Food Service Worker
What you'd do
Food Service Worker WG-3 works under the supervision of the Food Service Worker Supervisor. Full responsibility for maintaining the highest standards of quality in meals preparation, serving, distributing and soiled trays collection. Abides by the rules and regulations established in the Nutrition and Food Service pertaining to safety, sanitation, food handling and safeguarding of government property. This position will be located at VA Caribbean Healthcare System Main Facility at San Juan, PR.
Major duties
This Food Service Worker position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service and will be located at VA Caribbean Healthcare Systems Health Administration Main Facility at San Juan, PR. 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; reporting 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 and 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: Rotating shifts (Sunday thru Saturday, week-end and holidays) 5:00am - 1:30p / 10:00am - 6: 30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99920S Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/23/2026. 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 on-line 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 Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) 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 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: 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. This position requires be physically able to stand (8) eight hours a day, exert energy required in cleaning area and equipment. Work includes light to moderate physical effort in lifting cases unassisted (no more than 20 lbs.),and occasionally moving objects (more than 20 lbs.) with the assistance of lifting devices or other workers, constantly standing and walking. Requires frequent stooping, reaching and some bending when replenishing cold food counter, pulling, pushing when delivering food trays. Working Conditions: Work is performed in the kitchen area and patient wards where sanitary measures should be kept at all times. Should wear hairnet and disposable gloves. There is danger of slipping on floors where food, beverages or water have been dropped. The work area is usually noisy from food service activity and equipment Steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity. Exposure to hot liquids, sharp cutting blades, hot working surfaces and extreme changes in temperature when entering walk-in coolers and freezers.
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