Cook

Brooke Army Medical Center, located in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is a premier military medical facility dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare services to military personnel, veterans, and their families. As one of the largest and most renowned medical centers operated by the U.S. Army, Brooke Army Medical Center emphasizes quality patient care, advanced medical treatment, and a supportive work environment for its employees. The center plays a crucial role in medical readiness and serves as a leading institution for medical training and research within the military health system.

This job opportunity is for a permanent, full-time Cook position within Brooke Army Medical Center. The pay scale for this role is WG 6, with an hourly salary range of $23.54 to $27.45. This position is not remote and does not offer telework options. Candidates are expected to work on-site in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, under the competitive service with no promotion potential, emphasizing a vital support role within the medical center's food service operations.

The Cook position requires a dedicated individual capable of preparing and cooking a diverse range of menu items, including therapeutic diet entrees tailored to meet specific dietary needs. Day-to-day responsibilities encompass a variety of cooking techniques such as roasting, broiling, baking, frying, grilling, boiling, steaming, and stewing meats, ensuring meals are cooked to the proper temperatures for food quality and safety. The role demands independence and skill, as cooks must prepare soups, stocks, broths, gravies, and sauces without reliance on pre-packaged mixes, emphasizing culinary craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Sanitation and equipment maintenance are integral to this position. The cook will be responsible for cleaning kitchen equipment and work areas to uphold stringent hygiene standards, including sweeping and mopping floors, sanitizing refrigerators and freezers, and cleaning kettles, ovens, ranges, and other culinary appliances. Operating various mixers, steamers, steam kettles, ovens, and mechanical or electrical equipment safely and efficiently is also expected.

Candidates for this position must be physically capable of moderate to heavy lifting of up to 40 pounds and comfortable working in environments that can be hot, noisy, and involve exposure to steam, fumes, odors, and extreme temperature fluctuations. The role includes shift work that may cover evenings, weekends, and holidays, requiring flexibility and a commitment to supporting the medical center's mission under all conditions, including emergency situations. Personal protective equipment must be used as necessary to ensure safety in hazardous kitchen conditions.

This position does not require a specific educational qualification but expects applicants to demonstrate through their application materials that they possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties effectively without more than normal supervision. The Cook will work under the guidance of a work leader or journey-level employee but should be capable of planning and cooking meals independently, assessing the freshness and doneness of foods by appearance and other quality indicators, and managing food storage in compliance with inventory and sanitation standards.

Additional conditions include a requirement for a background investigation and a personnel security investigation, immunization screenings (including Hepatitis B for positions involving direct patient contact), and consent to seasonal influenza vaccinations unless exempted. Candidates must provide proof of U.S. citizenship and are subject to a one-year probationary period to assess fitness for continued employment.