Job Overview
Employment Type
Full-time
Compensation
Hourly
Range $21.89 - $25.54
Work Schedule
Rotating Shifts
Day Shifts
Weekend Shifts
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Paid Time Off
Retirement Plan
Life insurance
flexible spending accounts
Employee assistance program
Job Description
The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Amarillo, Texas, is a vital institution committed to providing exceptional care and nutritional support to veterans. This Veterans Affairs Medical Center serves the healthcare needs of veteran patients, ensuring their well-being through comprehensive medical services including specialized nutritional care. The Nutrition and Food Service department plays a crucial role within this establishment by preparing, delivering, and serving nutritious meals tailored specifically to support the health needs of veterans. Their focus is on high-quality food preparation that meets both regular and therapeutic dietary requirements, reflecting the center's commitment to supporting veterans' health through proper nutrition.
This career opportunity is for the position of Cook, WG 6, at the Nutrition and Food Service department within the Medical Center. The Cook's primary responsibility is to prepare nutritious, high-quality meals for veterans, including both regular and therapeutic diet options such as diabetic, low sodium, low protein, and gluten-free meals. This position requires attention to detail to ensure that meals are prepared according to menus, production sheets, and recipes, accurately meeting quantity and quality standards. The Cook will use a variety of cooking techniques such as roasting, baking, grilling, frying, steaming, and braising to prepare meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, cereals, soups, sauces, and desserts. They are also responsible for the attractive presentation and garnishing of food items.
Working independently, the Cook must plan cooking processes to ensure meals are ready on time and served at proper temperatures, which may involve coordinating multiple items with different cooking times. The role involves routine use of kitchen equipment such as combi ovens, grills, slicers, mixers, steam kettles, blenders, food processors, and scales, requiring adherence to safety and sanitation standards. Physical demands of the job include standing and walking for extended periods, lifting up to 40 pounds unassisted, and operating or manipulating heavy kitchen equipment safely.
This is a full-time, permanent position with a work schedule between 5:30 am and 7:00 pm, covering various shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays, with two consecutive days off. The remuneration is within the WG 6 pay scale, offering an hourly wage range from $21.89 to $25.54, reflecting competitive federal wages. The position is union-represented and requires candidates to comply with federal employment regulations, including background investigations and drug screenings. This job is ideal for individuals who are passionate about serving veterans, have culinary skills, and can maintain high food safety standards in a fast-paced environment.
Overall, this Cook position offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute directly to the health and wellness of veterans by ensuring they receive meals that support their medical and dietary needs. Working within the VA Medical Center environment, the Cook supports a mission-driven team focused on veteran care and demonstrates a commitment to upholding the highest standards of food safety, quality, and nutrition.
This career opportunity is for the position of Cook, WG 6, at the Nutrition and Food Service department within the Medical Center. The Cook's primary responsibility is to prepare nutritious, high-quality meals for veterans, including both regular and therapeutic diet options such as diabetic, low sodium, low protein, and gluten-free meals. This position requires attention to detail to ensure that meals are prepared according to menus, production sheets, and recipes, accurately meeting quantity and quality standards. The Cook will use a variety of cooking techniques such as roasting, baking, grilling, frying, steaming, and braising to prepare meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, cereals, soups, sauces, and desserts. They are also responsible for the attractive presentation and garnishing of food items.
Working independently, the Cook must plan cooking processes to ensure meals are ready on time and served at proper temperatures, which may involve coordinating multiple items with different cooking times. The role involves routine use of kitchen equipment such as combi ovens, grills, slicers, mixers, steam kettles, blenders, food processors, and scales, requiring adherence to safety and sanitation standards. Physical demands of the job include standing and walking for extended periods, lifting up to 40 pounds unassisted, and operating or manipulating heavy kitchen equipment safely.
This is a full-time, permanent position with a work schedule between 5:30 am and 7:00 pm, covering various shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays, with two consecutive days off. The remuneration is within the WG 6 pay scale, offering an hourly wage range from $21.89 to $25.54, reflecting competitive federal wages. The position is union-represented and requires candidates to comply with federal employment regulations, including background investigations and drug screenings. This job is ideal for individuals who are passionate about serving veterans, have culinary skills, and can maintain high food safety standards in a fast-paced environment.
Overall, this Cook position offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute directly to the health and wellness of veterans by ensuring they receive meals that support their medical and dietary needs. Working within the VA Medical Center environment, the Cook supports a mission-driven team focused on veteran care and demonstrates a commitment to upholding the highest standards of food safety, quality, and nutrition.
Job Requirements
- U.S. citizenship
- Suitable for Federal employment as determined by background investigation
- Ability to pass urinalysis drug screening
- Selective Service registration required for males born after 12/31/1959
- Completion of online onboarding process including acceptable identification
- Commitment to serve a 1-year probationary period
- Ability to meet physical demands including standing, walking, bending, lifting up to 40 lbs
- Willingness to work varied shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays
- Compliance with VA and Federal policies including seasonal influenza vaccination or exemption
- Submission of all required application documents prior to closing date
Job Qualifications
- Evidence of training or experience demonstrating knowledge, skills, and ability to perform cook duties
- Ability to prepare meals for regular and therapeutic diets
- Skill in using various cooking methods for meats, vegetables, and desserts
- Capability to operate kitchen equipment safely
- Ability to read and follow menus, recipes, and production sheets
- Capacity to manage time and coordinate multiple cooking tasks
- Strong attention to detail and sanitation practices
- Experience working independently with minimal supervision
- Ability to lift and move objects up to 40 lbs with or without assistance
Job Duties
- Works independently to prepare and cook a variety of items including regular and therapeutic diet entrees and dessert items
- Follows menus, production sheets and recipes to prepare items in the quantity needed
- Cooks hot cereals, concentrated or dehydrated soups, sauces, gravies
- Grills eggs, hamburgers, meat patties, pancakes, French toast
- makes cold sandwich fillings and assembles a variety of sandwiches
- Uses a variety of methods to prepare meats, fish, and poultry including broiling, roasting, baking, frying, boiling, steaming, stewing, braising, and grilling Slices meat items by hand confirming to specific size requirements or weight specifications
- Prepares fresh, canned, and frozen vegetables
- bakes frozen potatoes, pre-made cookie dough, muffin batters
- Prepares and heats convenience items
- prepares pureed foods and adjusts consistency with thickeners
- Washes, peels and cuts fruits and vegetables by hand or machine
- Assembles and mixes salad ingredients and dessert items including gelatin molds and fruit crisps
- Plans cooking processes to produce complete meals on time and at the proper temperature which may require coordination of cooking several items with different cooking times
- Attractively presents and garnishes food
- Makes a variety of desserts such as cobblers, brownies, cookies and pastries
- Washes, peels, chops, grinds, pares, cuts, slices, dices, purees, dredges, flours, breads items
- Weighs, measures, assembles ingredients for regular and modified diets
- Combines ingredients according to recipes to produce quality food items, minimizing preparation time and food waste
- Pans foods for bulk rethermalization according to recipe guidelines and production guidelines
- Covers, dates, and stores leftovers according to established local policies/procedures
- Operates a variety of kitchen equipment: oven, combi oven/steamer, grill, slicer, mixer, steam kettles, blender, food processor, scale
- follows safety procedures regarding the operation of equipment
Job Criteria
Experience
No experience required
Job Location
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