HEAD COOK

THE JOB: Under direction, plans, supervises and assists with the ordering, planning, preparation, cooking, serving and cleaning up of meals to residents of a County institution; and does other work as required. The current vacancy is in the Santa Cruz County Probation Department Juvenile Hall. The Juvenile Hall serves three hot meals a day, with about 30 servings per meal.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of education and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and abilities, is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:

Two years of experience cooking meals in a large institutional or commercial kitchen. Some of the required experience must include supervisory or lead work experience.

Special Requirements, Conditions: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License (upon appointment). Background Investigation: Ability to pass a full background investigation. Special Working Conditions: Exposure to the possibility of burns and/or bodily injury; infections which might cause chronic disease or death; variable temperatures; electrical hazards; insect bites or stings; chemical irritants; high levels of noise; and potentially hostile inmates. Other Special Working Requirements: Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays and on an emergency, as needed basis.

Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of principles, methods and equipment used in the care, preparation, cooking and serving of food in institutional settings; kitchen sanitation and safety measures and the operation, cleaning and care of utensils, equipment and work areas. Working knowledge of food values including nutritional and economical substitutes. Some knowledge of principles and practices of supervision.

Ability to: Plan, organize and direct the work of subordinates and inmates assigned as kitchen helper; prepare, cook and serve a variety of attractive and nutritious foods in large quantities; keep food accounting records; prepare written reports; determine food quality and quantity necessary for groups of varying sizes. Establish and maintain an effective working relationship with others; practice security measures; lift items weighing up to 60 pounds from floor level, such as boxes of produce; stand and walk for long periods with intermittent breaks; work alone for long periods.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE - 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years of service. Available for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS - 13 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE - 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN - The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans. For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN - County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN - County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT - Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years. County participates in Social Security.
LIFE INSURANCE - County paid $20,000 term policy. Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
DISABILITY INSURANCE - Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN - Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN - Employees who pay a County medical premium may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) - Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION - A deferred compensation plan is available to employees Note: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental questionnaire. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental questionnaire. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now!  Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060.  For information, call (831) 454-2600.  Hearing Impaired TDD/TTY: 711.  Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways:  1) in the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date. 

IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY THAT WOULD REQUIRE TEST ACCOMMODATION, CALL (831) 454-2600. WOMEN, MINORITIES AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

An Equal Opportunity Employer