This Food Service Worker position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service unit at the VA Medical Center in the Buffalo, NY. The primary purpose of the Food Service Worker position is to support the food service operations provided to Veterans. Work is performed in one or more functional areas such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, and the serving area.
This Food Service Worker position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service unit at the VA Medical Center in the Buffalo, NY. The primary purpose of the Food Service Worker position is to support the food service operations provided to Veterans. Work is performed in one or more functional areas such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, and the serving area.
ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.
Wage Grade 2 Food Service Workers perform tasks with several steps or a sequence of tasks that requires attention to work operations. They follow set procedures in accomplishing repetitive assignments and follow an established sequence of work such as working in the dish room, passing trays, portioning cold foods and dipping hot foods. Major duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
-Set up cafeteria lines, steam tables, dining room tables, and side service stands with hot and cold food items.
-Serve food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers'/patients' plates.
-Break down and clean assigned area when the meal is finished and return food to the kitchen.
-Set up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as necessary.
-Return soiled trays and dishes to the dish room after meals.
-Deliver meal trays to the patients' bedsides.
-Brew coffee according to the number of servings required.
-Assemble and toss fresh fruit or green salads in quantity using prepared dressings and portions into standard serving sizes.
-Apportion other food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and containers.
-Make cold sandwiches using prepared ingredients and pack box lunches.
-Work in one or more functional areas of the kitchen such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, and the serving line.
-Sort, wash, peel and cut fresh fruits and vegetables
-Operate and break down equipment.
-Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and relates areas.
-Separate food waste and trash from dishes, glasses and silverware in the dish washing area.
-Remove inspection doors, strainer pans, screens, and spray arms for preventive maintenance of the dish machine.
-Unload delivery trucks.
-Stored sanitized dishes, glassware and silverware.
-Scrape, soak, scour, and scrub the heavier cooking utensils.
-Move heavy garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area.
-Performs other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: 6:00am - 10:00am, 7:00am - 11:00am, 10:30am-2:30pm, 3:00pm-7:00pm; includes weekends/holidays
Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker Wage Grade 02/99921-S
Physical Requirements: Work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity. Food service workers are regularly exposed to hot liquids, sharp cutting blades, hot working surfaces and extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration units. Performs work requiring light to moderate physical effort. 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.
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:
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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:
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/09/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12789654.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS 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. 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.
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