CDOC Food Service Supervisor (Statewide)

Nichols College; Dudley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Nichols College is seeking a Food Service Supervisor for a correctional facility overseeing meal services and supervising inmate workers. This role requires a strong communicator with a background in food preparation and safety compliance. The food service program includes large-scale meal production and mentoring inmates for re-entry into the community. Applicants should possess management experience and a commitment to maintaining a secure and hygienic working environment.

Benefits

Career advancement opportunities

Flexible retirement benefits

Medical and dental health plans

Paid life insurance

Wellness program

Tuition reimbursement

Training opportunities

11 paid holidays per year

Qualifications

• Four years of professional employment experience in food preparation, handling and/or cooking.
• Experience in budget and inventory management.
• Knowledge of correctional facility operations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee meal production services for a large inmate population.
• Ensure safety and compliance with food service regulations.
• Supervise inmate workers and manage inventory.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Sanitation Standards

Teamwork

Conflict Resolution

Education

High School diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)

Job description

CDOC Food Service Supervisor (Statewide)

Recruitment began on July 1, 2025

and the job listing Expires on July 15, 2025

Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

Job Location: This posting may be used to fill vacancies throughout the state of Colorado; including facilities in Buena Vista, Canon City, Crowley County, Delta, Denver, Limon, Pueblo, Rifle, Sterling and Trinidad.

Description of Job
This Correctional Support Trades Supervisor I (CSTS I) is a Food Service (FS) Supervisor in a Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) prison facility. Position oversees the production of meal services for an inmate population which could range from 600 to 7500 meals daily. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: ensuring the safety and security of the public, facility staff and inmates; ensuring efficient meal service to include medical and/or religious diets during assigned shift and supervising inmate work crews in daily kitchen operations; ensuring sanitation and compliance with all applicable regulations, standards and guidelines and ensuring appropriate use of resources and inventory. The FS Supervisor prepares inmates for community re-entry by promoting the Colorado Department of Corrections Mission and Vision while adhering to a high level of integrity and commitment.

Safety & Security – position maintains safety and security by training and guiding staff and inmates in key, tool and chemical control; performs inmate counts, shakedowns, searches, escorts, movement control, inmate access to kitchen and the proper application of restraints and force. Through conscientious observation and adherence to agency Administrative Regulations and the Code of Penal Discipline, position promotes a safe and secure work environment.

Operations – position ensures the safe, secure, compliant and effective completion of all phases of food service production within a correctional kitchen, to include preparation (for current and future meal service), cooking/portioning, and sanitation. The Food Service Supervisor follows prescribed menus and recipes, instructs inmate workers in the proper methods and procedures to execute efficient meal service within limited time constraints; monitors progress and ensures accurate production and completion of post production tasks. The food service program offers a full range menu and prepares large scale standardized recipes from raw ingredients. Food preparation may include regular, special, religious, and modified medical diets and a full service bakery; Position tracks usage and keeps appropriate inventory, orders products, oversees expenses and waste in order to maintain efficient and effective use of resources.

Supervision – position provides supervision of assigned inmate workers; promoting a high level of performance by setting the work standard according to agency mission, vision and values. Participates in the hiring of inmates, trains and instructs inmates in the science of baking, cooking techniques, sanitation and proper use of tools and equipment. Creates schedules, assigns work and conducts job evaluations; monitors hours, posts wages and updates records. Exemplifies a professional workforce that embodies honesty, integrity and ethical behavior. Position provides real life, meaningful work experience to prepare inmates for community re-entry.

Sanitation & Compliance – position ensures a sanitary, healthy workplace by following standard food handling guidelines during preparation, service and storage. Ensures all food service workers follow proper production procedures and hygiene rules. Position ensures all food service equipment is kept in working order and that kitchen is kept clean and sanitized. The FS Supervisor follows and ensures inmate adherence to all relevant guidelines, standards, rules and regulations.

Budget/Inventory – position tracks usage, expenses and waste in order to keep food service operations within allotted budget; uses due diligence to discover likely areas of waste and implements changes to control waste and/or theft. Position monitors inventory levels, usage, goods, places orders and checks deliveries.
Position may be required to work additional hours or shifts to maintain meal service and security;
Position works in close proximity to industrial equipment and in a relatively loud and busy atmosphere;
Position is trained in the use of oleoresin capsicum, self defense techniques and public safety two-way radios.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
High School diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)

Experience:
Four (4) years of professional employment experience participating in food preparation, handling and/or cooking. (Please be specific on your application regarding your job duties that were related to food preparation, handling and/or cooking.)

OR:

Applicant may meet the four (4) year requirement with a combination of work experience as follows:

A minimum of two (2) years of professional employment experience participating in food preparation, handling and/or cooking may be combined with *correctional experience for a total of at least four (4) years.

*Correctional experience must be security related duties where primary responsibilities throughout a shift, include monitoring and controlling inmate movement throughout their daily schedules, discovering and preventing contraband and responding to emergencies; ensuring proper key/tool/chemical/equipment control, use, storage and accountability; advising inmates in matters concerning work, programs, appropriate behavior and decision making in order to prepare them for successful community re-entry.

OR:

Applicant may meet the four (4) year requirement with a combination of work experience as follows:

A minimum of two (2) years of professional employment experience participating in food preparation, handling and/or cooking may be combined with two (2) years employment experience in the **hospitality industry, for a total of at least four (4) years.

**Hospitality Industry is defined as: Fields within the service industry such as food and beverage, lodging and travel/tourism.

Required Competencies for Success in this Position:

• Ability to read and comprehend the English language;
• Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing;
  Strong work ethic, integrity and dependability.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills and the ability to motivate co-workers/inmates to work cooperatively.
• Knowledge of and ability to maintain sanitation/hygiene standards and use equipment and tools safely and skillfully.
• Ability to effectively supervise inmates and prepare them for successful community re-entry.
• Strong desire to work cohesively as a team.
• Ability to troubleshoot and ensure timely meal service in a high stress, volume oriented and security driven environment, with firm deadlines and mandatory reporting/logging guidelines.
• Strong desire to ensure organization in the kitchen and the timely and systematic completion of prep, post-production and sanitation tasks.
• Willingness and ability to maintain a safe and secure work environment and respond to emergency situations.
• Ability to pay special attention to details and determination to use state resources efficiently.
• Ability to perform intermediate keyboarding skills, manipulate electronic computerized programs and communicate via computer based email.

In addition to a great agency and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system;
• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans;
• Medical and dental health plans;
• Short and long term disability coverage;
• Paid life insurance;
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave;
• Wellness program, tuition reimbursement, training opportunities and more.