On-Call Cook 1

State of Washington; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington School for the Deaf (WSD) is seeking an on-call Cook 1 for the Nutrition Services department. The position supports breakfast, lunch, and dinner for students and staff at the WSD campus, following USDA guidelines.

On-call hours may vary with shifts between 6:30am and 6:30pm, and ASL ability is strongly preferred. Cook 1 works with the Food Service Manager and staff, ensuring safe food handling and quality meal preparation.

Qualifications

• Food service training.
• Ability to obtain a Washington State Food Handler’s Card.
• At least 6 months experience cooking in a professional fast-paced food service environment.
• Ability to accurately follow written and/or oral instructions.
• Ability to adhere to state and federal guidelines, agency policies and supervisor directives.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. on a regular basis.
• Able to work standing for the entire assigned shift.
• Committed to working as a team member and maintaining positive relations with staff, students, parents, and the public.
• Willing and able to work with little notice to cover for staff absences.
• Ability to communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) is strongly preferred (must be willing to learn).

Responsibilities

• Follow all food handling safety procedures.
• Prepare up to 200 meals in accordance with published menus and USDA recipes and guidelines.
• Provide meals for special diets, sports, field trips, and catering requests.
• Regularly use and clean equipment such as the flat-top grill, steamers, convection ovens, gas ranges, meat slicer, steam kettles, and serving lines.
• Work as a team member with other food service staff to serve nutritious meals to students in a friendly, safe, and relaxed atmosphere.
• Evaluate prepared food for flavor, presentation, and temperature to ensure nutritional quality and safety.
• Follow a rotating schedule to serve, clean, monitor, and wash dishes during meal services.

Skills

Food service training

ASL communication (preferred)

Lift 25 lbs

Team player

Ability to follow instructions

Job description

On-Call Cook 1

Vancouver, WA

Note - This is a school year-based position and is not scheduled to work during annual school closures.

This recruitment will tentatively close on October 15, 2026 . We reserve the right to make a hiring decision at any time. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible. Applicant materials are reviewed weekly.

Our Agency:

The Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY) is an educational community and statewide resource committed to ensuring all deaf and hard of hearing students in Washington reach their full potential. Our agency offers a variety of services in academic, residential, and outreach programming. CDHY celebrates all language experiences and deaf culture. We are committed to providing the best individualized learning experience for all students we serve.

Our Staff

Our employees are more than just workers. They are part of a community, network, and family. Each staff member serves as a role model to students. We're looking for people that can contribute, grow, think, and dream. We thrive in a culture that embraces diversity and rewards imagination. CDHY is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion! Our agency strives to create an inclusive and diverse learning community with emphasis on access, success, and equity by recruiting, retaining, and ensuring the success of diverse students, faculty, and staff. CDHY aims to build a community that values and respects one another by providing the best learning environment for faculty, staff, and student success.

The Nutrition Services department at the Washington School for the Deaf campus invites people with a background in preparing delicious meals to apply for school year on-call work opportunities. This is a residential school environment, and we serve students who are deaf and hard of hearing following USDA guidelines and best practices. If you are committed to excellence, have experience with food prep, and would like to work with great people, we are looking for you! For more information about our department and school please visit our website at www.wsd.wa.gov.

WSD Students are:

Bilingual Empowered Successful for Today and Tomorrow = the BEST!

About the position:

WSD is seeking a qualified candidate to fill an on-call Cook 1 position. On-call hours can vary, and the Nutrition Services department is offering weekly opportunities for shifts between 6:30am and 6:30pm daily. The Cook 1 works closely with the Food Service Manager and food service staff to provide quality breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals to students and school staff in the cafeteria at the Washington School for the Deaf (WSD) campus.

• Follow all food handling safety procedures.
• Prepare up to 200 meals in accordance with published menus and USDA recipes and guidelines.
• Provide meals for special diets, sports, field trips, and catering requests.
• Regularly use and clean equipment such as the flat-top grill, steamers, convection ovens, gas ranges, meat slicer, steam kettles, and serving lines.
• Work as a team member with other food service staff to serve nutritious meals to students in a friendly, safe, and relaxed atmosphere.
• Evaluate prepared food for flavor, presentation, and temperature to ensure nutritional quality and safety.
• Follow a rotating schedule to serve, clean, monitor, and wash dishes during meal services.

• Food service training.
• Ability to obtain a Washington State Food Handler’s Card.
• At least 6 months experience cooking in a professional fast-paced food service environment.
• Ability to accurately follow written and/or oral instructions.
• Ability to adhere to state and federal guidelines, agency policies and supervisor directives.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. on a regular basis.
• Able to work standing for the entire assigned shift.
• Committed to working as a team member and maintaining positive relations with staff, students, parents, and the public.
• Willing and able to work with little notice to cover for staff absences.
• Ability to communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) is strongly preferred (must be willing to learn).

CDHY is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please provide completed application including education and work experience.

Please provide three professional references.

Must be able to pass federal and state criminal background screening.

This position is not eligible for benefits (medical, dental, retirement, long-term disability, and life insurance).

Some working hours may qualify for shift premium pay.

This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For membership questions, contact the local Union Representative.

Salary Information:

Salary is set using the State of Washington General government pay scales (36).

Vacation and sick leave accrual, paid holidays, personal holiday, personal leave day, and overtime eligible after 40 hours of work in a week.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email: [e-mail].