Food Service Worker - VA Portland, OR

Food Service Workers – VA Portland Health Care System

This Position Is Contingent Upon Bid Award

Work Location

Portland VA Medical Center

3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road

Portland OR 97239

• Citizenship Requirements: Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Clearance Requirements: National Background Check with Inquiries, Fingerprints, and Drug Screen.
• Type of Employment: Full-Time, 40 hours per week.
• Period of Performance: 30 September 2026 – 29 September 2027.
• Total Compensation: $23.47 per hour.
• Benefits Offered: Health/Dental and Vision
• Paid Time Off per Year: Up to 80 hours per year, which starts accruing on the day of hire.
• Sick Leave per Year: Up to 56 hours per year, which starts accruing on the day of hire.
• Paid Federal Holidays: Eleven (11) Paid Federal Holidays.

Summary of Service

The Food Service Worker will support Nutrition and Food Services operations at the Portland VA Medical Center by preparing, assembling, distributing, and serving meals to Veterans in accordance with prescribed diets, established menus, food-safety requirements, and VA policies. The worker helps maintain timely and accurate meal service while providing courteous, respectful support to patients, visitors, and medical center staff.

Working Hours

The Food Service Workers will work Monday through Friday, between the hours of 0730-1630, excluding federal holidays. Hours may change based on the needs of the VA Medical Center. The Food Service Workers will not work more than 40 hours per week.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred; equivalent education or relevant food-service experience may be accepted.
• Previous experience in a hospital, healthcare facility, institutional kitchen, cafeteria, restaurant, or similar high-volume food-service environment is preferred.
• Current food-handler certification, or the ability to obtain a food-handler certification under the State of Oregon regulations.
• Ability to read and follow menus, patient tray tickets, therapeutic diet instructions, recipes, production sheets, warning labels, and written procedures.
• Basic knowledge of food preparation, portion control, meal assembly, food storage, sanitation, and prevention of cross-contamination.
• Ability to distinguish among regular, therapeutic, allergen-restricted, and texture-modified meal items and promptly report discrepancies.
• Knowledge of safe food-handling practices, including proper hand hygiene and hot- and cold-food temperature requirements.
• Ability to operate commercial food-service and sanitation equipment safely, including dishwashing machines, tray-line equipment, food carts, steam tables, and refrigerators.
• Ability to communicate clearly, follow oral and written instructions, and work effectively with supervisors, coworkers, clinical personnel, Veterans, and visitors.
• Ability to lift and carry food, dishes, supplies, and equipment within the weight limits established by the solicitation and VA safety requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Dishwashing and heavy-duty cleaning; separate food waste, trash, and recyclables from delivery carts and discard/store in the appropriate container; scrape, soak, scour, and scrub cookware and utensils.
• Separate food waste, trash, and recyclables from delivery carts and discard/store in the appropriate container.
• Sort, stack, and rack tray ware for loading into the dish machine and operate the dish machine.
• Pull clean tray ware from the dish machine, place clean and air-dried pots and pans, and store sanitized dishes, glasses, and silverware in designated areas.
• Be able to clean and sanitize pots and pans by hand using a three-compartment sink, clean and sterilize equipment, and sanitize work areas.
• Be able to sweep and mop designated areas.
• Be able to clean dirty carts by hand and/or use a cart wash, including removing and positioning them to dry after washing is complete.
• Empty trash, recycling, and compost from kitchen areas to the waste receptacle located outside in designated containers.
• Staff should be able to retrieve soiled carts from patient units and deliver clean carts to designated units.
• Interact appropriately with veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner

Qualified applicants are encouraged to learn more about us at www.fidelitypartners.org or call us at (210) 822-4005 or Join our Team

Fidelity Partners provides equal employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or in accordance with applicable federal state, and local laws (EoE).