Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Leader Duties:

• Communicates instructions and information about getting work started and accomplished to other employees.
• Communicates with supervisors, managers and employees about problems and events, and actively participates in the implementation of problem resolution after obtaining needed information or decisions from supervisors and/or managers.
• Maintains a current knowledge, and answers questions of other workers on procedures, policies, written instructions, and other directives.
• Leads the activities of the production and service areas. Leads food production activities in the absence of a Supervisor or Food Production Manager. May work along with employees so that proper work methods are demonstrated, and the pace of the work can be established and sustained.
• Adheres to facility customer service standards with all staff and patient interactions. In the absence of a Supervisor, follows up on patient feedback as needed, to assure high quality patient/customer service is maintained.
• Provides on the job training to lower graded food service workers and documents training provided.
• Completes safety and sanitation inspection check lists of the food service and food production areas, documents problems, and initiates action to resolve them. This includes advising and communicating to employees' instructions for accomplishing corrective actions.
• Reviews the daily work assignment sheets and makes adjustments in assignments and work sequence as necessary so that work coverage is provided, and employees are kept busy and productive. This involves setting priorities, possessing the knowledge about the number and types of employees needed, and knowledge about the materials and equipment required.
• Assigns tasks to individual members of the group(s) of employees.
• Checks work in progress and ensures that when finished it complies with instructions on work sequence, procedures (SOP's), quality, and deadlines.
• Ensures that the food production and service areas are properly set up with all food and/or supplies in a timely manner to avoid delays in service.
• Works food service positions as needed. Incumbent may receive food and supply deliveries when necessary.
• Reviews diet changes prior to tray line, making appropriate adjustments on individual patient tray tickets. Performs final check of trays for proper temperature and accuracy as indicated on tray ticket.
• Observes the daily activities and work performance of employees and provides information to supervisors for performance appraisals and other evaluations. Recommends training needs of employees and reports disciplinary problems.
• Assures that safety regulations are being followed. Assists first line supervisors in completing accident reports.
• Assures proper food handling techniques are used and all employees use good personal hygiene. Ensures sanitation policies and procedures are followed and all NFS work areas are clean and orderly at the end of the tour worked.
• Communicates with supervisors leave requests made by employees. Coordinates coverage for unscheduled sick leave, emergency annual leave to ensure that the most essential and necessary work is accomplished in all areas of food production and service. Verifies attendance as needed.
• Oversees employee activities to ensure that diet orders are processed in time for meal service, tray tickets are reviewed, and foods are portioned and served properly, on schedule, and in a sanitary and attractive manner.
• Participates in the Nutrition and Food Service Performance Improvement Program. Documents quality improvement data. Participates in special projects for the Service, as assigned.
• Open and/or close Nutrition and Food Service kitchen and other work areas according to security procedures. Monitors and records refrigerator/freezer temperatures and ensures food items are labeled, dated and stored properly. Monitors and records food temperatures before, during and after meal service.
• Evaluates food prior to service (including temperature, taste and appearance).
• Assumes responsibility for the security and safety of the kitchen and work areas when a supervisor is not available or on duty.
• Serves as relief for first line supervisors during employee shortages and emergency situations.

Work Schedule: Sunday-Thursday,11:30 am-8:00 pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker Leader/PD99919S
Physical Requirements: The Work leader performs work requiring light to moderate physical effort. They 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 sitting, standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. 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.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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)
• 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 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.

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 Required:

• Resume

Documents Accepted:

• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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.

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