Cook

Veterans Health Administration (DOVA); Iron Mountain (MI); On-site; USD 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration (DOVA) in Iron Mountain, MI is seeking a Cook to provide nutritious, high-quality meals for Veterans. You will follow menus and recipes, operate kitchen equipment, and assist with a range of food preparation tasks.

The role is full-time (WG 4) with rotating days and weekends, 11:00 am – 7:30 pm, and requires adherence to safety and sanitation standards. Applicants must pass background checks as part of federal employment.

Qualifications

• No education qualification requirement.

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 items in the quantity needed.
• Grills eggs, meat patties, pancakes, French toast; broils meats; makes cold sandwich fillings and assembles sandwiches.
• Prepares vegetables, potatoes, and desserts; bakes frozen items and muffins.
• Operates kitchen equipment and follows safety procedures.
• Portion foods for distribution and meal service.

Job description

Summary

This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iron Mountain, MI. The purpose of this position is to prepare nutritious high-quality meals for service to the Veterans.

Overview

Location: Iron Mountain, MI

Salary: $21.83 – $25.48 per hour

Pay scale & grade: WG 4

Promotion potential: None

Work schedule: Full-time

Travel Required: Not required

Appointment type: Permanent

Occupations and job series: 7404 Cooking

Supervisory status: No

Federal service type: This job is in the Competitive Service

Represented by a union: No

Drug test: No

Security clearance: Other

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk. Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required: No. Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number: CAZP-13105445-27-JTN

Control number: 890893700

This job is open to:

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration and CTAP eligible.

Duties

• 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 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.
• Weighs, measures, and assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets.
• Operates a variety of kitchen equipment and follows appropriate safety procedures.
• Portion foods for distribution and meal service.
• Follows sanitary food handling procedures.
• Disassembles and reassembles equipment for cleaning.
• Cleans and sanitizes work areas; and performs deep cleaning tasks when needed.
• Cover, date, and store leftovers according to established procedures.
• Operates dish machine.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Rotating days and weekends, 11:00 am – 7:30 pm (including holidays). Additional information may be provided during the interview process. Additional shifts maybe available.

Position Description Title/PD#

Cook/PD20047O

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not authorized

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

Work requires continuous standing, walking, and frequent stooping, reaching/reaching above shoulder, kneeling, pushing and bending. Employee frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted and occasionally lifts/moves objects weighing over 40 pounds with the assistance of other workers. He/she must be able to push heavy pieces of equipment, such as loaded carts, over long distances. He/she may also scour or scrub utensils, carts or other equipment, work on ladders while cleaning, and operate powered cleaning equipment. The work is performed in the kitchen areas which is often hot and noisy. Employee is exposed to fumes, odors from cooking and to extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in-in refrigeration or freezing units. There is danger of falling on wet or slippery floors that have been recently mopped or where food/beverages have been dropped. Food service employees are regularly exposed to possible cuts from sharp cutting blades and burns from steam, hot liquids (grease or water), hot foods, stoves, and hot working surfaces. May handle large and awkward equipment, utensils, or cartons.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment evaluation required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents ). Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government;
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/09/2026.

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

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant’s criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the “Who may apply” eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans’ preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members

Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Agency contact information

John Newingham

Phone: [phone] X32284

Email: [e-mail]

Oscar G Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility

325 East H Street

Iron Mountain, MI 49801

US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. If initial application submission is updated and resubmitted with a new resume, only the most current resume will be considered. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued, and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probationary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy Selective Service Signature and false statements Social security number request

Required documents

Resume

SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Cover Letter

Other (1)

Performance Appraisal

Separation Notice (RIF)

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50’s do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50’s include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50’s at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

For more information on Veterans’ Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets – Veterans – Job Seekers – Veterans’ Preference.