Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority ((5 CFR 337.205 (b)"(1)-(4)") for this occupation

This position is located in the Nutrition and Food Services within the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Administration. The primary purpose of this position is to perform, lead employees in food service operations including food handling, preparation, storage and delivery.

Major duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Responsible for training Food Service Employees in the Food Service and Production Section.
• Trains lower grade employees and provides on the job training to new Food Service and Production employees as requested by the immediate supervisor.
• Trains in continuing and new departmental media to deliver necessary training.
• Embodies the concepts of Customer Service and emphasizes it's importance with employees in the performance of ones duties.
• Encourages and coordinates employees to fully utilize their time and to fulfill their assigned task in an efficient and satisfactory manner
• Works with employees in planning and organizing duties to accomplish work objectives and foster a team effort.
• Makes necessary adjustments when there are unforeseen circumstances that may change the staff needs and methods of the operational needs of the service.
• Checks work while in progress and when finished to see whether the instructions on work sequence, procedures , methods and deadlines have been met by lower grade employees
• Maintains a wide knowledge of food service operations, is capable of performing all lower graded task.
• Ensures a safe clean area to work and working climate where employees function efficiently and effectively
• Embodies the concept of customer service and emphasize its importance with employees in the performance of an individuals duty
• Performs duties of lower grade food service workers if staffing requires
• Assist and participates in quality improvement projects assigned from the immediate supervisor
• Communicates significant day to day events to the immediate supervisor and receives instructions should change in established procedures and policies change.
• Ensures all areas of responsibility are clean and orderly and are left that way at the end of tour of duty
• Follows up on sanitation inspection action items
• Assures proper food handling techniques are used and good personal hygiene is used according to established policies and procedures
• Collaborates with the Food Service Supervisors. Leads food production and delivery activities in the absence of a Supervisor or Food Production Manager
• Participates and works with the sections supervisors in obtaining needed information and in decision making to resolve problems that arise within the service and/or have a significant impact with established policies and procedures.
• Identifies existing or potential safely hazards and promptly notifies the immediate supervisor.
• Takes appropriate action by following established policies and procedures and reports to the immediate supervisor if an employee injury occurs on the job.
• Ensures that all equipment and/or tools are operated in a safe manner.
• Participates in various quality improvement projects such as a test tray evaluations, safety and sanitation inspections and/or other projects as assigned.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Work Hours, 6:00am-2:30pm or 11:00am-7:30pm, Days off will vary; including weekends and holidays.
Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized
Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule: Not Authorized
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Description: #99918A

Notification:

• This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position.
• This is in the Competitive Service

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Lead or Supervise
• Materials
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Work Practices

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: 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. Subject to continuous standing and walking and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling and bending. May be required to work on ladders and news powered cleaning equipment. Frequently lift or move objects waiting weighing 18 kilograms (40 pounds) and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 60 pounds.

Working Conditions: Work is performed in the kitchen areas. Steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often causes uncomfortably high temperatures and high humidity. Work area is well lighted and noise levels exist from food service activities. Danger of slipping on floors where food or beverages have been dropped. Regularly exposed to hot liquids, sharp cutting blades, hot working surfaces and extreme temperature changes when entering into walking refrigeration or freezing units.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Documents Required:

• Resume

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.

Next steps