Cook

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 19,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Des Moines, IA is seeking a Cook to prepare nutritious, high-quality meals for Veterans.

The role follows menus, production sheets, and recipes to ensure correct items in the required quantities. Responsibilities include grilling, broiling, preparing vegetables and salads, baking, assembling sandwiches, and operating kitchen equipment with strict sanitary procedures.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and cooks meals that require little or no processing such as hot cereals, soups, sauces, and gravies; follows menus, production sheets, and recipes to produce correct quantities.
• Grills eggs, meat patties, pancakes, French toast.
• Broils meats.
• Makes cold sandwich fillings and assembles various sandwiches; prepares vegetables.
• Bakes frozen potatoes, cookies, muffins; heats convenience items.
• Prepares pureed foods and adjusts texture; washes, peels, and cuts fruits and vegetables.
• Assembles salads and desserts; weighs and measures ingredients for regular and modified diets; operates kitchen equipment; follows safety and sanitary procedures.
• Cleans and sanitizes work areas; performs deep cleaning; operates dish machine; may work a combination of schedules including weekends and holidays.
• Tours are based on department needs; employees will work a combination of tours.
• Position may require work on weekends/holidays and rotation.

Job description

Summary

This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Des Moines - IA. The person in this position prepares nutritious - high quality meals for service to the Veterans.

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.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities include: Prepares and cooks meals that require little or no processing - such as hot cereals - concentrated or dehydrated soups - sauces - and gravies Follows menus - production sheets - and recipes to proper items in the quantity needed Grills eggs - meat patties - pancakes - French toast
• broils meats
• makes cold sandwich fillings and assembles a variety of sandwiches Prepares fresh - canned - and frozen vegetables
• bakes frozen potatoes - pre-made cookie dough - and muffin batters Prepares and heats convenience items such as frozen hash browns - fish fillets - and chicken nuggets
• Prepares purred 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 Weighs - measures - and assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets Operates a variety of kitchen equipment and follows appropriate safety procedures Follows sanitary food handling procedures Disassembles and reassembles equipment for cleaning Cleans and sanitizes work areas - and performs deep cleaning tasks when needed Operates dish machine Performs other related duties Work Schedule: This position works 5:00am-1:30pm and/or 10:30am-7:00pm
• tours are based on the needs of the department - employees will work a combination of both tours
• This position does work weekends and holidays
• weekends are 2 out of 3 (rotation is work 2 weekends - have 1 weekend off)
• Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99819S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.