Food Service Technician I

Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center; Roanoke (VA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services seeks a Food Service Technician I at Catawba Hospital in Virginia. You will support diet kitchen and custodial daily operations, ensuring meals meet patient dietary requirements and unit timelines.

Responsibilities include tray preparation, ticket reading, sanitation, inventory, and cafeteria support. A background in healthcare settings is valued, with a focus on teamwork and adherence to infection control procedures.

Qualifications

• Assimilate and retain knowledge.
• Read with comprehension.
• Work without constant supervision.
• Analyze simple diet decisions and draw correct conclusions.
• Maintain good relationships with staff, patients, and colleagues.
• Refer to Catawba Hospital Competency Assessment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare patient trays according to daily diet restrictions.
• Read tray tickets and organize trays by units.
• Conduct tray line temperature audits and delivery per schedule.
• Set up and operate dish machine; manage dishware sanitation.
• Inventory nursing units and stock nourishments and special foods.
• Assist in cafeteria service and log waste as needed.
• Maintain sanitation following infection control procedures.

Skills

Assimilate knowledge

Reading comprehension

Independent work

Diet decision analysis

Interpersonal relations

Job description

Title: Food Service Technician I

State Role Title: Food Service Technician I

Hiring Range: $35,524 - $49,023

Pay Band: 1

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Catawba Hospital

Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/catawba/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

DIET KITCHEN AND CUSTODIAL DAILY OPERATIONS:

• Working knowledge of patient diet restrictions.
• Utilize daily tally sheets to prepare items needed for patient trayline operation.
• Read tray tickets, place condiments and organize trays by units.
• Read menu and select proper portion control tools.
• Performs tray line temperature audits.
• Works cooperatively on tray line in assigned position.
• Tray delivery to units according to time schedule.
• Set-up and operation of dish machine
• Racking and storing of dishes after dish machine operation.
• Participates in labeling, dating and storing food items within the department.
• Follows daily job flow and assignment schedule for respective area worked.
• Serves in cafeteria as assigned.
• Participates in discarding foods and logging in waste log as needed.
• Communicates with nursing and staff of other departments as needed.
• At times may need to assist with adjusting printed tray tickets with new information
• Performs duties as assigned by supervisor.

INVENTORY AND PREPARATION OF VARIOUS FOOD AREAS:

Diet Kitchen:

• Daily inventory and stocking of nursing units and preparation of nourishments and special foods:
• Inventory nursing units and replenish using designated stock sheets
• Accurately label and date appropriate items being stocked to units
• Deliver snacks and nourishments to units per assigned position

Custodial:

• Work with co-workers in various areas of the kitchen and gather food items needed for each area
• Serve in cafeteria as assigned and assist Front-Line Supervisor with various tasks required in the cafeteria to include salad bar when needed
• Assist with various stocking duties within the department

Cleanliness and Sanitation:

• Follows Infection Control Procedures (hand washing, hair covering, gloves)
• Read and follow daily cleaning schedules
• Maintain a clean and organized work area
• Clean other areas as assigned
• Gathers food carts, dishes, busses, and washes dishware according to sanitation standards
• Records wash and final rinse temperatures of dish machine as assigned
• Operates and cleans dish machine as assigned
• Disperse clean dishware and trays to appropriate storage locations

Minimum Qualifications

• Be able to assimilate and retain knowledge.
• Be able to read with comprehension.
• Be able to work without constant supervision.
• Have the ability to analyze simple diet decisions and come to a correct conclusion.
• Possess good employee/patient/staff relationships.
• Refer to Catawba Hospital Competency Assessment.

Additional Considerations

Previous experience in healthcare setting highly desired

Background Investigation

All applicants are subject to an extensive background investigation and a pre-employment drug screening. This investigation may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services checks, employment verification, and verification of education relevant to the position.

Under Virginia Code §§ 37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) cannot employ or utilize as volunteers, individuals convicted of specific ("barrier") crimes or those with pending "barrier" charges.

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance or accommodation, please notify Human Resources at [phone] during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Equal Opportunity

The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to conducting all aspects of human resource management without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.* There shall be no retaliation against anyone making allegations of violations of this policy.

Contact Information

Name: Austin Grasty

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.