Food Service Worker Leader Job in Charleston, SC

Vacancy No. CBTB-12743516-25-LG Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $23.42 to $27.31 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 6/10/2025 Close Date 6/20/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Charleston, SC


Summary

This position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service at the VA Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina. The primary purpose of this position is to perform and lead employees in food service operations including food handling, preparation, storage and delivery.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority in-accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) and 5 CFR 337.205(b)(1)-(4).

Duties

Lead duties and responsibilities include:

  • Uses proper cleaning solutions to sanitize food preparation surfaces.
  • Conducts final check of trays to ensure correct foods, temperature and portions as
    appropriate.
  • Ensures trays appear appetizing, and contents are complete including condiments and
    utensils.
  • Receives, stocks/stores food items accordingly.
  • Leads the food service activities of production and service areas to ensure proper work
    methods are utilized.
  • Prepares and serves specialized foods and beverages for modified diets.
  • Adjusts quantities of ingredients used when preparing food for individual or larger groups.
  • Plans, organizes and completes food service to patients/customer according to established
    schedule/regulations.
  • Utilizes sanitation regulations and procedures to prevent bacteria contamination.
Food service duties and responsibilities include:
  • Reads and understands standard recipes when preparing simple or complex menu items.
  • Applies sanitation guidelines to safeguard food against spoilage and waste.
  • Ensures food service staff adheres to customer service standards.
  • Assembles food items and condiments for hot and cold loading of trays.
  • Scours and scrubs large-size/heavy cooking utensils such as mixing bowls and pots.
  • Unloads and scrapes trays, stacks dishes and utensils for washing.
  • Uses various measuring tools such as measuring spoons and cups when preparing foods.
  • Provides on-the-job training on the use and maintenance of food service tools and equipment.
  • Ensures staff possesses knowledge of food ingredients when preparing specialized foods and
    using appropriate ingredients.
  • Processes diet order changes electronically.
  • Assists cooks with food preparation of menu items such as cold sandwiches, fillings, fruit
    and simple salads, coffee, etc.
  • Reviews food trays before delivery to patient/customer.
  • Adheres to safety policies and procedures when performing manual work involving lifting,
    carrying, transporting and delivering food or other items.
  • Works quickly without accidents while at the same time being attentive to the quality of your
    work.
  • Recognizes typical health and safety hazards for yourself and other workers around you.
  • Works rapidly and accurately under the pressure of deadlines.
Work Schedule: 5:00am-6:30pm variable work hours, rotating days off, include some weekend and holidays (subject to change to meet the need of the agency).
Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker Leader/PD99919A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Pre-employment physical required
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/20/2025

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.
  • Experience includes, but not limited to: Takes nourishment inventories, stocking using first in-first out procedures, replacing expired; Provides patients with basic information about modified diets and the nutrition services that are available; Sterilizes equipment and sanitizes work areas; Performs heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas; Prepares uncooked food items, such as sandwich spread and salad dressings; Decides what food items to serve for the most common diets when the diet card or tray ticket identifies only the kind of diet called for; knowledge of sanitation standards, such as the need to keep wiping cloths in sanitizing solution and maintaining proper water temperature standards when cleaning dishes; Prevents contamination by cleaning equipment previously used for raw food.

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 eligible are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
  • Lead or Supervise
  • Materials
  • Technical Practices
  • Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • 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 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 clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Work requiring light to moderate physical effort. It 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. They are subject to continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. May be required to work on ladders and use powered cleaning equipment. They frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.

Working Conditions: The work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity. The work area is well-lighted but usually noisy from food service activities, and there is danger of slipping on floors where food or beverages have been dropped. Food service workers are regularly exposed to hot liquids, sharp cutting blades, hot working surfaces, and extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration or freezing units.

Education

There is no educational substitution.

Additional information

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  • Resume


The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
  • 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


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.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online.

To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/20/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12743516.

  1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS 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.

To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Agency contact information

Lewis Gullatte
Address
Ralph H Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
109 Bee Street
Charleston, SC 29401
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications 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. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

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.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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