These full-time, permanent positions are located in the Nutrition and Food Service Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. The WG-3 Food Service Worker performs duties that require proficiency in special procedures and a broad knowledge of service operations, such as food preparation, dishwashing, dry and refrigerated storage, Bulk and Individual Nourishment/Tube feeding assembly, and food and beverage serving. 

·         Specific duties and responsibilities of the position may include, but are not limited to:

·         Set up tray line serving stations with necessary food, serving utensils, and service ware.

·         Wash, peel, slice, dice, shred and cut fruits and vegetables by hand or machine for use in salads or in cooking.

·         Programs the Robot System to transport tray carts to and from patient care areas.

·         Deliver individual nourishments, bulk nourishments, and tube feedings to nursing unit nourishment stations and/or patient's bedside as designated.

·         Returns soiled dishes, pans, and utensils to dish washing and/or pot washing area.

·         Maintains proper sanitation in the work unit, utilizing the proper cleaning agents and procedures.

·         Responsible for safe and sanitary handling of food, equipment and supplies.

·         On the centralized tray assembly line, accurately assembles regular and modified diet trays, based on printed menus, tray slips or selective menus.

·         Assembles a variety of fruit, vegetable and gelatin salads along with desserts with the appropriate garnishes.

·         Relieves for a higher graded employee in emergency situations

·         Performs other related duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Rotating tours, Rotating days off, 5:00am-1:30pm, 5:30am-2:00pm, 6:00am-2:30pm, 6:30am-3:00pm, 7:00am-3:30pm, 11:30am-8:00pm

Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker PD #5170

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

PHYSICAL EFFORT/REQUIREMENTS:  Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Pushing (8 hours); Both hands required; Walking (8 hours); Standing (8 hours); Repeated bending (1 hours); Climbing, legs only (1 hours); Climbing, use of legs and arms; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental and Emotional Stability.

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.

Qualifications

Your background must demonstrate experience in a variety of food service activities, such as work on a tray assembly line placing food items on patient trays according to patient's meal tickets and diet orders, delivering meal trays in accordance with prescribed diets, making sandwiches and packed lunches, processing raw fruits and vegetable salads, utilizing food service utensils and equipment, loading and unloading delivery carts for meal transportation, and applying food and kitchen safety and sanitation practices.

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 or OF-612. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Qualification Standard Handbook X-118C ( www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118c ).

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.

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 questions.  The screen-out element for this position is

Ability to do the job of a food service worker without more than normal supervision (ability to work independently, make decisions, show responsibility and exercise initiative in food service work).

JOB ELEMENTS:  Those who meet the minimum level of experience and training for the screen-out element will then be evaluated in each of the following job elements:

1. Work practices (includes keeping things neat, clean and in order).

2. Technical practices (theoretical, precise, artistic) ex: knowledge of regular and modified diets and knowledge of food handling techniques and catering practices.

3. Ability to read, understand, and follow instructions, food preparation and serving instructions, manuals, etc.

4. Ability to use and maintain food service utensils and equipment.

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 CANNOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.