Food Service Worker

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Portland VA Medical Center in Portland, OR is seeking a Food Service Worker within the Nutrition & Food Service. The role involves meal preparation, serving patients, sanitation, and delivering trays to patient rooms in a hospital kitchen.

Work involves standing in hot and humid kitchen areas, with a schedule of Thursday through Monday, 11:00am to 7:30pm Pacific Time. Open-continuous posting with multiple referral cut-off dates.

Qualifications

• There is no education substitution for this series/grade.

Responsibilities

• Cleans serving areas and equipment, including floors and surfaces.
• Operates dishwashers and cart washing station; performs equipment maintenance.
• Transports and delivers patient trays; assists with meal service at patient rooms.
• Sets up serving areas and ensures foods meet prescribed diets and allergies.

Job description

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This Food Service Worker position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service at the Portland VA Medical Center in Portland, OR. This is an open-continuous announcement. Positions will be filled as they become available. The first cut-off date to consider applications for referral to the selecting official will be November 2, 2026, the remaining cut-off dates will be at 2-week intervals.

Key Responsibilities

Major duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to): Cleans serving areas by sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning/sanitizing work surfaces, and other food service equipment, such as refrigerators, toaster, and coffee machines; Cleans production equipment including steam jacketed kettles, tilt skillets, etc.

using appropriate and safe sanitation techniques; Loads and operates dishwashers and cart washing station; Performs necessary preventative maintenance on equipment; Transports tray carts to wards and individually delivers trays directly to the patient's bedside or assists patients with transport of their meal trays; Sets-up serving areas with hot and cold foods, keeping foods appropriately stocked during meal service; Identifies discrepancies between the prescribed diet and/or listed food allergies and the food items listed on the tray ticket; Assembles a variety of items while working in cold food preparation and nourishment area; Make cold sandwiches using prepared ingredients; Performing other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Thursday - Monday, 11:00am - 7:30pm PST Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99921S 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.

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. 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 lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.

Requirements & Education

There is no education substitution for this series/grade.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $20.53 – $23.95/hr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-27.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.