Kitchen Cook

Missoula County; Missoula (MT); On-site; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Kitchen Cook to join their team in a secure institutional kitchen. This full-time position offers the opportunity to positively impact the community by providing meals for inmates at the detention center. The role involves preparing food, supervising inmate workers, and ensuring compliance with health regulations. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in meal planning and food preparation, along with the ability to maintain safety and cleanliness in a high-volume setting. If you are passionate about culinary arts and looking to make a difference, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• One year of experience in meal planning and food preparation in a high-volume setting.
• High school graduation or GED required; culinary training preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare food and ensure timely delivery of meals in a secure kitchen environment.
• Oversee inmate workers and ensure compliance with safety and cleanliness standards.

Skills

Meal Planning

Food Preparation

Supervision

Safety Precautions

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Culinary Arts Program

Tools

Forklift

Kitchen Equipment

Job description

This is a full-time opportunity with many benefits! As a Missoula County employee, you will be part of a team that is committed to positively impacting the community. The rate of pay for this position is $24.0493 per hour.

The Missoula County Sheriff's Office is seeking a KITCHEN COOK to join their team. This position performs work in an institutional kitchen to provide meals for inmates at the Missoula County Detention Center. Oversees inmate workers in a secure facility.

Details: Priority screening will begin on Friday, May 2, 2025. It is in your best interest to apply by this date. Applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed until an adequate applicant pool has been established, or the position has been filled.

To Apply:

• Please complete all sections of the online application, even if a resume is requested/submitted.
• Please include with a complete application the following attachments: A letter of interest, and a resume.
• Incomplete applications will be disqualified.
• Complete job description available upon request to the Department of Human Resources.

Prepares food and ensures meals are delivered in a timely manner. Records detailed information regarding time of meals, meal content, number of meals served, and food temperature. Has direct contact with inmate workers; provides instruction on proper food handling and preparation; facilitates cooperation among inmate workers to ensure kitchen safety. Tracks and logs inmate activities; ensures schedules of inmate activities are completed. Oversees inmate workers to ensure worker and staff safety in a hazardous work environment; supervises handling of knives and other kitchen implements that could be used as weapons. Monitors kitchen for evidence of restricted activities as outlined in the inmate rule manual and detention center policy. Follows approved menus to ensure prepared meals comply with State regulations, medical orders, nutritional and other required standards. Oversees inmate workers assigned to kitchen duty; documents infractions and refers to kitchen supervisor or manager. Oversees kitchen clean up. Complies with standards of cleanliness and health regulations and follows safety and security measures in the kitchen including daily inventory of knives and utensils. May receive deliveries. Ensures food and supplies are handled and stored properly. May operate a forklift to store and retrieve food product and supplies. Performs related work as required or directed.

• Requires high school graduation or GED. Graduation from a culinary arts program or an equivalent food prep/cook training program desired.
• Requires one year of experience in meal planning and food preparation in a high-volume setting.
• SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Must pass an extensive background investigation. Requires a valid Montana drivers' license.

Requires physical exertion such as bending, walking, standing for long periods. Occasionally lifts items (case goods, filled kettles, and roasting pans) weighing up to 60 pounds. May operate a forklift to move pallets. Requires the use of safety precautions with kitchen equipment. May work under stressful conditions and must be able to maintain professional and courteous behavior with all contacts. Work with inmates in a hazardous institutional kitchen environment involves some inherent risk of injury.