This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Service of a Veteran Affairs Medical Center. 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 position, is to independently prepare nutritious, high quality meals for service to the Veterans. The work of this position is involved in the preparation of regular or special diet foods and meals.
Major duties include: Independently prepares all types of food for regular and modified diets. Incumbent prepares, cooks, seasons, and portions food for all meals so that the completed food products are ready at the appropriate temperature and time and are visually appealing to customers. Prepares menu items using special or difficult recipes that require numerous interrelated steps, many ingredients, and lengthy preparation time.
The incumbent prepares a variety of menu items using several different and complex methods of preparation such as cook/chill and cook/serve Follows menus, production sheets and recipes to prepare items in the quantity needed. Calculate and determine serving portions from quantities of food issued to include meats, poultry, seafood, vegetables, fruits, sauces, and gravies for regular and modified diets.
Prepare or coordinate the preparation of entire meals and prepare, season, and determine serving portion food for all meals by following standardized, special, or difficult recipes. Coordinates cooking of several items with different cooking times and characteristics. Prepares complex recipes with multiple steps and lengthy preparation times. Cooking techniques (such as sous vide, and combi-oven) may be employed.
Coordinates the cooking of items prepared by other cooks at one or more work centers. May serve as person in charge for oversight of food safety activities. Follows sanitary food handling procedures; covers, labels and dates food items; utilize or discard ingredients by expiration date. Disassembles and assembles component parts and accessories for cleaning. Cleans, stores and maintains all kitchen utensils, equipment and work areas practicing a "clean as you go" concept.
Cleans and sanitizes assigned work areas: worktables, sinks, blast chillers, racks, carts. Achieves certification in food safety such as ServSafe and is able to apply knowledge of food safety, food temperatures, etc. Operates dish machine; checks detergent level and water temperature before washing and sanitizing cook's equipment. Checks equipment to make sure it is free of food residue and soap. Cleans ovens, combi oven/steamer, slicer, mixer, steam kettles, grill daily.
Collects trash, sorts and prepares items for recycling. Cleans floors, walls, shelves as assigned. Performs deep cleaning tasks such as cleaning walk-in refrigerators and freezers. May operate powered floor cleaning or steam equipment for deep cleaning. Prepares food production worksheets from computerized recipe files. Receives, rotates and stores perishable and non-perishable items according to service policies. Removes outdated or damaged goods from stock.
Labels all food items with contents and dates per labeling guidelines. Weighs, measures, and assembles ingredients accurately and according to standardized recipes or requisitions. Monitor and maintain proper spacing of food products from floor, ceiling and shelving to ensure adequate air flow and spacing of products for optimal food safety. Monitor for signs of pest notifying the appropriate individual as determined by your local policy. Maintain accurate food inventories.
Provides assistance to supervisor in ordering food in accordance with daily and weekly menu requirements. Maintains strict security of all areas. Advises lower grade food service workers and cooks on tray assembly issues, dishwashing procedures, and quality control issues, such as plating techniques, tray arrangements, and practices to maintain temperatures and safety of food. Performs other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm, with occasional weekends and holidays. Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99817S Physical Requirements: Is subject to continuous standing, walking, frequent bending, reaching, pushing, and pulling. Lifts or moves objects weighing up to 40 lbs. unassisted and occasionally lifts or moves objects weighing more than 40 lbs. with assistance of a lifting device or other workers.
Manipulates cumbersome, heavy objects, such as washing stainless steel mixing bowls, pushing heavy carts on casters or operating heavy equipment. Possesses manual dexterity to operate equipment and to handle sharp knives and blades safely. Utilizes eye-hand coordination and the ability to concentrate and react quickly to serve food and operate equipment.
Latasha.Loyd@va.gov · (313) 409 3775
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $30.28 – $35.3/hr.
Applications close on 2026-10-27.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-20 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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