Food Service Worker

The Phoenix VA Health Care System is seeking enthusiastic Food Service Workers to join our Nutrition and Food Service team! In this role, you'll contribute to the health and well-being of our veterans by working in areas such as food preparation, dishwashing, storage, and meal service.

This is an open continuous announcement until September 30, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred every two weeks or as vacancies become available.

EDUCATION: This job does not have an education qualification requirement. RESPONSIBILITIES: 30 Day Hiring Model

The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection. This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination, faster assessments, and efficient pre-employment actions. Applicants can expect a more transparent, predictable, and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty.What Applicants Can Expect

Expedited Candidate Review Once the announcement closes, Human Resources will quickly review applications, issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration.

Quick Interviews & References

HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager.

Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer, applicants should be prepared to complete required steps, such as fingerprinting and background check, credentialing, and medical examination within 3 days of the offer.

Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones, including referral, tentative offer, and onboarding instructions.

After meeting pre-employment requirements, candidates will receive a final job offer and start date. Onboarding tasks may continue after starting, with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service. If selected, applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing.

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: 11:30am- 8:00pm. Sunday through Saturday - 40 hours a week with a Rotating Schedule that may include weekends, holidays, days, evenings, and nights. Days off are determined by the needs of the service.

Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99920S

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. 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 .

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

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. SALARY: QuantitativeValue EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Other