Cook

CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Cook

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Part-Time

DEPARTMENT: NRTC

REPORTS TO: Food Service Supervisor

CIVIL SERVICE STATUS: Unclassified

WORK SCHEDULE: 24 hours per week (varied)

PAY GRADE: A5

Cooks and prepares meals at the Nicholas Residential Treatment Center (NRTC) for youth and staff placed at NRTC and detention facilities.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty listed below. Reasonable accommodations will be made for disabled persons, covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act, in accordance with its requirements.

Prepares meals for youths and staff for assigned facilities.   Prepares meats, salads, breads, vegetables, fruits, desserts, and other menu items.

Follows prescribed menus and recipes in accordance with ODE and ODYC requirements, and food service guidelines established by State Health Department for handling and cooking of raw meat, fruits, vegetables and other food items.

Prepares special meals to meet youth dietary requirements in cooperation with and under direction of qualified medical authority.  Makes special meals in accordance with religious holiday traditions and standards.

Presents food on plates in an attractive and appealing manner, and follows sanitary methods while dispensing food in food service line.

Controls food waste and rotates food products prior to expiration dates.  Prepares and serves food to minimize leftovers.

Refrigerates, freezes and stores food to deter spoilage and meet food quality standards.

Monitors kitchen equipment operating condition and reports equipment problems to Food Service Manager.

Ensure all food items are properly stored, labeled, and maintained at the correct temperatures.

Load food into designated food carts, securing items to prevent spillage or damage during transport. Verify order accuracy and completeness before transportation.

Ensures timely delivery of high-quality meals to detention facilities while maintaining cleanliness, sanitation and proper documentation.

Maintains security of kitchen knives and other utensils by following and enforcing prescribed security precautions and policy.

Other duties as assigned.

None

Stoves; deep fryer; meat slicer; electric knife; blenders; mixer; slicer; dishwasher; garbage disposer; food processor; gas grill; microwave; and other standard kitchen equipment; slicer; kitchen knives and other kitchen utensils.

Youth; staff; delivery persons; State Health Department representatives; Department of Youth and Children Inspector; general public.

None

Good working conditions but with exposure to normal kitchen heat and conditions.  Exposure to possible cuts, burns or other similar injuries.

The following physical demands are typically exhibited by position incumbents performing this job’s essential duties and responsibilities.  These physical demands are not, and should not be construed to be job qualification standards, but are illustrated to help the employer, employee and/or applicant identify tasks where reasonable accommodations may need to be made when an otherwise qualified person is unable to perform the job’s essential duties because of an ADA disability.

While performing duties of this job, the employee frequently stands for extended periods of time, and walks around the kitchen to various counters, stoves and other

food processing areas and equipment.  The employee regularly exhibits normal manual dexterity when preparing foods such as utilizing cutting knives, and other kitchen equipment.  The employee occasionally extends arms to retrieve food from ovens, stoves, etc.  Vision demands include normal vision.   Employees normally exhibit the ability to taste and smell foods with the ability to distinguish differences or similarities in intensity or quality  of flavors or odors, or to recognize particular flavors or smells using the tongue and/or nose.  Employee normally tastes and smells the food being cooked [using standard sanitary

practices] to determine if it was cooked sufficiently and in accordance with cooking quality standards, and to determine the palatability of product.

Knowledge of: institutional food preparation methods, procedures, equipment and supplies; dietary needs and proper nutrition; standard kitchen safety practices and procedures;  food facility sanitary standards.

Ability to: read and follow menus and recipes; prepare foods in accordance with prescribed dietary and nutrition standards; maintain good public relations as Court representative; establish and maintain effective work relationships with youth, associates and job contacts.

Skill in: institutional food preparation; operation and utilization of standard kitchen equipment and utensils.

An appropriate combination of education, training, course work and experience may qualify an applicant to demonstrate required knowledge, skills, and abilities.  An example of an acceptable qualification is: one year experience and/or training in institutional food preparation, and following prescribed menus.

Ability to document identity and employment eligibility within three (3) days of original appointment as a condition of employment in compliance with Immigration Reform and Control Act requirements.

CPR/First Aid:  May be obtained after appointment.

Serve Safe Food Safety Certification: May be obtained after appointment.

This job description in no manner states or implies that these are the only duties and responsibilities to be performed by the employee filling this position, who will be required to follow  instructions and perform any duties required by the employee's supervisor or designee.