This recruitment will fill current vacancies and establish an employment list (valid up to one year) to fill future Cook/Baker vacancies as they become available. 

The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) is seeking a motivated individual to occupy the position of Cook/Baker. The individual chosen for this position will be responsible for providing food services for approximately 1,500 inmates and staff, 3-meals per day. This position serves as an important part of the Food Services Section, performing daily work assignments within an institutional/corrections environment that operates 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Cook/Bakers ensure that the food provided meets nutritional standards and health codes while maintaining the safety standards of their working environment. Incumbents of this position must be able to lift, carry and move supplies weighing up to 50 lbs. and stand for prolonged periods of time. The Food Services team members are assigned to either of two adult facilities, the King County Correctional Facility (Downtown Seattle, WA) and the Maleng Regional Justice Center (Kent, WA).

This team has direct contact and supervision of inmate workers within a secure correctional facility. If you are the type of person that enjoys working both independently and as part of a group and providing exemplary customer service to a diverse group of people (both staff and inmates), you are the type of person we're looking for.

DAJD is a professional and nationally recognized organization that supports safe, vibrant, and healthy communities in partnership with other criminal justice and human service agencies. DAJD operates the largest county jail in the State of Washington. DAJD's mission is to contribute to the public safety of the citizens of King County and Washington State by operating safe, secure, and humane detention facilities and community corrections programs, in an innovative and cost-effective manner.

The Cook/Baker will cook, bake, prepare and portion food/meals (three meals per day) for inmates and staff. Direct contact and supervision of inmates within a secure correctional facility is required. 
   
The primary responsibilities for this position are:

• Estimate meal orders, plan meals, assemble ingredients and supplies, prep and cook meals and bake items for meals. 
• Supervise and train work crews or inmate workers. Must provide clear directions and work/training in a well-planned and organized manner. 
• Trains and help develop new hire cooks in all Cook/Baker I positions in the kitchen.
• Portion and serve food; supervise activities related to the serving of food. 
• Prepare reports and identify the amount of food used for each meal and the amounts of leftovers. Decisions must be made in a timely manner to determine if substitute foods are necessary. 
• Maintain inventory of food, supplies and equipment. 
• Maintain an organized and clean work site to ensure health and safety standards are met. Maintain health code standards and quality controls. 
• Plan and prepare food for special diets, verify diet orders on computer, prepare tags, verify locations for meals, cook meal and serve. 
• Ability to address possible conflicts and potentially dangerous situations quickly to maintain and ensure a secure and safe environment. 
• Perform operator level maintenance of commercial food service equipment. 
• Requires prolonged standing, and ability to properly lift, carry and move supplies, boxes, bags and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. 
• Prepare incident reports as required based on department policy. 
• Provide excellent customer service to a diverse group of people (both staff and inmates) 
• Perform other duties as assigned within the range and scope of responsibilities. 
• Responsible for performing other duties as assigned and needed to support the Food Services Section. 
• Able to drive DAJD kitchen vehicles for assigned activities/duties, and load/unload trucks. 

Minimum Requirements: 

• 21 years of age or older by the closing date of this announcement. 
• Food Handler's Permit as issued by Seattle-King County Health Department. 
• High School Diploma or GED. 
• Valid Washington State Driver's License. 

• Demonstrated full-time paid work experience in large quantity food preparation, cooking and baking (minimum of 500 persons per meal). 
• Experience in large-scale commercial, military or institutional setting providing full meal service. 
• Ability to understand, speak, read and write the English language for purposes of following and giving verbal and written instructions, reading/following menus, recipes, policies and procedures, writing reports and maintaining inventory. 
• Physical ability to perform operator level maintenance of commercial food service equipment, prolonged standing, properly lift, carry and move supplies, boxes, bags and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
  

• Food service equipment use and maintenance; 
• Washington State health and fire codes; 
• Food service techniques, including but not limited to menu preparation, supply ordering, inventories, quality control and preservation; and 
• Basic math and computer skills. 

• Food service work experience in an institutional, military or corrections/criminal justice environment. 
• Cooking for a minimum of 500 persons per meal. 
• Working knowledge of food planning and preparation, cooking and baking, and nutritional standards in an institutional environment. 
• Knowledge of special dietary needs. 
• Experience cooking medical, special and religious diets. 

This recruitment will be used to fill a 40-hour per week, overtime eligible position. A list of candidates may also be developed to fill temporary Cook/Baker assignments as needed. This list will expire 12-months from the closing of this announcement.
 
Cook/Bakers must be willing and available to work on any shift, including evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime as needed. Assignments and schedules are subject to the staffing needs of the department; shift and work assignments are subject to the collective bargaining unit bid processes. The position will be assigned to work in the kitchen at either of two adult correctional facilities (the King County Correctional Facility or Maleng Regional Justice Center).

Top selected candidates will be invited to interview.  The DAJD background investigation process is a thorough and extensive process which includes, but is not limited to: completion of an extensive Background Investigation Questionnaire, oral board interview, DCYF Neglect Founded Findings Request, EyeDetect and/or polygraph examination, fingerprinting, criminal background check, reference checks, a physical examination (pre-employment physical), and other tests as deemed necessary.
   
This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117. 
 
Ready to APPLY? The recruitment for this position is open to all qualified candidates. A completed King County Application with completed responses to supplemental questions is required. If you have any questions or concerns while applying, please contact Jacob Black, HR Analyst, by e-mail at Jacob.Black@kingcounty.gov or by phone at 206-477-0185. Online applications are preferred and can be submitted via the King County Jobs Website (http://www.kingcounty.gov/jobs).
 
Candidates requesting Veterans' Preference must indicate this on their application and submit a copy of their DD214 form prior to the closing date of this announcement to determine eligibility. (HR staff will evaluate request to determine if King County criteria for preference related to service period eligibility are met and prior use of preference.)

PREA Notification: The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) follows and maintains federal and state requirements standards including, but not limited to, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards which apply to all public and private institutions that house adult or juvenile offenders. PREA standards preclude the department from hiring or promoting anyone who has engaged in, or been convicted of any conduct which would violate PREA standards related to sexual assault including:

• Sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution; 
• Convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or, 
• Has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above.