Food Service Worker (Full-time)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is hiring Food Service Workers for the VA Boston Healthcare System's Nutrition & Food Service. These full-time positions involve meal preparation and serving duties, requiring the ability to perform physical tasks within a kitchen environment.

Responsibilities include serving food cafeteria-style, cleaning the work area, and delivering meals to patients. Candidates need to demonstrate relevant skills, including reliability and dependability, with a full work schedule at the West Roxbury VA facility.

Qualifications

• Experience must be evidenced in training or experience of sufficient quality.
• Must demonstrate knowledge, skills, and ability for the position.
• Experience may include volunteer work and is credited accordingly.

Responsibilities

• Set up cafeteria lines and dining tables with food.
• Serve food to customers and patients cafeteria style.
• Break down and clean the assigned area after meals.
• Deliver meal trays to patients' bedsides.
• Perform heavy-duty cleaning throughout food service areas.

Skills

Ability to perform physical tasks

Food service skills

Reliability and Dependability

Job description

Summary

These Food Service Worker positions are located within the Nutrition & Food Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System within VISN 1. These positions are Full‑time at 40 hours per week at the West Roxbury VA Medical facility. THIS OPEN & CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT (OCA) ESTABLISHES A STANDING REGISTER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.

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 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 online 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.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: 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. 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.

Duties

• Set up cafeteria lines- steam tables- dining room tables- and side service stands with hot and cold food items.
• Serve food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers'/patients' plates.
• Break down and clean assigned area when the meal is finished and return food to the kitchen.
• 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 after meals.
• Deliver meal trays to the patients' bedsides.
• Brew coffee according to the number of servings required.
• Assemble and toss fresh fruit or green salads in quantity using prepared dressings and portions into standard serving sizes.
• Apportion other food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and containers.
• Make cold sandwiches using prepared ingredients and pack box lunches.
• Work in one or more functional areas of the kitchen such as food preparation- dish and pot washing- dry and refrigerated storage and receiving- and the serving line.
• Sort- wash- peel and cut fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Operate and break down equipment.
• Perform heavy‑duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas.
• Separate food waste and trash from dishes - glasses and silverware in the dish washing area.
• Remove inspection doors- strainer pans- screens and spray arms for preventive maintenance of the dish machine.
• Unload delivery trucks.
• Store sanitized dishes- glasses and silverware.
• Scrape- soak- scour- and scrub the heavier cooking utensils.
• Move heavy garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area.
• Performing other duties as assigned.
• Work schedule: 40 hours a week – Friday‑Tuesday 11:30 am‑8:00 pm with days off Wed/Thu; Wed‑Sun 6:30 am‑3:00 pm with days off Mon/Tue.
• Position Description Title/PD# Food Service Worker (Full‑time) PD99921s and PD99921S. Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized. Notifications: This position is in the Competitive Service. THIS OPEN & CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT (OCA) ESTABLISHES A STANDING REGISTER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS – which closes on Sept 30, 2026.
• The initial cut‑off date for referral of eligible applications will be on or about June 25, 2026 with subsequent reviews every other week as additional vacancies occur or on an as‑needed basis until positions are filled.
• Please see the "What To Expect Next" area of the announcement which provides additional information on the referral process for this type of announcement.