Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current permanent employees Veterans' Health Administration. Current Permanent John D. Dingell VA Medical Center Employees will receive first consideration (most recent SF50 required).

Videos

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Set up assigned station with the correct supplies and food items.
• Serve food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers'/patients'/residents' plates.
• Break down and clean the station when assigned.
• 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.
• Deliver meal trays to the patients' bedsides and report the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian.
• Prepare beverages according to the number of servings required.
• Prepare fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts in specified quantities.
• Sort, wash, peel and cut cold foods using knives or other equipment.
• Provide assistance to cooks in the food preparation area, such as weigh, measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes.
• Prepare uncooked food items, such as sandwich spread and salad dressings.
• Operate and break down and clean all equipment assigned to food service and related areas.
• Portion food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware.
• Prepare boxed/to go meals.
• Select and place correct items on patient trays.
• Read and interpret a regular or modified menu, individual diet cards, tray tickets or patient selections.
• Identify obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu.
• Decide what food items to serve for the most common diets.
• Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas.
• Separate food waste, trash/recyclables from dishes, glasses and silverware.
• Unload food/tray delivery carts.
• Store sanitized dishes, glasses and silverware.
• Scrape, soak, scour, and scrub cookware and utensils.
• Move garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area.
• Operate assigned motor vehicles for the pickup and delivery of food, supplies, and equipment from the Detroit
  VA to the VA Valor Center Domiciliary on a daily basis.
• Trips are made based on specific assignments or on a regularly established schedule.
• Perform driving assignments in all traffic and weather conditions to provide uninterrupted service to the
  Veterans.
• Load and unload food, supplies, and equipment and ensure that cargo is properly distributed and secured in the
  vehicle to prevent damage or loss while in transit.
• Check materials loaded or delivered against appropriate documents to prevent error and to certify the condition
  of the items and obtain signatures from receiving personnel.
• Ensure that quantities loaded are in accordance with requirements to prevent delays in meal service and
  eliminate the need for additional trips.
• Observe sanitation and safety policies and procedures in transporting food supplies to ensure integrity is not compromised, that equipment such as refrigeration is functioning properly, and that cargo is protected and handled in accordance with established standards of safety and sanitation.
• Coordinate equipment issues with the assigned transportation service.
• Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center

Work Schedule: 12 hour shifts (work 7 days every 2 weeks) rotating weekends and holidays. Schedule may be subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.
Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99920S
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

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
• 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 (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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Valid, unrestricted, unexpired Driver's License and a safe driving record. Selectee's will be required to provide proof of a safe driving record. *DO NOT UPLOAD A COPY OF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE*

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. 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 or trial 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, 01/29/2026.

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)
• Materials
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Without more than normal supervision
• Work Practices

Driving Requirement: Valid State Driver's License is required for the position.

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.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: Food Service Workers perform 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 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. Must be able to reach, bend, turn, and move hands, arms, feet, and legs to operate hand and foot controls of motor vehicles. When assigned as a driver, work is performed outside, and vehicles are operated in all types of traffic and weather.

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.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.