Food Services Specialist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Medical Center in Reno, NV, seeks a Food Services Specialist to uphold culinary standards ensuring safe, high-quality food for veterans in inpatient and outpatient settings.

The role requires leadership in quality improvements and operational oversight on site. Responsibilities include menu analysis, training needs assessment, and coordination with procurement and contracting for equipment and services, with compliance to FDA and Joint Commission

Qualifications

• Specialized experience includes overseeing food service operations and maintaining inventory.
• Experience equivalent to GS-9 level in the Federal service is required.
• Education must be 3 graduate years or a Ph.D. in a related field with documentation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as culinary standards expert for the facility.
• Analyze menus and food service arrangements for quality.
• Oversee and improve food service operations.
• Identify and resolve issues in a complex environment.
• Apply advanced culinary techniques to improve flavors and nutrition.
• Plan future advancements in food services and procurement.
• Identify training needs of employees.
• Develop standards and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with FDA Food Code and Joint Commission standards.
• Provide budgetary input for food service operations.
• Serve as COR for food service contracts and purchases.

Skills

Culinary procedures

Inventory management

Quality improvement

Food safety

Customer service

Computer skills

Education

Ph.D. or 3 years graduate education in related field

Job description

Summary

This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service of the VA Medical Center in Reno - NV. The Food Services Specialist is responsible for culinary technical standards by ensuring that efficient - safe - and high-quality food services are provided to the Veteran - both inpatient and outpatient.

Summary

This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service of the VA Medical Center in Reno - NV. The Food Services Specialist is responsible for culinary technical standards by ensuring that efficient - safe - and high-quality food services are provided to the Veteran - both inpatient and outpatient.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level - you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: At least one (1) year of specialized experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. To be creditable - experience must have been equivalent the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes: overseeing food service operations; identifying and resolving issues; knowledge of culinary procedures; maintaining inventory; knowledge of food service production equipment; assisting with inspecting food for quality; using a computer to perform administrative duties; and providing courteous and efficient customer service. NOTE:?Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a?week spent in such employment. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a related field. This education must include courses that demonstrate the knowledges - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. This education must include courses that demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college - or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties and responsibilities will include but are not limited to: Serves as the technical and quality expert of culinary standards
• Analyzes and performs quality improvement tasks for menus and food service arrangements
• Oversees and continually improves food service operations
• Identifies and resolves difficult issues and challenges in a complex environment
• Applies advanced culinary techniques which minimize the use of restricted nutrients to develop refined and patient pleasing flavors - textures and presentations
• Plans future advancement in food services - new techniques - procurement and production needs
• Identifies culinary and food service developmental and training needs of employees
• Develops culinary performance - technical standards - and quality improvement initiatives for food service operations
• Ensures compliance with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code - Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points principles - Joint Commission Standards and food safety principles
• Provides budgetary input on food service operations and culinary program advancements
• Serves as Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for food service - food distribution - and purchase and maintenance of equipment contracts and oversees subsistence/supply ordering
• Conducts studies and investigations to include problem analysis and development of logical/documented recommendations on corrective actions
• and Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Varies Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved