WDVA Cook 1, On-Call, Walla Walla Veterans Home

US DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team at the Walla Walla Veterans Home as a Cook 1, where you will prepare meals for our resident Veterans. This full-time position offers a chance to serve those who served our country, ensuring their culinary needs are met with care and quality. You will be responsible for meal preparation, adhering to dietary requirements, and maintaining food safety standards. Bring your culinary skills and customer service expertise to make a meaningful impact in the lives of our heroes.

Benefits

5% Premium Pay for 24-hour facilities

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 months experience in large-scale food preparation.
• Valid Washington state food worker card required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare meals for residents, ensuring dietary needs are met.
• Monitor food safety and sanitation practices.
• Maintain accurate food temperature records.

Skills

Food Sanitation and Safety

Customer Service

Culinary Skills

English Proficiency

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Cook 1

Full-Time - Permanent

Walla Walla Veterans Home

Serve those who served - bring your culinary skills to our Walla Walla Veterans Home and make every meal a moment of care and comfort! Our team is excited to announce we are now accepting applications for our on-call Cook 1position at the Walla Walla Veterans Home!

*This position has been posted within the assigned pay range through Step L. Step M has not been published as this is considered the longevity step, in alignment with state HR compensation rules.

Position(s) at this location will also receive 5% Premium Pay for facilities open twenty four hours per day. Employees must physically work at the facility 3 days per workweek to qualify. The 5% Premium Pay is in effect until June 29th, 2025.

At theWashington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), we are passionate about our mission of “Serving Those Who Served.” As a national leader in our advocacy for more than 500,000 Veterans and their family members, we strive to connect them to earned benefits as well as innovative programs focused on their overall health and wellness. In addition, we provide critical community services through a variety of programs, and at our four State Veterans Homes located in Orting, Port Orchard, Spokane, and Walla Walla. These locations provide Medicare and Medicaid nursing home care to Veterans, including, in some instances, their spouses, widows, or Gold Star.

As aCook 1, you will prepare meals for our resident Veterans and distribute these meals in a safe and sanitary manner to ensure the dietary needs of our residents are met.

Cultivate your culinary career and put your customer service skills to work by serving America's heroes!Some of what you'll do:

• Prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals.
• Prepare food for residents and, at times, staff and visitors.
• Assure that preferences and therapeutic diets are adhered to when reasonably possible.
• Utilize preparation activities and batch cooking techniques while minimizing waste.
• Monitor all food items prepared for acceptable quality and report needs for modification to recipes or production methods when necessary.
• Assure food items are kept safe by monitoring storage methods, food production and holding temperatures, and cooling process.
• Assure reheating is completed per food handling regulations.
• Perform general cleaning and sanitation of work areas.
• Maintain accurate mealtime food temperature records, refrigerator and freezer temperatures, quality assurance records, production records, and prep sheets.
• And more!

Please Note:For positions required to have Food Handlers Permits, this is the correct website from which you can obtain a valid Washington state permit: https://www.foodworkercard.wa.gov/
Required:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Valid Washington state food worker card (obtained from https://www.foodworkercard.wa.gov/).
• Minimum of twelve (12) months of experience in large-scale food preparation of cooking, completion of coursework, and/or military training in large-scale food service preparation may be substituted month for month. If you qualify by completion of a course in large-scale cooking, please attach a transcript showing your completed coursework when applying.
• Ability to:
  • Lift/push/pull frequently up to 50 lbs. and occasionally up to 70 lbs.
  • Demonstrate thorough detailed knowledge of food sanitation and safety practices, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the English language and be able to read, write and speak English.

Preferred/Desired:

• Degree or certificate in culinary arts.
• ServSafe certification.
• Twelve (12) months of experience working with geriatric population and/or within a healthcare institutional setting.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines in a time-sensitive environment.
• Knowledge of therapeutic diet planning, preparation and serving of special diets, and sanitary methods of food handling.
• Valid driver's license.

Special Requirements:

• Must be able to pass a DSHS BCCU Background Check prior to beginning services and every two (2) years in accordance with WDVA Policy 615.000 Background Checks. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Must comply with annual Tuberculin Screening in accordance with DVA policy 670.000 Tuberculosis Testing.
• Requires medical evaluation, fit testing, training, and use of respiratory protection as required by the Washington Industrial Safety and Act standards. Must be able to wear a respirator, medical gloves, gowns, eye protection, and other personal protection as required by a job or task.
• Employee must be able to push or pull with sufficient strength and walk, sit, and bend in an unrestricted manner during the entire workday.
• Must maintain regular and reliable attendance and be willing to work frequent week and evening outreach events.
• Must successfully complete, within mandated timeframes, employee orientation and all other mandatory annual, in-service, and other required training.
• Must become familiar and comply with all DVA policies and procedures and Collective Bargaining Agreements as applicable.
• Must sign the confidentiality statement for all employees.
• Must maintain a valid Washington state food worker card.
• Positions requiring travel must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and must be insured if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• Candidates who are offered a job with WDVA must possess work authorization which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.

Check out this awesome videohereto see what it is like to work for the WDVA!

Application Process:

Top candidates will be contacted directly to interview for this position. Because the selection will be based on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills and abilities that address the mandatory and desirable qualifications described below.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. A letter of interest describing specific qualifications.
2. A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.

Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.

Other Information:

• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees.

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For further information, please contact us at [e-mail].

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

Here at YOUR Washington Department of Veterans Affairs our employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or Veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the mission of the agency. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures on how we can provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need assistance in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call [phone]. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

If you have any questions regarding this announcement, program, or the agency, please contact us [e-mail].