Duties

Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Weighs, measures, and assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets.
• Cleans and sanitizes work areas, and performs deep cleaning tasks when needed.
• Makes precise measurements and weights in in preparing recipes and portioning food.
• Independently prepares and cooks a variety of items in accordance to therapeutic diet needs, such as diabetic, low sodium, low protein, gluten free, etc..
• Uses simple arithmetic, such as multiplying and dividing ingredients in a recipe when preparing food items for the correct serving amount.
• Performs a full range of simple cooking by preparing and cooking items that require little or no processing.
• Uses a variety of methods to prepare meats, fish, and poultry including broiling, roasting, baking, frying, boiling, steaming, stewing, braising, and grilling.
• Follow menus, production sheets and recipes to prepare items in the quantity needed.
• Covers, dates, and stores food leftovers according to established local policies/procedures.
• Weighs, measures, and assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets.
• Operates industrial dish washing machine.
• Operates a variety of kitchen equipment.
• Disassembles and reassembles equipment for cleaning.
• Makes a variety of desserts such as cobblers, brownies, cookies, and pastries.
• Monitors and maintains proper spacing of food products from floor, ceiling, and shelving to ensure adequate air flow and spacing of products for optimal food safety.
• Prepares pureed foods and adjusts consistency with thickeners.
• Washes, peels, and cuts fruits and vegetables.
• Applies knowledge of sanitation principles to safeguard food against spoilage and waste.
• Follows appropriate safety procedures in operating a variety of kitchen equipment.
• Follows sanitary food handling procedures.
• Receives, rotates and stores perishable and non-perishable items according to the service policies.
• Provides assistance to supervisor in ordering food in accordance with daily and weekly menu requirements.

Work Schedule: Rotating shifts, days and evenings, holidays, per service needs
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Authorized
Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99818-S and PD99818S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
• A Physical Exam is required
• Lifts or moves objects weighing up to 40 lbs. unassisted and occasionally lifts or moves object weighing more than 40 lbs. with assistance of a lifting device or other workers.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

RESUME REQUIREMENTS - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
- Job Title (for each position)Description of duties (be as detailed as possible)
-Month and year start/end dates (e.g. June 2018 to April 2020) of employment
-Full-time or part-time status (include average hours worked per week)

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

A supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/ .

Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .