Food Service Worker

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Grand Junction (CO); On-site; USD 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Federal health insurance

Retirement benefits

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Food Service Worker at the VA Medical Center in Grand Junction, CO. The role involves preparing, portioning, and serving meals, maintaining sanitation, and delivering meals to patients as needed.

Applicants must meet the federal qualifications and participate in ongoing safety training. The position may require full-time or part-time schedules with opportunities for paid time off and federal benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience or training evidence must be documented in the resume.
• Applicants will be evaluated by federal qualification standards and screen-out elements.
• A full year of work is considered 35–40 hours per week; volunteer experience counts toward qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Follow procedures to prepare and serve meals in a healthcare setting.
• Maintain sanitation of food prep areas and equipment.
• Load and deliver meals to patient rooms or dining areas as required.
• Set up dining areas, trays, utensils, and condiments for service.
• Read and follow safety data sheets and menus or work instructions.
• Adhere to safety policies when lifting, carrying, or transporting food items.

Skills

Food service experience

Attention to detail

Safety awareness

Job description

Summary

Food Service Workers perform tasks with several steps or a sequence of tasks that requires attention to work operations. They follow set procedures in accomplishing repetitive assignments and follow an established sequence of work such as working in the dish room - passing trays - portioning cold foods and dipping hot foods. This position is located at VA Medical Center in Grand Junction - CO.

Summary

Food Service Workers perform tasks with several steps or a sequence of tasks that requires attention to work operations. They follow set procedures in accomplishing repetitive assignments and follow an established sequence of work such as working in the dish room - passing trays - portioning cold foods and dipping hot foods. This position is located at VA Medical Center in Grand Junction - CO.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement -09/30/2026. 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 Follow Directions Handle Weights and Loads Reliability And Dependability Special Aptitude - Food Service Work 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

• IMPORTANT NOTICE: This is an open continuous announcement until September 30 - 2026
• Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available
• This announcement may close without advanced notice
• The Food Service Worker duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include - but are not limited to: Using proper cleaning solutions to sanitize food preparation surfaces
• Cleaning walk-in refrigerators and freezers in a food service or food handling organization
• Handling and storing sanitized dishes - glasses and silverware for public use
• Making sandwiches using prepared ingredients for cafeteria or buffet lines
• Portioning food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and containers
• Assembling and tossing fresh fruit or green salads in large quantities for public consumption
• Brewing coffee in a restaurant/commercial size coffee maker
• Setting up glasses - silverware - dishes - trays and condiments in communal dining areas
• Scouring and scrubbing heavy cooking utensils such as mixing bowls and pots
• Performing heavy duty cleaning tasks such as ceilings and/or exhaust hoods
• Loading and operating a continuous conveyor belt feeding dishwasher
• Setting up cafeteria lines and/or steam-tables with hot and cold food items
• Standing/walking to clear tables and carrying trays of heavy dishes for several hours or more at a time
• Sweeping and mopping floors repetitively in high traffic areas such as corridors - entry ways - cafeterias and other areas
• Moving kitchen equipment such as stand mixers - weight scales and meat slicers to clean spaces behind and under such equipment
• Delivering meals - which may include hot foods and liquids - to patients' bedsides or patrons
• Emptying trashcans containing food scraps and waste
• Reading and understanding written material such as time and duty schedules
• Reading and following instructions with regard to safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals
• Reading and following instructions on menus - recipes - and/or basic work instructions
• Following label directions in using cleaning or disinfecting/sanitizing agents
• Applying sanitation principles to safeguard food against spoilage and waste
• Adhering to safety policies and procedures when performing manual work involving lifting - carrying - transporting and delivering food or other items
• Working quickly without accidents while at the same time being attentive to the quality of your work
• Recognizing typical health and safety hazards for yourself and other workers around you
• Working rapidly and accurately under the pressure of deadlines
• Work Schedule: Full time or Part time
• Work schedule will be determined upon selection
• Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99921-S and PD99921S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay - higher or unique qualifications - or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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)
• Remote: This is not a remote position Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Requirements: Wage Grade 2 Food Service Workers perform work requiring light to moderate physical effort
• They may be required to perform heavy work - such as scouring and scrubbing large size cooking utensils and pushing heavy carts and trucks in unloading - storing - and delivering supplies
• They are subject to continuous standing and walking - and frequent stooping - reaching - pushing - pulling - and bending
• They frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.