Food Service Worker

About the role

The position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs at the Dayton VA Medical Center located in the Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) Department. The primary purpose of the position is to receive, store, distribute and take inventory of subsistence and supply. Work may be non-routine and requires knowledge and judgement.

What you will do

• Receives and stores all products delivered to the Service.
• Accepts receipt of subsistence deliveries from all vendors.
• Ensures that subsistence is received in a safe and sanitary manner and that accurate quantities are received and added to running inventories.
• Makes corrections on invoice for errors in quantity, omissions and rejected items.
• Stores all food and expendable supplies according to food safety standards and specifications (quality, delivery temperature, cleanliness, in-tact packaging, weight).
• Selects storage location, labels/dates, and rotates stock.
• Makes sound decisions in moving stock and has responsibility for the security of the stock areas.
• Inventories subsistence and maintains running inventories of all subsistence and supplies.
• Takes physical inventory of all food and supply on at least a weekly basis for the purpose of generating food and supply orders.
• Ensures that all subsistence is rotated and used according to food safety standards.
• Determines subsistence needs based on vendor and menu, documenting appropriately on an ongoing basis.
• Communicates to appropriate personnel when stock items are low, items are close to expiration dates or items show signs of damage.
• Requisitions items in accordance with menu requirements, diet census, oral/written instructions, and computer reports.
• Issues supplies and subsistence to all NFS areas daily and as needed.
• Utilizes order forms, recipes, menu, oral/written instructions to determine type and quantity of items to provide.
• Controls additional orders throughout tour-of-duty.
• Is responsible for obtaining authorized items and recording issuance.
• Operates the computer to record and retrieve recipe, menu, order, and inventory data and to produce reports of such information for various NFS areas.
• Uses computer to request leave and read regular Service communication.
• Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, 5:00am - 1:30pm or 6:00am - 2:30 pm based on the service needs.
• Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD91212A Physical Requirements: Performs work in areas of extremes of temperatures.
• The work area may be hot or cold, uncomfortable, and noisy.
• Environment includes exposure to extreme cold while working in walk-in refrigerators and freezers for extended periods of time.
• Is subject to continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending.
• May frequently lift or move food containers and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing over 50 pounds with the assistance of lifting devices or other workers.
• Assignments involve manipulation of cumbersome, heavy food and supply containers and delivery pallets.
• Significant physical effort may be necessary to unload, store and deliver heavy supplies and to push storage racks and pallet jacks.
• Working Conditions: The work is performed in a food service setting with extreme temperatures and noise.
• There is exposure to steam, cooking odors, and extremes of temperature as when entering walk-in refrigeration and freezer units.
• There is potential for accidents/injuries including cuts, bruises, sprains, and falls.
• Subject to strong cleaning and sanitizing solutions which may be skin and respiratory irritants.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-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.

How you will be evaluated

Additional Information Section Continued. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act (or the Act) prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from requesting applicant criminal history record information before extending a conditional or tentative offer of employment.

In accordance with 5 U.S.C § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged non-compliance to VA at ***.

Applicant written complaints should include the following: Administration name: Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office name, employee name and contact information or contractor who made contact (if known). Date of contact. Details regarding the job opportunity announcement applied to, and copies of any documents or other evidence related to the complaint.

Visit Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) for more 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. VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.

This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.

This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

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

• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) Other (2) Other (3) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript 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

The Dayton, Ohio VA & its CBOC's are committed to hiring a diverse workforce from various backgrounds and individuals who demonstrate a diversity, equity and inclusion-related mindset and behaviors.

We are strongly seeking candidates who represent the full range of cultural and identity factors including but not limited to race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation/identity, gender identity and expression, age, language, abilities/disabilities, socioeconomic status, religion, spiritual practices, geographic region, and other characteristics.

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.