Food Service Worker

This Food Service Worker position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service at the VA Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota. Food Service Workers in the Nutrition and Food Services Department provides support services in preparing food, tray delivery, and related duties to serve the Veterans.

Opening Date : Nov. 7, 2025

Closing Date : Feb. 9, 2026

First Cut Off Date : Nov. 25, 2025

NOTE : This is an Open Continuous Announcement. Qualified candidates will be referred as vacancies occur. Eligible applications received after November 25, 2025 will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Final application disposition will be completed at the end of the open period stated in the announcement. In addition, due to the potential of a high volume of applicants, not all applicants may receive consideration.

Major duties include, but are not limited to :

• Sets up and breaks down assigned station with the correct supplies and food items.
• Portions food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware.
• Selects and places correct items on patient trays.
• Decides what food items to serve for the most common diets.
• Identifies obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu.
• Sets up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as necessary.
• Delivers meal trays to the patients' bedsides; reporting the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian.
• Provides assistance to cooks in the food preparation area, such as weigh, measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes.
• Prepares fresh fruit / cold salads / dressings / sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts.
• Reads and interprets regular or modified menus, individual diet cards, tray tickets or patient selections.
• Performs heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule :

Position Description Title / PD# : Food Service Worker / PD99920S

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not authorized.

NOTE : This is an intermittent position - employees who are employed on an irregular or occasional basis, with hours or days of work not on a pre-arranged schedule, and with compensation only for the time actually employed or for services actually rendered.

Physical Requirements : Food Service Workers perform work requiring light to moderate physical effort. They may be 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. They are subject to continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. May be required to work on ladders and use powered cleaning equipment. They frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance.

Working Environment / Conditions : The work is performed in kitchen areas where the steam and heat from cooking and dishwashing equipment often cause uncomfortably high temperatures and humidity. The work area is well-lighted but usually noisy from food service activities, and there is danger of slipping on floors where food or beverages have been dropped. Food service workers are regularly exposed to hot liquids, sharp cutting blades, hot working surfaces, and extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration or freezing units.

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries.

The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE"). As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips.

Direct Hire Authority : This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.