Food Service Worker

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Chelsea (ME); On-site; USD 30,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Chelsea, ME seeks a Food Service Worker to assist in meal preparation and service within the Veterans Affairs Medical Center kitchen.

You will set up stations, serve cafeteria-style, replenish items, and ensure cleanliness and safety in a busy dining environment. Responsibilities include delivering meal trays to patients, preparing beverages and simple items, and supporting cooks with standard recipes while following diet orders.

Qualifications

• Experience and training evidence must be demonstrated in your resume and will be evaluated under the applicable standards. Applicants are assessed for the skills and knowledge required to perform duties and will be screened accordingly.

Responsibilities

• Set up assigned station with the correct supplies and food items
• Serve food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions on customers' plates
• Break down and clean the station when assigned
• Set up dining room tables for service and replenish items as necessary
• Return soiled trays and dishes to the dish room
• Deliver meal trays to patients' bedsides and report comments and complaints
• Prepare beverages according to required servings
• Prepare fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings and simple cold desserts
• Sort, wash, peel and cut cold foods using knives or equipment
• Assist cooks with weighing, measuring and assembling ingredients according to recipes
• Prepare uncooked items such as sandwich spread and salad dressings
• Operate and maintain all equipment in food service areas
• Portion food items into standard serving sizes
• Prepare boxed/to-go meals
• Read and interpret menus and diet cards to ensure correct items are served
• Identify discrepancies between diets and menu items and adjust accordingly
• Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service areas
• Unload delivery carts and store sanitized dishes
• Move garbage and recyclables to disposal areas
• Other duties as assigned to meet the Medical Center's needs
• Work schedule varies; typical shifts 6:00am - 2:30pm or 11:00am - 7:30pm
• Physical requirements include exposure to heat, humidity, and sharp utensils during duties.

Job description

Summary

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has adopted the Nutrition and Food Service (NFS) Workforce Modernization Plan - one of the largest workforce innovation efforts undertaken by VHA to articulate future states of NFS operations across enterprise - identifies key priorities for NFS to modernize workforce - recognize unique positions within VHA to support Veterans NFS and established consistency of functions and streamlines hiring process.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has adopted the Nutrition and Food Service (NFS) Workforce Modernization Plan - one of the largest workforce innovation efforts undertaken by VHA to articulate future states of NFS operations across enterprise - identifies key priorities for NFS to modernize workforce - recognize unique positions within VHA to support Veterans NFS and established consistency of functions and streamlines hiring process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/30/2026 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.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to
• Set up assigned station with the correct supplies and food items
• Serve food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers'/patients'/residents' plates
• Break down and clean the station when assigned
• Set up dining room tables for service - place food and beverages on tables - and replenish items as necessary
• Return soiled trays and dishes to the dish room
• Deliver meal trays to the patients' bedsides and report the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian
• Prepare beverages according to the number of servings required
• Prepare fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts in specified quantities
• Sort - wash - peel and cut cold foods using knives or other equipment
• Provide assistance to cooks in the food preparation area - such as weigh - measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes
• Prepare uncooked food items - such as sandwich spread and salad dressings
• Operate and break down and clean all equipment assigned to food service and related areas
• Portion food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware
• Prepare boxed/to go meals
• Select and place correct items on patient trays
• Read and interpret a regular or modified menu - individual diet cards - tray tickets or patient selections
• Identify obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu
• Decide what food items to serve for the most common diets
• Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas
• Separate food waste - trash/recyclables from dishes - glasses and silverware
• Unload food/tray delivery carts
• Store sanitized dishes - glasses and silverware
• Scrape - soak - scour - and scrub cookware and utensils
• Move garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area
• Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center Work Schedule: Varies
• 6:00am - 2:30pm or 11:00am - 7:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99920S Physical Requirements: The work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity
• The work area is well-lighted but usually noisy from food service activities - and there is danger of slipping on floors where food or beverages have been dropped
• Food service workers are regularly exposed to hot liquids - sharp cutting blades - hot working surfaces - and extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration or freezing units.