Food Service Worker

Food Service Worker

The Southern Arizona VA Healthcare Network is recruiting for a Food Service Worker (FSW) assigned to the Nutrition and Food Services. The primary purpose of the FSW position is to support the food service operations provided to Veterans. They work in one or more functional areas such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, and the serving area doing work such as portioning cold food, dipping hot food, working in the dish room and passing trays.

The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Sets up and breaks down assigned station with the correct supplies and food items.
• Portions food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware.
• Selects and places correct items on patient trays.
• Decides what food items to serve for the most common diets.
• Identifies obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu.
• Sets up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as necessary.
• Delivers meal trays to the patients' bedsides; reporting the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian.
• Provides assistance to cooks in the food preparation area, such as weigh, measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes.
• Prepares fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts.
• Reads and interprets regular or modified menus, individual diet cards, tray tickets or patient selections.
• Performs heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas.
• Performing other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the medical center.

Work Schedule: Sunday - Saturday with varying shifts: 6:00 am - 2:30 pm OR 11:30 am - 8:00 pm. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not authorized.

Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99920S. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.

Requirements Conditions of Employment:

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Pre-employment physical 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.

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.

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether 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, 12/30/2025. 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.

Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Other Than Blueprint Reading) Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Dexterity and Safety Knowledge of Materials Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic) Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order) 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.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: Work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity. Performs work requiring light to moderate physical. 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. Subject to continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.