This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service and responsible for providing meals and nutritional care to Veteran patients at the Medical Center and surrounding rehabilitation facilities. The primary purpose of the Cook, WG-4, is to prepare nutritious, high quality meals for service to the Veterans. The position has a sequence of steps that require attention to work operations, sanitation and safety; work assignments may require knowledge and judgment. 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) Materials Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision 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. ["Weigh, measure, and assemble ingredients for regular and modified diets Clean and sanitize work areas, and perform deep cleaning tasks when needed Make precise measurements and weights in preparing recipes and portioning food Prepare and heat convenience items such as frozen hash browns, fish fillets, and chicken nuggets Use simple arithmetic, such as multiplying and dividing ingredients in a recipe when preparing food items for the correct serving amount Perform a full range of simple cooking by preparing and cooking items that require little or no processing Prepare fresh, canned, and frozen vegetables Follow menu, production sheet and recipe to prepare items in the quantity needed Cover, date, and store food leftovers according to established local policies/procedures Operate a variety of kitchen equipment Disassemble and reassemble equipment for cleaning Operate industrial dish washing machine Monitor and maintain proper spacing of food products from floor, ceiling, and shelving to ensure adequate air flow and spacing of products for optimal food safety Prepare pureed foods and adjust consistency with thickeners Wash, peel and cut fruits and vegetables Follow appropriate safety procedures in operating a variety of kitchen equipment Follow sanitary food handling procedures Apply knowledge of sanitation principles to safeguard food against spoilage and waste Work Schedule: Full-time rotating shift between 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, including night, weekends, and holidays Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99819S Physical Requirements: Is subject to continuous standing, walking, frequent bending, reaching, pushing, and pulling. Lifts or moves objects weighing up to 40lbs. unassisted and occasionally lifts or moves objects weighing more than 40 lbs. with assistance of a lifting device or other workers. Manipulates cumbersome, heavy objects, such as washing stainless steel mixing bowls, pushing heavy carts on casters or operating heavy equipment. Possesses manual dexterity to operate equipment and to handle sharp knives and blades safely. Utilizes eye-hand coordination and the ability to concentrate and react quickly to serve food and operate equipment."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
