Summary This position is located in Nutrition and Food Service at the VAMC, Milwaukee, WI. The primary purpose of the WG6 Cook is to prepare nutritious, high quality meals for Veterans and has a sequence of steps requiring knowledge, judgment and attention to work operations, sanitation, and safety. The position involves the preparation of regular or special diet foods and meals, including cooking meats, poultry, fish, shellfish, vegetables and making soups, gravies, sauces, desserts, and other foods. Responsibilities A Full-Time WG6 Cook is assigned as a food service/food production lead in the Hospital Food Production Unit, Frozen Food and Ingredient Rooms of Nutrition and Food Services located in the Clement J. Zablocki VAMC in Milwaukee, WI. Cook performs a full range of cooking tasks including tasks pertaining to food preparation with a variety of menu items including regular and special diet entrees, food service and sanitation, and Frozen Food and Ingredient Control which includes ingredient issue (order, receipt, storage and issue of subsistence), inventory control (security, perpetual and physical inventory); and infection/sanitation control of general work area. Cook acts as a lead to the Ingredient Control Room (ICR) staff; assures work is completed in a timely manner and in accordance with all policies, procedures and regulations and leads three or more workers to effectively carry out daily responsibilities. Duties Include:-Preparing and cooking items such as: meatloaf, French toast, pancakes, turkey tetrazzini, cereal; bacon and sausage; eggs, vegetables; pureed meats and vegetables; meats and entrees, stir-fry's, potatoes; potato substitutes; tube feedings, supplemental feedings, shakes, and thickened liquids by following standardized recipes, gelatin,etc. --Records data for quality control monitors such as food temperatures, overage/shortages, and disposition of food. -Provides suggestions for adaptations of standardized recipes to account for different techniques and cooking temperatures -Assists with issue of all ICR/FFICR items to food service and food production preparation areas and all items needed by satellite units are placed in appropriately marked transport equipment for scheduled deliveries and that all supplies for therapeutic or recreational outings are set up and placed in designated refrigerator. -Assists supervisor in verifying items and quantity against the purchase order for compliance to specifications, volume and condition. -Checks items and quantities ordered on Production Summary, Meal Distribution Report, and/or Meal Service Summary before processing to assure that items are ordered as indicated on entrée pattern, production sheets and menu and that quantity are within estimates planned to meet requirements according to current census. -Keeps an accurate perpetual inventory. -Helps maintain control of a monthly subsistence valued at $85,000. -Maintains refrigerators/freezers and all equipment in the Ingredient Control Room areas in a clean, sanitary and orderly manner. -Checks all NFS refrigerators/freezers for products recalled in Hazard Alerts, reports quantities on hand to supervisor and quarantines the items until disposition. -Evaluates a variety of raw and cooked food items to decide if they are fresh and whether cooked foods are done by their appearance, consistency, texture, and temperature. -Read and understand written instructions in forms of food labels, standardized recipes, computerized food production sheets as well as metric conversion tables. -Measure and calculate food items and portions and know various tables of weights and measures. Work Schedule: 40 Hours a week including every other weekend and holidays. Relief and every weekend & holidays with 2 days off during the week Position Description Title/PD#: Cook/PD99819S Physical Requirements: Is subject to continuous standing, walking, frequent bending, reaching, pushing, and pulling. Lifts or moves objects weighing up to 40 lbs. unassisted and occasionally lifts or moves objects weighing more than 40 lbs. with assistance of a lifting device or other workers. Manipulates cumbersome, heavy objects, such as washing stainless steel mixing bowls, pushing heavy carts on casters or operating heavy equipment. Possesses manual dexterity to operate equipment and to handle sharp knives and blades safely. Utilizes eye-hand coordination and the ability to concentrate and react quickly to serve food and operate equipment. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Your background must demonstrate the following: experience in a variety of cook duties such as preparation of regular and/or special diet foods and meals; cooking meats, poultry, fish, shellfish, and vegetables; making soups, gravies, sauces, desserts, and other foods; knowledge and use of standardized recipes and menus with personal knowledge and experience to measure, assemble, mix ingredients, regulate cooking temperatures, and add seasoning to foods; knowledge and skill to design and prepare decorated foods and aesthetic food arrangements; and knowledge of food storage, safety and sanitation procedures and a broad knowledge of food service and food production operations such as food preparation and serving. Prioritizing tasks based on food safety and patient needs, handling food under sanitary conditions to prevent cross contamination, and understanding of food/drug interactions and food allergens. 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) Materials Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision 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. Education Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.