Sheriff's Jail Cook

County of Ventura; Ventura (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Educational Incentive

Bilingual Incentive

401(k) match

Health insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Pension plan

Paid holidays

Job summary

County of Ventura is seeking an experienced Jail Cook to prepare and serve meals for inmates in a correctional facility. The role requires cooking large quantities and supervising inmate workers, with a focus on food safety and sanitation.

The position offers rotating 12-hour shifts, weekends and holidays, and a shift differential. Employment is with the Sheriff’s Office, with union representation and eligibility for overtime.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience cooking in large quantities.
• Knowledge of kitchen sanitation and safety.
• Ability to direct and train inmate workers in food preparation.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and cooks food in accordance with California prison standards.
• Assists in serving food at correctional facilities.
• Maintains cleanliness of working area and equipment.
• Directs and trains inmate workers in the preparation and serving of food.
• Performs related duties as required.

Skills

Food safety

Large-scale cooking

Inmate supervision

Team coordination

Job description

Benefits

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. Aside from our base salary range, an employee within this position will also be eligible for the following:

• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Some positions may be eligible for bilingual incentive depending on the applicable memorandum of agreement and the needs of the department. To qualify for this incentive, incumbents in eligible positions must take and pass the applicable bilingual fluency examination.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans - You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participation in the County's defined benefit pension plan. If eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS.
• Holidays - 13 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.

Job Description

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office has immediate openings for experienced cooks. Under direction, performs large quantity cooking in a sheriff's correctional institution (jail). Work will involve contact and direction of jail inmates in the preparation and serving of food.

The ideal candidate will have experience cooking in a large-scale eatery preparing a variety of meals in large quantities.

Must be willing and able to work rotating 12-hour shifts, weekends, and holidays. Applicants who fail to indicate on their application their ability to work rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays will not continue in the process.

Dependent upon qualifications/experience, incumbents may receive a salary anywhere within the salary range. In addition, incumbents receive a shift differential calculated at the rate of five percent (5%) of the base pay.

PAYROLL TITLE: Jail Cook

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Sheriff's Office

Jail Cook is represented by Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra-help vacancies. There are currently four (4) vacancies.

Duties

• Prepares and cooks food in accordance with the State of California requirements for prisoner and inmate caloric intake;
• Assists in serving of food at correctional facility(ies);
• Maintains cleanliness of working area and equipment;
• Directs and trains inmate workers in the preparation and serving of food; and
• Performs related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

Education, Training, and Experience

A minimum of two (2) years of experience as a cook in a kitchen preparing a variety of meals in large quantities.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Must possess or obtain and maintain a valid California driver license.
• Must be willing and able to work rotating 12-hour shifts, weekends and holidays.

Desired

Experience as a cook in a correctional facility, military setting, hospital, university or other large-scale eatery.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Working knowledge of: methods of preparing food in quantity and considerable variety, kitchen sanitation, and food storage.

Working ability to: plan and direct the work of others; write simple English sentences; understand and follow written and oral instructions and recipes; prepare tasty food, serve it attractively, and prepare large quantities of food required with a minimum of waste.

Background Investigation

Prior to actual appointment from the eligible list, the successful candidate will be required to pass a thorough background investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Human Resources which may also include a polygraph examination. Background investigation findings may be a basis for removal from the eligible list.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Your Benefits As a County Of Ventura Employee

Union Codes: UPA, UPC, UPE, UPH, UPI, UPJ, UPT, UWS