Food Service Lead - Cook Coordinator

Minnesota Direct Care and Treatment; Shakopee (MN); On-site; USD 48,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension plan

Stable hours

Job summary

Minnesota Department of Corrections is seeking a Food Service Lead (Cook Coordinator) at Minnesota Correctional Facility Shakopee to supervise daily meal production, ensure quality and nutrition standards, and manage meals with strict timelines.

The role requires supervising incarcerated workers, enforcing safety and sanitation, and coordinating with kitchen staff to maintain efficient operations in an evening shift environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualifications include reading, writing, and verbal English communication.
• Required training includes ServSafe Food Manager Certification or obtaining it after appointment.
• Preferred qualifications include a HS diploma, valid driver’s license, and experience in correctional settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and direction to incarcerated workers in meal preparation, presentation, handling, serving, and cleanup to meet quality and nutrition standards and service timelines.
• Monitor safety, sanitation, and a secure environment within the food services area.

Skills

English literacy

Communication

Reading & writing

Physical stamina

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

• Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted: 10/15/2026
• Closing Date: 10/21/2026
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Department of Corrections
• Division/Unit: Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF) Shakopee
• Work Shift/Work Hours: Evening Shift/12:00pm - 8:00pm
• Days of Work: Rotating
• Travel Required: No
• Salary Range: $22.79 - $31.43 / hourly; $47,585 - $65,625 / annually
• Classified Status: Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 203 - Service/AFSCME
• FLSA Status: Nonexempt
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

Working Title: Food Service Lead

Job Class: Cook Coordinator

Agency: Corrections Dept

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS POSITION WAS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED. IF YOU PREVIOUSLY APPLIED TO THIS POSTING, YOU DO NOT NEED TO REAPPLY TO BE CONSIDERED.

Have a passion for food and helping people?

• Start a career with excellent benefits and opportunity for advancement!
• Work dependable hours with a schedule that doesn't fluctuate!
• Retire early at the age of 55!
• Receive a pension when you retire!

This position provides guidance, instruction and direction to incarcerated workers in the preparation, presentation, handling, serving and clean-up of daily meals in the food services area to ensure facility meals provided meet quality and nutrition standards and service timelines. Responsible to monitor and adhere to safety and sanitation standards within the food services area, while maintaining a secure environment.

This position has direct contact with incarcerated individuals

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and able to pass a criminal history check. For your success, you must be able to read, write, and communicate verbally in English and be able to stand, walk, bend, carry, push, and handle items the majority of shift.

To be qualified for and considered for this position, applicants must meet one (1) of the minimum qualifications listed below. Ensure that your resume contains descriptions of your work experiences sufficient for comparison against the requirements stated below and indicate the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.

• Nine months of full-time food production experience in a high-volume cafeteria, school, hospital, fast food, restaurant, catering, etc., or
• Six months of full-time experience performing cooking and food preparation in a correctional or secured environment, or
• Completion of a full-time vocational/technical school program in commercial cooking or commercial food preparation.

Required Training

Applicants who do not possess a ServSafe Food Manager Certification (or equivalent) at the time of appointment must obtain certification as a requirement to successfully pass the required probation.

Preferred Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Valid Driver’s License
• Experience working in a correctional or secured environment.
• Experience directing the work of others sufficient to direct incarcerated workers.
• Experience directing the work of others in a large food service setting.
• Two or more years of work experience in a large restaurant, cafeteria, school, hospital, or equivalent experience in large volume cooking and food preparation.
• Knowledge of food values, nutrition, and therapeutic diets
• Bilingual in a Spanish, Asian, or African dialect

Physical Requirements

The selected finalist is required to review and sign a Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) for this position and may be required to complete a tuberculosis screening prior to hire. For a copy of the PDA, please email Tiffany Werner at [e-mail]

Additional Requirements

The selection process may include screening the top candidate(s) on their criminal history, predatory offender registration, offender associations and/or other applicable background information in accordance with Department of Corrections' policy. Top candidate(s)must pass a criminal history check which includes successful completion of all sentencing and/or restitution requirements of law enforcement jurisdictions, including probation.

Employment history/reference checks, including incidents of sexual harassment, will also be conducted on the top candidate(s) in accordance with Department of Corrections' policy. This may include a review of job performance and discipline records.

New employees will be fingerprinted within the first 30 days of employment.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) does not participate in E‑Verify. The DOC will not sponsor applicants for work visas, including F‑1 STEM OPT extensions. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

About Corrections Dept

Go from a job to a meaningful career with the Minnesota Department of Corrections where we work to transform lives for a safer Minnesota! We hold people responsible for the offenses they commit while giving them the tools they need to succeed as they transition back to our communities. No matter a person’s custody status, our mindset is the same: a person’s path to rejoining the community starts on the day they begin serving their sentence. Become part of this mindset by joining our team! With the DOC you will find many promotional opportunities, great State of Minnesota benefits, competitive pay, free parking, and workout facilities at most locations.

Working together to improve the state we love.

What do Minnesota's State employees have in common?

• A sense of purpose in their work
• Connection with their