Food Service Worker

Hines, IL, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Compensation

Hourly

Range $19.56 - $22.81

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plan

Life insurance

flexible spending accounts

Job Description

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is a government agency dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare services to veterans and their families. With facilities such as the Edward Hines Junior Hospital in Hines, Illinois, the agency operates within a federal framework designed to offer top-quality medical care and support through various specialized roles. The agency prides itself on serving those who have served the nation by ensuring their well-being through accessible and reliable healthcare resources. As a federal employer, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers permanent positions with competitive wages and benefits, providing a stable career path for individuals committed to public service. The current opportunity is for the role of a Food Service Worker (Wage Grade 2) at the Edward Hines Junior Hospital, a prestigious health care establishment under the Veterans Affairs umbrella.

The Food Service Worker plays a crucial role in the hospital’s food service operations, ensuring the smooth preparation and distribution of meals to patients, staff, and visitors. This role demands attention to detail, adherence to established procedures, and capability to carry out a variety of repetitive tasks effectively. Responsibilities span from setting up cafeteria and dining room tables with food items to delivering meal trays to patients’ bedside, as well as maintaining cleanliness in food preparation and dining areas. The position requires working in multiple functional areas such as food preparation, dishwashing, storage, and meal service lines.

Working hours are on mixed tours between 5:00 am and 8:30 pm with no telework or remote work options. The pay scale for this position is Wage Grade 2, with an hourly salary range of $19.56 to $22.81. Employment is on a full-time, permanent basis, supporting the hospital’s ongoing commitment to quality food service and facility upkeep. The job also entails observing physical requirements including frequent standing, walking, stooping, reaching, pushing, and lifting objects up to 20 pounds unassisted and heavier weights with assistance.

Candidates interested in the Food Service Worker role must be U.S. Citizens and willing to undergo a background security investigation along with a pre-employment physical. Additionally, participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is mandatory for all health care personnel in VA facilities. This position does not require formal education qualifications but values relevant work experience and demonstrated ability to carry out job duties effectively, following federal wage system qualification standards.

Job Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen
selective service registration required for males born after 12/31/1959
subject to background and security investigation
pre-employment physical required
completion of online onboarding process with acceptable identification
participation in seasonal influenza vaccination program
ability to perform physical tasks including lifting up to 20 pounds unassisted and heavier objects with assistance
continuous standing, walking, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending
willingness to serve a probationary/trial period
adherence to federal employment regulations and standards

Job Qualifications

No specific length of training or experience is required but must demonstrate sufficient scope and quality of ability to perform the duties
experience may include paid, unpaid, or volunteer work
must meet screen-out elements including dexterity and safety, follow directions, handle weights and loads, reliability and dependability, special aptitude for food service work, and work practices
must provide detailed descriptions of experience on resume for evaluation
must be a U.S. Citizen

Job Duties

Set up cafeteria lines, steam tables, dining room tables, and side service stands with hot and cold food items
serve food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers' or patients' plates
break down and clean assigned area when the meal is finished and return food to the kitchen
set up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as necessary
return soiled trays and dishes to the dish room after meals
deliver meal trays to the patients' bedsides
brew coffee according to the number of servings required
assemble and toss fresh fruit or green salads in quantity using prepared dressings and portions into standard serving sizes
apportion other food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and containers
make cold sandwiches using prepared ingredients and pack box lunches
work 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
sort, wash, peel and cut fresh fruits and vegetables
operate and break down equipment
perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas
separate food waste and trash from dishes, glasses and silverware in the dish washing area
remove inspection doors, strainer pans, screens and spray arms for preventive maintenance of the dish machine
unload delivery trucks
store sanitized dishes, glasses and silverware
scrape, soak, scour, and scrub the heavier cooking utensils
move heavy garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area
performs other related duties as assigned