The Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention (DAJD) is accepting applications to fill one full-time (40 hours/week) Lead Cook/Baker position. The current vacancy is at our King County Correctional Facility located in Seattle, WA.

NOTE: This selection process will fill our current vacancy but also create a pool of qualified candidates should a Career Service Lead Cook/Baker position open up within the next 12 months.
 
ABOUT THE POSITION: Lead Cook/Bakers perform a wide variety of duties, including organizing and assigning work to cook baker staff; supervision and scheduling of inmate kitchen workers, monitoring food supplies and inventory, overseeing the training of new employees, provide input regarding performance evaluations and disciplinary issues; troubleshoot and resolve problems/disputes to maintain and ensure smooth operation of the food services operation. The Lead Cook Bakers report directly to the Food Services Manager.

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.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT: 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: The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention contributes 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.

SCOPE OF JOB DUTIES: The job description is an overview and is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not to be an exhaustive list of all the functions and tasks required of this position.

• Maintain staff schedule, including vacation and sick leave records. Organize and assign work to cook bakers. Assign tasks to staff, aid, and advise employees regarding food service/kitchen issues that arise.
• Supervise staff and oversee preparation of menus, food storage, preparation and serving of meals including special diets, and maintain related records and forms.
• Ensure kitchen staff and inmate workers are properly trained and supervised. Train and advise kitchen staff regarding proper supervision of inmates, resolve problems, and ensure removal of inmate workers who do not comply with kitchen rules.
• Conduct regular inspection of all kitchen areas to ensure proper sanitation, waste disposal, food storage, proper use and maintenance of kitchen equipment, and ensure working conditions are safe. Troubleshoot equipment problems and oversee the repair of kitchen equipment.
• Provide input regarding employee’s evaluations throughout the initial six-month training period, document performance and disciplinary issues as needed.
• Provide input and recommendations regarding kitchen/food service operations as requested. May serve on interview panels for hiring of new staff.
• Order food including staples, frozen foods, produce, and dairy products; receive, inspect, store, maintain, and inventory supplies.
• Conduct weekly and monthly inventory to ensure adequate food supplies are available, including review and revision of purchase orders. Monitor inventory and place special orders as needed to ensure adequate food supplies and ingredients are available.
• Respond to inmate kites and grievances related to food services. Work collaboratively with other staff to assist with coordination of special events.
• Utilize computers on a regular basis for completion of various functions including entering payroll for food service staff, inventory control, preparation of menus, and accessing various forms; utilize computerized spreadsheets (Excel) to track costs, access tracking charts, and work schedules; utilize automated systems to verify inmate population, special diet locations; and utilize computer (MS Word/Outlook) for routine correspondence, e-mail, and automated department training.

• 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
• Full-time work experience in large-quantity food preparation and baking (minimum of 500 servings per meal)
• Minimum of 24 months lead or supervisory experience in an institutional food service setting.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: The individual selected for this position will be required to complete a thorough background investigation process, including fingerprinting, criminal history check, a lie detection evaluation, medical physical, psychological examination, and reference checks. A valid Washington State Driver’s License or alternate ability to travel around the county is required by time of hire.

SELECTION PROCESS: Your application must provide clear and detailed information on your relevant education, training, work experience and history. Your application materials MUST validate your answers to the supplemental questions. If your answers cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be further screened using additional screeners and interviews. Additional screening may include skills assessment tests.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state “see my resume” or “see my personnel file” are considered incomplete and will not be accepted. You can attach multiple documents if necessary or required, such as your letter of interest and optional resume to your electronic application. However, you must still completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.

WHO MAY APPLY: This opportunity is open to all qualified candidates. Internal consideration may be given to current DAJD and King County employees. Applicants requesting Veteran’s Preference must provide a copy of their DD-214, a scanned (pdf format) copy will suffice for this purpose.

WORK LOCATION: The current vacancy is at the King County Correctional Facility located in Seattle, WA.

Please note that future vacancies may be at the Maleng Regional Justice Center located in Kent, WA. Facility/assignments (both locations and shifts) are based on staffing needs of the department and subject to collective bargaining unit bid processes.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Candidates must be willing and able to work within the secure perimeter of a detention facility with inmate contact.

WORK SCHEDULE: The current vacancy is full-time (40 hours/week). The individual selected for this full-time position will be assigned the schedule listed below:

• Sunday through Thursday, 04:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

NOTE: Due to the 24-hour nature of the facility, shift hours or days may be increased or changed and employees may be required to work mandatory overtime when necessary due to staffing or other emergencies.

UNION MEMBERSHIP: This position is represented by the by Teamsters Local 117.

DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Questions regarding this announcement or position may be directed to Morgan Hermann, HR Analyst at 206-477-9092 or via e-mail at mhermann@kingcounty.gov.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State’s best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we’re changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation’s best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our “True North”, we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles–we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
King County Executive Branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are the successful candidate for the position you applied for, the County will send you a conditional offer letter.

As a condition of employment, prior to a final offer of employment, you will be required to:

• submit proof of vaccination, or
• have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

People are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving the final dose of a vaccination approved by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Executive Branch includes employees in the Executive branch, the Assessor’s Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Executive Office.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.