Description

If you are excited to make a difference in the lives of others and join a team that works towards a meaningful purpose, apply to be a Cook AC (Adult Corrections) at OCC with the Department of Corrections (DOC).

Olympic Corrections Center is a 271 bed male facility located near the Hoh Rainforest. This facility houses minimum security incarcerated individuals and offers Treatment, Work and Vocational Programs to help ready incarcerated individuals to transition back into the community. OCC also has outside work crews to serve the community as well as fire crews that work alongside Department of Natural Resource employees.

Whether the work is inside a prison, in community corrections, or in an administrative office, the Washington State Department of Corrections professional staff experience a high degree of personal satisfaction knowing they are creating environments in which all incarcerated individuals can learn to make choices that contribute to a safer society.

As a member of the DOC team, you will not only have access to a benefits package, but you will also have the opportunity to continue building your career with us. Join our team to be part of an organization that is dedicated to offering opportunities for career advancement and personal growth. Washington's state workforce completed 5,358 promotions in 2018 alone, the equivalent of 8% of our employees.

Apply today to join our team and start making a real difference in your community! For additional information about our agency, please visit doc.wa.gov.

Duties

This position contributes to the agency's mission to improve public safety by providing oversight for the vocational training, direction, and supervision of an incarcerate individual work crew. The Cook, AC provides incarcerated individuals needed vocational and job skills training to become better prepared and equipped to find meaningful and productive employment upon their transition into the community. Under the supervision of the Cook, AC, incarcerated individuals attain job skills and training in the preparation, cooking, serving, and storage of food, and receive instruction in the appropriate use of equipment.

The duties of the Cook, AC include, but are not limited to:

Supervise and instruct incarcerated individuals in general cooking, baking, meat cutting, and food preparation and service.

• 
  Supervise, train, and instruct incarcerated individuals in general food services practices.
• Supervise and train incarcerated individuals in preparing special diets (medical or religious) and preparing and setting up satellite trays or carts and serving lines.
• Supervise, coach, instruct, train, and provide constructive feedback to incarcerated individuals in the safe handling, operation, care, use, and cleaning of kitchen equipment such as mixers, slicers, grills, steam kettles.
• Schedule and organize daily work of incarcerated individuals.

Participate in the preparation and service of all food on a shift.

• Perform mathematical calculations, e.g., adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing, in converting recipes to determine appropriate quantity of food product required to meet menu requirements and population to be served.
• Ensure adherence to appropriate portion control protocols.
• Check food product during and after preparation, ensuring appropriate quality standards are met and that adequate quantity has been prepared.
• Follow basic safety practices to preclude hazards and accidents.
• Maintain and track knife and tool inventory.

Perform inventory and reporting tasks

• Maintain and organize accurate food inventories, and rotate stock items to prevent spoilage and pilferage.
• Prepare written reports, manually and by computer entry.

Supervise and monitor incarcerated individuals.

• Monitor incarcerated individuals and intervene when inappropriate behavior is displayed.
• Maintain security in assigned area to include personal safety and the safety of other staff and perform duties consistent with good security practices.

Qualifications

Required:
A high school diploma or equivalent.

Special Note: Employees in these positions are required to furnish and maintain a food and beverage service workers permit through the local health department.

Preferred:
Successful completion of a culinary arts program at an accredited community college or vocational technical school.
OR
A high school diploma or equivalent and two years of experience as a cook in a food service establishment.
AND
Ability to:

• cook a variety of foods
• follow written and oral instructions
• write clearly, factually, and concisely
• read, understand, estimate quantities and follow recipes with minimal waste
• effectively communicate verbally
• schedule and organize daily work
• operate and demonstrate the safe handling and operation of kitchen equipment, e.g., mixers, ovens, choppers, slicers, grills, steam kettles
• maintain security, order, and discipline of incarcerated individuals supervised
• role model appropriate behavior to incarcerated individuals
• supervise, coach, train, and provide constructive feedback to incarcerated individuals in general kitchen operational practices
• Ability to problem solve on short notice

Knowledge of:

• a variety of foods
• alternate food preparation methods i.e., cook/chill and cook/freeze
• basic arithmetic, e.g., adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing
• food service practices, food preparation, and production methods and procedures
• food service record keeping
• HACCP protocols, practices, and tools for food service

Understanding of:

• weights and measures and differentiate between applications
• re-thermalization of food process/procedures

Successful completion of classes relating to food safety and food service sanitation.

Supplemental Information

• Please include a minimum of three (3) professional references with your application. A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates. **Please note: Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.
• A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.
• We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws. A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration.
• Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire. When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
• This position may be represented by a bargaining unit.

• Remote/telework/flexible schedules (depending on position)
• Up to 25 paid vacations days a year
• 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
• 12 paid holidays a year
• Generous retirement plan
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Dependent Care Assistance
• Deferred Compensation and so much more!