Food Service Worker

Food Service Worker

The Veterans Health Administration is seeking Food Service Workers to support Nutrition and Food Services at VA facilities across the United States. This is an open continuous announcement for current and future vacancies. Food Service Workers assist with meal preparation, tray assembly, food portioning, patient meal delivery, dining room setup, sanitation, and heavy-duty cleaning in food service areas.

Location: Multiple VA locations nationwide

Salary: $15.97 - $28.94 per hour

Salary Note: Salary listed is the base rate for a full-time schedule. Starting salary will be set based on locality.

Pay Scale & Grade: WG-3

Promotion Potential: None

Work Schedule: Multiple schedules; full-time and/or part-time schedules may be available based on duty location needs

Appointment Type: Permanent

Remote/Telework: Not available

Travel Required: Not required

Drug Test: Not required

Key Responsibilities:

• Set up and break down assigned food service stations with correct supplies and food items.
• Portion food items into standard serving sizes using proper utensils and dishware.
• Select and place correct food items on patient trays.
• Determine appropriate food items for common diets.
• Identify obvious discrepancies between prescribed diets and menu-designated food items.
• Set up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as needed.
• Deliver meal trays to patients' bedsides and report patient comments or complaints to a supervisor or dietitian.
• Assist cooks with food preparation, including weighing, measuring, and assembling ingredients according to standardized recipes.
• Prepare fresh fruit, cold salads, dressings, sandwich fillings, cold sandwiches, and simple cold desserts.
• Read and interpret regular or modified menus, diet cards, tray tickets, and patient selections.
• Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout food service and related areas.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen. Non-citizens may only be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Must be suitable for federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must complete all required application and onboarding steps.
• Must provide acceptable identification for employment eligibility verification.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for Department of Veterans Affairs health care personnel.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.

Experience Requirements:

• No specific length of training or experience is required.
• Applicants must show training or experience of sufficient scope and quality to demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Experience must be clearly described in the resume and support responses to the occupational questionnaire.
• Paid and unpaid experience, including qualifying volunteer work, may be credited.
• There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Job Elements:

• Ability to perform the work without more than normal supervision
• Dexterity and safety
• Ability to interpret instructions and specifications
• Knowledge of materials
• Technical practices
• Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment
• Work practices

Physical Requirements:

• Work is performed in kitchen areas where steam, heat, and dishwashing equipment may cause high temperatures and humidity.
• Requires light to moderate physical effort and may require heavy work such as scrubbing large cooking utensils and pushing heavy carts or trucks.
• Requires continuous standing and walking, with frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending.
• Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted.
• Occasionally lifts or moves objects weighing more than 40 pounds with assistance.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive federal benefits package.
• 37 to 50 days of paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Potential child care subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment.
• Federal retirement benefits, including a traditional pension and 401(k)-style savings plan with up to 5% VA contributions.
• Federal health, dental, vision, term life, and long-term care insurance options.

Application Deadline: July 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens and eligible CTAP/ICTAP applicants under Direct-Hire Authority. This is an open continuous announcement, and vacancies may not currently exist at every advertised location. Applicants must submit a resume and all required documentation through USAJOBS by the closing date.

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