Food Service Worker

This Food Service Worker position is located within the Nutrition and Food Service at the VA Medical Center in Denver, Colorado.

IMPORTANT NOTICE : This is an open continuous announcement until September 30, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. This announcement may close without advanced notice.

This position independently performs duties that require proficiency in special procedures and broad knowledge of service operations, such as food and beverage preparation, modified diets, computer proficiency, dishwashing, dry and refrigerated storage, and safety and sanitation.

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;
• Decides what food items to serve for the most common diets when the diet card or tray ticket identifies only the kind of diet called for;
• Provides patients with basic information about modified diets and the nutrition services that are available;
• Identifies obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu;
• Follows directions in assembling, measuring, weighing, or mixing ingredients for basic formulas and supplemental feedings following standardized recipes and using sanitary techniques;
• 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 including assembling, labeling and arranging completed recipe items in preparation for use by cooks;
• Prepares fresh fruit / cold salads / dressings / sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts along with individual and bulk nourishments and supplement foods and beverages for patients;
• Makes final check of diet trays assembled by lower grade workers for completeness, correct food temperatures;
• Works in one or more functional areas of the kitchen such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, and the serving line;
• Performs heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas;
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Full time or Part time; Work schedule will be determined upon selection.

Position Description Title / PD# : Food Service Worker / PD99836S

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI) : Not approved

Pay : Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off : 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

Parental Leave : After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy : After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement : Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.

Insurance : Federal health / vision / dental / term life / long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

Remote : This is not a remote position

Telework : Not available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position

Financial Disclosure Report : Not required

Physical Requirements : Wage Grade 4 Food Service Workers perform work requiring light to moderate physical effort. They 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. They are subject to continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. They frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.

WORKING CONDITIONS : Work is normally performed indoors with adequate heat, light, and ventilation. Some work may be performed outdoors where there may be exposed to varying degrees of heat and cold as well as inclement weather. PPE may be required in some circumstance as exposure to possible contagious diseases, blood and bloody secretion are inherent to this position. Care is required to avoid serious injuries (i.e., broken bones) when working on ladders, or when using 30-100-pound power equipment or handling hazardous materials.