Food Service Worker

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 17,908 - 23,419; Full time

Job summary

The Phoenix VA Health Care System is hiring Food Service Workers to join our Nutrition and Food Service team. You will help with food preparation, dishwashing, storage, and meal service for our veterans, contributing to their health and well-being.

The role includes a rotating schedule with weekends, holidays, and 40 hours per week. This open continuous announcement runs through September 30, 2026; qualified applicants are referred as vacancies arise.

Qualifications

• To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement; training or experience of sufficient scope will be considered.
• Evidence must demonstrate knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties, supported by detailed resume descriptions.

Responsibilities

• Sets up and breaks down assigned station with supplies and food items.
• Portions food items into standard serving sizes and places item on patient trays; supports diet requirements.
• Delivers meal trays to patients’ bedsides and reports feedback to supervisor or dietitian.
• Assists cooks in food preparation and prepares simple foods like salads and dressings.
• Reads menus and diet cards; assists with cleaning and maintenance in the food service area.

Job description

Summary

The Phoenix VA Health Care System is seeking enthusiastic Food Service Workers to join our Nutrition and Food Service team! In this role – you'll contribute to the health and well‑being of our veterans by working in areas such as food preparation, dishwashing, storage, and meal service. This is an open continuous announcement until September 30, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred every two weeks or as vacancies become available.

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 must demonstrate knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position, supported by detailed descriptions on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Screen‑out element: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen‑out element – usually question 1 in the online questionnaire. 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; 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. 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 (but are not limited to): Sets up and breaks down assigned station with the correct supplies and food items
• Portions food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware; selects and places correct items on patient trays; decides what food items to serve for the most common diets; identifies obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu; sets up dining room tables for service – place food and beverages on tables – and replenish items as necessary
• Delivers meal trays to the patients' bedsides
• Reports the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian
• Provides assistance to cooks in the food preparation area – such as weigh, measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes
• Prepares fresh fruit, cold salads, dressings, sandwich fillings, cold sandwiches, and simple cold desserts
• Reads and interprets regular or modified menus, individual diet cards, tray tickets, or patient selections; performs heavy‑duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas
• Performing other duties as assigned
• Work schedule: 11:30 am – 8:00 pm
• Sunday through Saturday – 40 hours a week with a rotating schedule that may include weekends, holidays, days, evenings, and nights
• Days off are determined by the needs of the service
• Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99920S
• Physical requirements: Work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity
• Performs work requiring light to moderate physical effort
• May be required to perform heavy work – such as scouring and scrubbing large‑size cooking utensils and pushing heavy carts and trucks while unloading, storing, and delivering supplies
• Subject to continuous standing and walking – and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending
• Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lifts or moves objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others