Cook

Summary

This position serves as a Cook within the Nutrition and Food Services of the American Lake VA Medical Center, Tacoma, WA. The primary purpose of the Cook, WG-4, is to prepare nutritious, high quality meals for service to the Veterans.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities include:
• Weighs, measures, and assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets
• Cleans and sanitizes work areas, and performs deep cleaning tasks when needed
• Makes precise measurements and weights in preparing recipes and portioning food
• Prepares and heats convenience items such as frozen hash browns, fish fillets, and chicken nuggets
• Uses simple arithmetic, such as multiplying and dividing ingredients in a recipe when preparing food items for the correct serving amounts
• Performs a full range of simple cooking by preparing and cooking items that require little or no processing
• Prepares fresh, canned, and frozen vegetables
• Follow menus, production sheets and recipes to prepare items in the quantity needed
• Covers, dates, and stores food leftovers according to established local policies/procedures
• Weighs, measures, and assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets
• Operates a variety of kitchen equipment
• Disassembles and reassembles equipment for cleaning
• Operates industrial dish washing machine
• Monitors and maintains proper spacing of food products from floor, ceiling, and shelving to ensure adequate air flow and spacing of products for optimal food safety
• Prepares pureed foods and adjusts consistency with thickeners
• Washes, peels, and cuts fruits and vegetables
• Follows appropriate safety procedures in operating a variety of kitchen equipment
• Follows sanitary food handling procedures
• Applies knowledge of sanitation principles to safeguard food against spoilage and waste Work
• Schedule: Various shifts available. To be discussed during interview. Position Description
• Title/PD#: Cook/PD99819-S Physical
• Requirements: 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 pounds 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.
• Possess 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.

Requirements

• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• 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
• 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.

Required Documents

• Documents Required: Resume
• Documents Accepted: Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) PCS Orders 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.