SENIOR COOK

Position/Program Information

FIRST DAY OF FILING

APRIL 8, 2024 AT 8:00 A.M. (PT)

THE FILING PERIOD MAY BE SUSPENDED AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THIS EXAMINATION MAY REOPEN AS THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE REQUIRE.

NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICIAL APPLICATION FILING PERIOD, NO EXCEPTIONS.

EXAM NUMBER

J6399S

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY

DEFINITION
Under general supervision, supervises food service workers and subordinate cooks and participates in the performance of quantity food preparation and cooking duties at a County facility.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS
Positions allocable to this class typically report to a Head Cook and are responsible for participating in and supervising the work of subordinate cooks, food service workers, contract employees and/or inmate workers engaged in all phases of food preparation and cooking in a County facility. Incumbents provide technical direction and training to less experienced cooks and food service workers in the standard techniques of quantity food preparation utilized in the mixing, cooking, baking, and serving of complete meals in an institutional environment. Incumbents must possess the written and verbal communication skills necessary to follow daily/weekly meal plans and to supervise and monitor the work of staff, ensuring that food items are prepared properly and on time. Positions at this level must be experienced in modifying standardized recipes according to the needs of the facility or ingredients available. These positions provide training to subordinate staff in the safe use and care of kitchen equipment, overseeing the operation, breakdown, and cleaning of standard and specialized food service equipment and providing instruction in proper sanitation methods, as well as health and safety regulations. Incumbents must have the ability to stand or walk for long periods of time, and may be required to bend, stoop, squat, and reach. Positions assigned to either the Sheriff's or Probation Departments are required to work in a custody/detention facility and are distinguished by their responsibility for supervising inmate workers.

Essential Job Functions

Supervises the work of food service staff and/or inmate workers by overseeing the setting up of meal facilities; overseeing the serving of food; planning work; assigning work; advising; monitoring; motivating; training; supporting; coaching; counseling; disciplining; approving/auditing employees’ work products; and evaluating work performance in order to ensure: a) products/services are delivered in an efficient and cost-effective manner and b) compliance with department policy and procedures and health and safety regulations.

Leads the workof food service staff and/or inmate workers by assigning work; inspecting the work; providing guidance and technical expertise; aligning work projects with work priorities; monitoring, reviewing, and evaluating work projects; and training, coaching, and mentoring in order to ensure work is in compliance with department policy and procedures and health and safety regulations.

Cooks large quantity mealsby using standard preparation and cooking techniques; preparing of a variety of food items; properly using various kitchen utensils and equipment; portioning and serving food items; preparing and setting up meal facilities; properly cleaning dishes, pots, pans, equipment, kitchen work areas, and food storage areas; etc. in order to feed staff and correctional inmates.

Instructs food services staff and/or inmate workers in health and safety regulations by observing and communicating with food services staff and/or inmate workers; demonstrating how to sanitize stations; providing training videos on food handling; providing opportunities to participate in food handling activities; etc. in order to ensure compliance with those regulations.

Ensures quality assurance by inspecting food supplies received; rejecting those supplies of poor or unacceptable quality; overseeing the proper storage of supplies accepted; monitoring the rotation of supplies to prevent spoilage; etc. in order to ensure that the quality of food prepared is acceptable and meets established dietary guidelines.

Coordinates workstation cooking activitieswith those of other kitchen units by organizing general inmate meals and/or medical diets; communicating with other facilities; communicating with food service staff; preparing food for two or more facilities; etc. in order to ensure that the quality of food prepared is acceptable and meets established guidelines (dietary, health, safety, etc.).

Ensures that utensils and work areas are clean and ready for the next shiftby inspecting utensils and work areas; when necessary…cleaning utensils and work areas; logging in daily duties; logging in water, refrigerator, freezer temperatures; etc. in order to: a) update next shift; b) account for all utensils; c) ensure smooth transition into the next shift.

Modifies recipes to meet changes in the number of servings and the substitution of recipe ingredients when other ingredients are unavailable by asking supervisor if there are any menu changes; checking to see if supplies are in-stock; communicating with supervisor regarding out-of-stock supplies and meal modifications; beginning prepping and cooking; etc. in order to meet the dietary needs of inmates and staff.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

OPTION A :
Completion of a certificate program accredited by the American Culinary Federation Educational Institute (ACFEI) of at least 48 semester units in Culinary Arts from an accredited college* -AND- two years' experience in quantity food preparation and cooking of complete meals in an institutional, commercial, military, or similar establishment**.

OPTION B :
Two years' journey level*** experience in quantity food preparation and cooking of complete meals in an institutional, commercial, military, or similar establishment**.

LICENSE
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS
Physical Class - III - Moderate: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION
*In order to receive credit for the degree or certificate, you MUST include a legible copy of the official transcripts AND official degree, or official letter from the accredited institution which shows the completed semester/quarter units of coursework in the areas of specialization at the time of filing, or within seven (7) calendar days from the date of filing your online application. Please submit documentation to sheriffexamsunit@lasd.org and indicate your name, the exam title, and the exam number. Failure to provide the required documentation will result in application rejection. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted to meet the education requirement.

**Experience in fast food service is not considered as qualifying for this position. "Quantity food preparation and cooking of complete (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) meals" refers to experience preparing and cooking a variety of food items, including soups, meats, vegetables, and other foods.

**"Similar establishment" refers to establishments such as correctional facilities, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, and universities.

***Journey level experience is defined as possessing the required knowledge, skills, and training to perform a full-range and diversity of work independently and reliably. Positions at this level operate with fairly significant freedom from day-to-day supervision and need little or no guidance on such matters as selecting appropriate problem-solving methods and techniques, locating appropriate regulation, or applying proper procedures to carry out work.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Credit will be given to applicants, who possess DESIRABLE qualifications and indicate so on their employment application at the time of filing.

