Head Cook (37.5 Hour)

Are you interested in a career where you can make a difference, do what you are passionate about and receive personal fulfillment?  If so, please read on to learn more about this wonderful opportunity!  

The State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) seeks a qualified individual for a Head Cook position.  This is a full-time (37.5) hours per week position located at Albert J. Solnit North Campus, 36 Garner Street, East Windsor, CT 06088. The work schedule is 6:00 a.m. - 1:30p.m., Week One off: Friday and Tuesday, Week Two off: Saturday and Sunday.  

The selected candidate will be required to successfully complete a safe food handling training program as defined by CT Public Health Code.  

The Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center North Campus provides treatment to adolescent males between the ages of 13 and 17 by utilizing a strength based, family-centered relational approach based on youth-adult partnerships with a program model designed to focus on treatment strategies which are trauma informed and gender responsive.  

The incumbent may perform supervisory services for food services and kitchen operations in an institutional setting.  

As State of Connecticut employees we participate in a competitive benefits plan which includes health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, group life insurance, and other supplemental benefits. Paid time off is also offered, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year, in addition to vacation, sick and personal leave accruals.  

We hope you take this opportunity to make an impact by serving your state!

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID 19 Vaccination Immunization.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 

Please note you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the  system. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. 

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. 

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.   

Note:  At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position.  These documents may include:  a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. 

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Julie Barker at Julie.Barker@ct.gov.

All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period.  It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

This class is accountable for acting as a working supervisor for food service employees engaged in the preparation and cooking of food.

Plans kitchen workflow and determines priorities; schedules, assigns, oversees, and reviews work; establishes and maintains kitchen procedures; provides staff training and assistance; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; acts as liaison with operating units, agencies, and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; may make recommendations on policies or standards; may prepare reports and correspondence; inspects and requisitions food and supplies; supervises the cleaning of kitchen and other food service areas and of equipment; may plan menus and be responsible for serving of meals; performs the full range of duties as outlined in the Cook specification; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply cooking principles and techniques on a quantity basis; considerable knowledge of institutional cooking methods; knowledge of health and safety requirements in food service; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to prepare menus and keep records; ability to utilize computer software; some supervisory ability.

Three (3) years of experience in the preparation and cooking of food.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in the preparation of food on a quantity basis.
Note: For State Employees the Special Experience will be interpreted at or above the level of Cook.

Preference will be given to candidates who possess the following:  

• Experience in preparation and serving of complete daily meals in an institutional or hospital setting.  
• Experience using industrial food service equipment.  
• Experience with Food Safety Health Code standards ensuring successful outcomes of health inspections.  
• Experience preparing menus.  
• Experience in Microsoft Word and Excel including but not limited to creating reports.

1. Incumbents in this class must have adequate physical strength, stamina, physical agility and visual and auditory acuity, and must maintain such physical fitness as to be able to perform the duties.
2. Incumbents must be free from communicable diseases.
3. A physical examination may be required.

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift moderate to heavy weights; may be exposed to risk of injury from equipment and utensils used in the kitchen and from patients/clients.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.