Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until June 8, 2026.

The William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital is committed to fostering and sustaining an environment which celebrates diversity, provides equitable opportunities for employment and promotion, and supports inclusiveness in our culture. Together, we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that promote professional growth and teamwork, and are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We embrace our differences as individuals and unite as a team toward a common goal: to serve our nation's Veterans.

The incumbent of this position is assigned to the Food Delivery Unit of Food Service Operations within Nutrition and Food Services (NFS). The purpose of the position is to perform duties that require proficiency procedures and a broad knowledge of service operations, such as food preparation, dishwashing, dry and refrigerated storage, food and beverage serving.

Major duties of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Receives meal orders
• Prepares cold food items prior to meal service
• Makes cold sandwiches to order and places on trays
• Prepares special feedings, nourishments for patients on liquid or supplemental feeding
• Labels and distributes individual nourishments to appropriate patients or nursing stations
• Assists higher graded cooks and/or independently prepares menu items that require little or no processing
• Follows recipes along with menu item preparation worksheets and verbal instructions in order to prepare foods and beverages
• Combines fruit and vegetable ingredients for salads, portions and assembles individual salads and desserts using correct dishware and portioning utensils
• Reports all system problems to Room Service Supervisors, Cook Supervisor or Supervisory Dietitian
• Maintains work area in an orderly and sanitary condition and prepares and stores food in accordance with proper sanitation standards
• Sweeps and mops floors, washes shelves, tables, sinks, equipment and work areas
• Displays diplomacy with peers, staff, patients and patient's families always
• Provides training to same or lower grade employees when assigned

Work Schedule: 6A-230P, 1130A-8P, potential for (4) 10-hour shifts
Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/99920A

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.

Qualifications

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
• 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.

Physical Requirements: The work requires light to moderate physical effort with continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling and bending. Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted. 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. May also be required to work on ladders and use powered cleaning equipment. Incumbent is required to push room service delivery and pick-up food carts. Incumbent may lift objects weighing 50-100 pounds or more when covering Ingredient Control Room or Warehouse and push/pull carts with weighing up to 300 pounds. Sweeps, vacuums and pot mops floors as required. Must be alert and cautious to avoid falls on wet floors, burns, scalds from hot food, equipment and chemicals, and cuts from knives.

Work Conditions: The work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably elevated temperatures and humidity. The work area is well lighted but is usually noisy from food service activities, and there is danger of slipping on floors where food and beverages have been dropped. The worker is regularly exposed to hot liquids, sharp cutting blades, hot working surfaces and extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration or freezing units. The employee is required to wear protective shoes and gloves, or other items required by food handing guides and personal protective equipment. Must abide by personal hygiene standards and safe work procedures such as wearing hairnet, beard guard and clean uniform daily. This position requires shift work and requires duty on weekends and holidays. Incumbent may be exposed to contagious diseases while working in a hospital setting.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Documents Required:

• Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Next steps