keeping You Informed

If you provided an email address, you'll receive a confirmation email letting you know we've received your application.
As your application moves through the hiring process, we'll send you updates and notifications via email.
Processing times may vary, but we'll do our best to keep you informed every step of the way.

Your Next Steps to Stay on Top of Your Application

1. Check Your Contact Information

If your contact information changes after the job announcement closes, let us know as soon as possible.

2. Ensure You Receive Updates

Double-check that your email address is accurate and that your inbox can receive messages from us,
Make sure your mailbox isn't full and check your spam or junk folder to avoid missing important updates about your application.

3. Sign Up for Text Alerts

Want to stay ahead in the hiring process? In your USAJOBS profile, you can sign up to receive text alerts about jobs you applied to or tasks you need to complete.

We're excited about your interest in this position and look forward to reviewing your application!

Cook (DODEA) NA-08 Job in Fort Stewart, GA