What are the responsibilities and job description for the VCS Cook- Syracuse NY position at US Veterans Health Administration?

Summary

Are you seeking a better work-life balance? Join an exceptional organization that prioritizes Veterans for an outstanding career! With over 78 years of serving our nation's Veterans, the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) is currently seeking a dynamic Cook for our Syracuse, NY VA Medical Center Canteen. Join our fast-paced environment if you have a passion for our Veterans and their families, along with prior multi-unit experience.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to:

Carries out a variety of tasks, including preparing and cooking all food items for breakfast and lunch service.

· Accurately read and follow recipes and food labels to ensure preparation and compliance with standards.
· Maintains high standards of cleanliness and sanitation in the kitchen.
· Carries out a variety of cooking tasks, including meal preparation and cooking.
· Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

As a Condition of Employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

Your performance and conduct
The needs and interests of the agency
Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government
Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Additional Conditions of Employment include:

Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Subject to background/security investigation.

Qualifications

A current, valid REAL ID is required to work at Veterans Canteen Service.
?A minimum of one (1) year of experience in cooking and food safety.
Excellent customer service skills.
Knowledge of measurements and ability to multiply or divide recipes to meet daily needs.
Requires constant standing, walking, and frequent bending.
Must be able to lift or move objects weighing up to 40 pounds without assistance.
ServSafe Food Handler certification is preferred.

Additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
NOTE:A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy. 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.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package that includes:

Resume

The following documents are accepted and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal Employees), etc.

Most recent SF-50
Performance Appraisal
Separation Notice (RIF)

Veterans' Preference: Since the Veterans Canteen Service falls under 38 U.S.C. 7802, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified Veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/16/2026 to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account, or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

Undra Stewart

Undra.Stewart@va.gov

Address

VCS Central Office
1 Jefferson Barracks Drive Bldg. 25
St. Louis, MO 63125
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

Overview

Accepting applications

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Syracuse, NY

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible

Remote job

Relocation expenses reimbursed

Salary

$19.96 - $19.96 per hour

Pay scale & grade

NA 4

Promotion potential

None

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule

Part-time

Travel Required

Not required

Appointment type

Permanent

Occupations and job series

7404 Cooking

Supervisory status

Federal service type

This job is in the Excepted Service

Represented by a union

Drug test

Security clearance

Not Required

Financial disclosure required

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number

CBAD-13069639-26-US

Control number

885448200

Benefits:

Health Insurance, Vacation & Paid Time Off, Retirement Plan

Salary : $20

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VCS Cook- Syracuse NY