Cook

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Brockton (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

VA Boston Healthcare System is seeking a full-time Cook to join the Nutrition and Food Service teams at the Brockton and West Roxbury Massachusetts campuses. The role involves preparing and cooking meals for veteran patients, following dietary requirements and menus, and maintaining clean, safe kitchens with standard sanitation practices.

Responsibilities include handling regular and therapeutic diets (diabetic, low sodium, gluten-free, etc.), operating kitchen equipment, and contributing to

Qualifications

• Qualification information references training or experience sufficient to perform the duties. Applicants will be evaluated per the OPM Federal Wage System standards.
• No specific degree or certificate is required beyond demonstrated ability to perform the duties.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality meals and nutritional care to Veteran patients.
• Prepare ingredients for regular and modified diets.
• Clean and sanitize work areas and equipment.
• Prepare and cook a variety of items including therapeutic diets (diabetic, low sodium, low protein, gluten-free).
• Follow menus, production sheets, and recipes to prepare items in quantity.
• Operate kitchen equipment and maintain sanitation standards.

Job description

Summary

These Cook positions are in the Nutrition and Food Service at VA Boston Healthcare System located at the Brockton and West Roxbury Massachusetts campuses. These positions are full time at 40 hours per week.

Qualifications

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.

Physical Requirements: Subject to continuous standing - walking - frequent bending - reaching - pushing - and pulling. Lifts or moves objects weighing up to 40 lbs. unassisted. Manipulates cumbersome and heavy objects - such as washing stainless steel mixing bowls - pushing heavy carts on caster - or operating heavy equipment. Manual dexterity needed to safely operate equipment and to handle sharp knives and blades. Hand-eye coordination and ability to concentrate and react quickly to serve food and operate equipment.

Duties

• The cook is responsible for providing high-quality meals and nutritional care to Veteran patients at the Medical Center
• Major duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Weighs - measures - and assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets
• Cleans and sanitizes work areas - and performs deep cleaning tasks when needed
• Independently prepares and cooks a variety of items including regular and therapeutic diet (diabetic - low sodium - low protein - gluten free - etc.) entrees and dessert items
• Uses a variety of methods to prepare meats - fish - and poultry including broiling - roasting - baking - frying - boiling - steaming - stewing - braising - and grilling
• Follows menus - production sheets - and recipes to prepare items in the quantity needed
• Operates industrial dish machine
• Operates a variety of kitchen equipment and follows appropriate safety procedures
• Disassembles and reassembles equipment for cleaning
• Makes a variety of desserts such as cobblers - brownies - cookies - and pastries
• Prepares and heats convenience items - and prepares pureed foods and adjusts consistency with thickeners
• Washes - peels - and cuts fruits and vegetables
• assembles and mixes salad ingredients and dessert items - including gelatin molds and fruit crisps
• Follows sanitary food handling procedures
• Work Schedule: Full-Time West Roxbury: Two-week rotating schedule (weeks start on Sunday): Working days: 10:45 AM - 7:15 PM (Week 1: Sunday & Thursday off
• Week 2: Monday & Tuesday off)
• Brockton: Sunday - Thursday 10:30 a.m
• - 7:00 p.m
• and Thursday - Monday 5:00 a.m
• -1 :30 p.m
• Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
• Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99818S Telework/Virtual/Remote Work: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Working Conditions: Performs work in areas of temperature extremes
• Work is carried out in kitchen/dish room areas that are often hot - uncomfortable - and noisy
• Environment includes exposure to extreme cold while working in walk-in refrigerators and freezers for extended periods of time to complete duties
• Works with other cooks - food service workers - and supervisors
• Exposed to stems - cooking odors - and noise from equipment and conversation
• Subject to hazards of cuts - bruises - strains - burns and falls in kitchen equipment
• Strong cleaning and sanitizing solutions may be skin and respiratory irritants
• Performs work in patient care settings where there may be exposure to contagious disease
• May have contact with patients who demonstrate verbally and/or physically aggressive behavior
• Required to wear proper hair covering and clean uniform
• Wear disposable gloves when handling food for service - and proper protective equipment when completing cleaning activities
• Notifications: These positions are in the Competitive Service
• Current Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• These positions are covered by Federal Wage System Special Wage Rates for the Boston - Massachusetts (BOS) Wage Area
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees
• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 31 - 2026
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be October 8th - 2026
• After this date - qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available
• Eligible applications received after the initial cut-off date will be referred as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• This announcement may close at any time once all positions are filled.