A Bachelor's Degree in Culinary Arts or a related field from an accredited college*.

An Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts or a related field form an accredited college*.

Full-time work experience****: monitoring and arranging food inventory based on freshness and expiration dates; cooking complete (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) large quantity meals; preparing and cooking complete (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) meals in accordance with health and safety regulations; making sure that the utensils and work areas are clean; modifying food items, as necessary, to meet changing demands and/or needs; preparing food items for the next shift or day.

****Full-time work experience is evaluated on the basis of a 40-hour work week.

Culinary experience in institutional establishments, such as hospitals, correctional facilities, universities, schools, etc.

Culinary experience in commercial establishments, such as nursing homes, restaurants (other than fast food service), hotels, catering businesses, etc.

Culinary experience in military establishments, such as Army, Navy, etc.

A valid formal culinary certification(s), such as ServeSafe Food Manager Certification, CFC - Certified Fundamentals Cook, CEPC - Certified Executive Pastry Chef, and Certified Fundamentals Pastry Cook (CFPC), completed within the last five (5) years.

Supervisory/Acting Supervisory***** experience training employees; motivating employees; promoting employee safety; handling employee grievances; monitoring and reviewing the work of employees; documenting and implementing disciplinary action; directing and evaluating the performance of employees; planning, assigning, and delegating assignments to employees; participating in employee hiring, appointment, and termination processes.

*****Supervisory experience refers to providing direct administration and technical supervision to include planning, assigning, and reviewing work of staff (typically three (3) to ten (10) employees), evaluating employee performance, approving leaves of absence, counseling, and recommending discipline.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE As part of this application process, applicants will be required to complete a supplemental questionnaire. The questionnaire contains a pre-investigative questionnaire which will be utilized as part of the background investigation process to ensure applicants meet the standards set forth by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Applicants who fail the pre-investigative questionnaire will be disqualified and will have to wait twelve (12) months from the date of the disqualification in order to reapply.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT
This examination will consist of a Training and Experience evaluation based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire and desirable qualifications, weighted 100%.

The Training and Experience evaluation will assess the following:

• Specialized Formal Education (i.e., related to Culinary Arts or a related field)
• Work Duties
• Types of Establishments
• Culinary Certifications
• Supervisory/Acting Supervisory Experience

CANDIDATES MUST ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER IN ORDER TO BE PLACED ON THE ELIGIBLE REGISTER.
VETERANS CREDIT
If you served in the military and was honorably discharged, you may qualify for Veteran's Credit. To receive this credit, please include a copy your DD214 Form issued by the branch of service with your application for review.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
The names of candidates receiving a passing grade in the examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of promulgation. Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly.

NO PERSON MAY COMPETE IN THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS.

SPECIAL INFORMATION

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES MUST COMPLETE A THOROUGH BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING FINGERPRINT SEARCH. Examples of disqualifying factors include: Any felony convictions; job-related misdemeanor convictions; certain serious traffic convictions or patterns of traffic violations (3 moving violations in one year; failure to appear; at-fault accidents; suspended license; driving under the influence); poor credit history; poor employment history; substance abuse; anyone on probation.

ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY IF HIRED
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has a "zero tolerance" policy for its employees for the following:

• use of narcotics, controlled substances, and/or prescription drugs without a prescription.

Any employee found in violation of this policy will be subject to discharge.

VACANCY INFORMATION
The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Custody General & Specialized Division, Custody Food Services.

AVAILABLE SHIFT: Any

APPOINTEES MUST BE WILLING TO WORK ANY SHIFT, INCLUDING EVENINGS, NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, AND HOLIDAYS.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION

APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY U.S. MAIL, FAX, OR IN PERSON WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
TO ENSURE THAT YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTED, YOU MUST HAVE RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION EMAIL AS VERIFICATION.
All applicants are required to submit a Standard County of Los Angeles Employment application and supplemental questionnaire ONLINE only. Resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of applications, although resumes and supporting documents may be uploaded as attachments to the online application.

Fill out your application and supplemental questionnaire completely. Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided so we may evaluate your qualifications for the job. All information is subject to verification and applications may be rejected at any time during the selection process.

The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS and you have completely filled out your application .

Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website. Your application and supplemental questionnaire must be submitted electronically by 5:00 p.m., PT, on the last day of filing.

NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICIAL APPLICATION FILING PERIOD, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00 P.M. (PT) deadline, as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and ensure that you do not enter an incorrect email address.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Please note that ALL information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made.
• FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT .
• Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification and Minimum Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED .

CORRESPONDENCE AND UPDATES WILL BE SENT VIA E-MAIL

• All notices, including result letters and notices of non-acceptance, will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add cwhwang@lasd.org , as well as noreply@governmentjobs.com , and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail. Please note, if you opt out of receiving emails, you can visit governmentjobs.com, log into your profile and check your inbox. The inbox retains a copy of all emails sent, for your records.

NOTE: Candidates who apply online must upload any required documents as attachments during application submission. If you are unable to attach the required documents, you may fax the documents to (323) 415-2580 or email the documents to
sheriffexamsunit@lasd.org at the time of filing, or within seven (7) calendar days from the date of application filing . Failure to submit the required documentation will result in application rejection. Please include your Name, the Exam Number, and the Exam Title on the faxed documents.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
ADA Coordinator Phone: (213) 229-1621
Teletype Phone: (213) 626-0251
Department Contact Name: Professional Examinations Unit
Department Contact Phone: (323) 526-5611
Department Contact Email: sheriffexamsunit@lasd.or g

For more information on Employment Information, click on the link below.
http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/247636_EmploymentInformation.pdf

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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