Cook

About the role

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE").

As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips.

What you will do

• This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service (NFS) at the Bruce W.
• Carter VA Medical Center in Miami.
• Nutrition and Food Services is responsible for providing meals and nutritional care to Veteran patients at the Medical Center.
• The primary purpose of the Cook, WG-6, is to prepare nutritious, high quality meals for service to the Veterans.
• The position has a sequence of steps that require attention to work operations, sanitation and safety; work assignments may require knowledge and judgment.
• The work of this position is involved in the preparation of regular or special diet foods and meals.
• This includes cooking meats, poultry, fish, shellfish, and vegetables and making soups, gravies, sauces, desserts, and other foods.
• Other duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Working independently to prepare and cook a variety of items including regular and therapeutic diet (diabetic, low sodium, low protein, gluten free, etc.) entrees and dessert items Following menus, production sheets, and recipes to prepare items in the quantity needed Cooking hot cereals, concentrated or dehydrated soups, sauces, gravies Grilling eggs, meat patties, pancakes, French toast; making cold sandwich fillings and assembling a variety of sandwiches Using a variety of methods to prepare meats, fish, and poultry including broiling, roasting, baking, frying, boiling, steaming, stewing, braising, and grilling Slicing meat items by hand, confirming to specific size requirements or weight specifications Preparing fresh, canned, and frozen vegetables; baking frozen potatoes, pre-made cookie dough, and muffin batters Preparing and heating convenience items and preparing pureed foods and adjusting consistency with thickeners Planning cooking processes to produce meals on time and at the proper temperature, which may require coordination of cooking several items with different cooking times Following sanitary food handling procedures Other Cook duties as assigned Work Schedule: Full-Time; 5:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (various shifts)- including nights, weekends, and holidays (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor.
• The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).
• Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99818S Physical Requirements: Performing work that is subject to continuous standing, walking, frequent bending, reaching, pushing, and pulling; lifting or moving objects weighing up to 40 lbs. unassisted and occasionally lifting or moving objects weighing more than 40 lbs. with assistance of a lifting device or other workers; manipulating cumbersome, heavy objects, such as washing stainless steel mixing bowls, pushing heavy carts on casters, or operating heavy equipment.
• The Cook, WG-6, must possess manual dexterity to operate equipment and to handle sharp knives and blades safely, and must utilize eye-hand coordination and have the ability to concentrate and react quickly to serve food and operate equipment.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (***).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a one-year probationary 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; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents you must provide

• Incomplete packets will not be considered.
• Failure to submit the required documentation may make you ineligible for this position.
• The following documents are required from all applicants: Résumé: For each job/position listed, you must include a job title, detailed duties, month and year for each start/end date and if full-time or part-time status, include the number of hours worked each week Responses to the questionnaire The following additional supporting documents may be submitted, if applicable: SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.
• Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
• You will not be contacted for additional information.
• Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
• Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply.
• Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
• Applications are accepted online.
• Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

What to expect next

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted.

HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties.

VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at ***

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.