Job Details

Cook 2

The Department of Corrections Reentry Division is seeking highly motivated and qualified individuals to fulfil multiple permanent and on-call positions as a Cook 2 at Eleanor Chase House (ECHRC) and Brownstone Reentry Centers (BSRC) in Spokane, WA. This recruitment may be used to fill future non-permanent and permanent positions. The Cook 2 is designated as an in-training position. Depending on qualifications, the selected candidate may be appointed at the Cook 1 level or directly at the Cook 2 level.

The Cook 2 contributes to the agency's mission to improve public safety by planning, ordering, preparing and serving the resident population at Reentry Centers with nutritionally appropriate quality meals that meet the recommended daily allowance as specified in the Department's certified meal plan. Meals for residents are prepared and served, in a timely manner in accordance with the applicable state and federal regulations and within the budgetary requirements.

Duties include:

• Participate in the preparation and service of all food on a shift.
• Perform mathematical calculations by converting recipes to determine the appropriate quantity of food products required to meet menu requirements and populations to be served.
• Ensure adherence to appropriate portion control protocols.
• Check food product during and after preparation, ensuring appropriate quality standards are met and adequate quantity has been prepared.
• Understand and apply rethermalization of food process/procedures if appropriate.
• Practice and perform progressive cooking techniques for quality control and to decrease waste within the food service area.
• Follow basic safety practices to preclude hazards and accidents.
• Prepare special diets as required (medical or religious)
• Maintain and model the highest standards of personal hygiene.
• Keep work surfaces and equipment clean and in compliance with state and local Health Department sanitation standards.
• Maintain and track knife and tool inventory.
• Complete temperature logs in accordance with DOC and Department of Health requirements.
• Perform ordering, inventory, storage, use and reporting tasks.
• Monitor residents, ensure safe and secure operations.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:

• Two (2) years' cooking experience in a large scale food service or culinary operation. Completion of course in large scale cooking may be substituted for one year of experience
• Current food handlers permit

Ability to:

• Cook a variety of foods
• Follow written and oral instructions
• Write clearly, factually, and concisely
• Read, understand, estimate quantities and follow recipes with minimal waste
• Effectively communicate verbally
• Schedule and organize daily work
• Operate and demonstrate the safe handling and operation of kitchen equipment, e.g., mixers, ovens, choppers, slicers, grills, steam kettles
• Role model appropriate behavior to residents
• Supervise, coach, train, and provide constructive feedback to residents in general kitchen operational practices
• Knowledge of: a variety of foods
• Alternate food preparation methods i.e., cook/chill and cook/freeze
• Basic arithmetic, e.g., adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing
• Food service practices, food preparation, and production methods and procedures
• Food service record keeping
• HACCP protocols, practices, and tools for food service
• Understanding of: weights and measures and differentiate between applications
• Rethermalization of food process/procedures

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Complete a felony disclosure form prior to employment and submit to a criminal background check.
• Successfully complete, within mandated timeframes, employee orientation and all other mandatory annual, in service and other required training.
• Provide physical residential address and home telephone number to the Department of Corrections.
• Become familiar and comply with all Department policies and procedures and Collective Bargaining Agreements as applicable.
• Submit to drug testing in accordance with Collective Bargaining Agreement and agency policy.