Cook (School Age/Youth) NA-04
United States Army Installation Management Command
FreshPosted Apr 6
✓ Fresh Listing
Posted: April 6, 2026 (1 day ago)
This job was posted recently. Fresh listings typically have less competition.
AC Cook
State of Washington
Dept. of Corrections
Location
Washington, 98504
Salary
$5,213 - $7,013
per month
Type
Closes
May 4, 2026
Job Description
Summary
This job involves preparing and serving large quantities of meals in a prison kitchen, ensuring everything meets safety, nutrition, and portion standards while working in a secure environment.
It's a full-time role at the Monroe Correctional Complex, with shifts starting early in the morning or midday.
A good fit would be someone reliable, good at math for recipes, and comfortable in a fast-paced team setting focused on public service.
Key Requirements
- Experience in food preparation and service, especially in high-volume settings
- Ability to perform basic math calculations for recipe conversions and portion control
- Knowledge of sanitation, quality control, and nutritional standards
- Understanding of food rethermalization and progressive cooking techniques to minimize waste
- Punctuality, resilience, and problem-solving skills in a secure, team-oriented environment
- Commitment to safety, equity, and inclusive practices in a correctional facility
Full Job Description
Cook A/C
Permanent - Full Time
Monroe Correctional Complex
Salary Range: $5,213 - $7,013 Monthly
This position is represented by the Teamsters 117 bargaining unit.
The Department of Corrections is seeking an energetic and qualified individual for the position of Cook A/C at Monroe Correctional Complex.
The Monroe Correctional Complex (MCC) is a 1700 bed male all-custody level facility located 30 miles northeast of Seattle.
Employing approximately 1000 staff, the complex consists of five major units: the Washington State Reformatory Unit (WSRU), Sky River Treatment Center (SRTC), a large mental health in patient treatment unit, Twin Rivers Unit (TRU), Intensive Management Unit (IMU), and the Minimum-Security Unit (MSU).
Services provided at the Monroe Correctional Complex include custody and security, classification, education, incarcerated individual work programs, health care (both inpatient and outpatient), mental health care, sex offender treatment, food service, maintenance, personnel, recreation, volunteer services, religious services, library services, offender records, visiting and extended family visits.
The Department of Corrections (DOC), as a partner in the criminal justice system, enhances public safety, administers criminal sanctions and programs in accordance with the law and provides leadership for the future of corrections in Washington State.
Whether the work is inside a prison, in community corrections, or in an administrative office, the Washington State Department of Corrections professional staff experience a high degree of personal satisfaction knowing they are creating environments in which all incarcerated individuals can learn to make choices that contribute to a safer society.
Requirements
Duties:
We are looking for teammates who share our vision of public service, committed to an equitable and inclusive culture that fosters and inspires excellence, while promoting innovation, engagement, and safety, leading to better outcomes for our incarcerated population, our agency, and our community.
The ideal candidate for the Cook A/C position is a problem-solver, resilient, optimized, and punctual.
As a Cook A/C your duties would include:
- Participate in the preparation and service of all food on a shift.
- Perform mathematical calculations, e.g., adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing, in converting recipes to determine appropriate quantity of food product required to meet menu requirements and population to be served.
- Ensure adherence to appropriate portion control protocols.
- Check food product during and after preparation, ensuring appropriate quality standards are met and that adequate quantity has been prepared.
- Understand and apply rethermalization of food process/procedures if appropriate.
- Practice and perform progressive cooking techniques used for quality control and to decrease waste within the food service area.
- Follow basic safety practices to preclude hazards and accidents such as slipping on wet floors or where food has been spilled, possible cuts from knives, and being burned from steam, hot foods, stove, hot grease, and water.
- Maintain and track knife and tool inventory.
- Supervise and instruct offenders in general cooking, baking, meat cutting, and food preparation and service.
- Supervise, train, and instruct offenders in general food services practices including receipt of goods, storage of goods, preparation, cooking, and serving of food.
- Supervise and train offenders in preparing special diets (medical or religious) and preparing and setting up satellite trays or carts and serving lines. Service of meals includes segregation trays, service of mainline, preparation and distribution of sack lunches, and lock down meals.
- Supervise, coach, instruct, train, and provide constructive feedback to offenders in the safe handling, operation, care, use, and cleaning of kitchen equipment such as mixers, slicers, grills, and steam kettles.
- In accordance with policy, train offenders in the preparation and serving of food, hygiene, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), use and care of equipment, and safety hazards (HAZMAT).
- Maintain and model the highest standards of personal hygiene.
- Schedule and organize daily work of offenders.
- Perform inventory and reporting tasks.
- Maintain and organize accurate food inventories and rotate stock items to prevent spoilage and pilferage.
- Receive, store, and distribute raw and pre-prepared or pre-packaged food products in accordance with required standards.
- Complete, monitor, and maintain Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) logs.
- Prepare written reports, manually and by computer entry.
- Prepare work orders and equipment repair orders.
- Supervise and monitor offenders.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Qualifications:
REQUIRED:
- High School diploma or equivalent and successful completion of a culinary arts program at an accredited community college or vocational technical school.
OR - High School diploma or equivalent and two years of experience as a cook in a food service establishment.
AND
Ability to:
- cook a variety of foods
- follow written and oral instructions
- write clearly, factually, and concisely
- read, understand, estimate quantities and follow recipes with minimal waste
- effectively communicate verbally
- schedule and organize daily work
- operate and demonstrate the safe handling and operation of kitchen equipment, e.g., mixers, ovens, choppers, slicers, grills, steam kettles
- maintain security, order, and discipline of offenders supervised
- role model appropriate behavior to offenders
- supervise, coach, train, and provide constructive feedback to offenders in general
- kitchen operational practices
Knowledge of:
- a variety of foods
- alternate food preparation methods i.e., cook/chill and cook/freeze
- basic arithmetic, e.g., adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing
- food service practices, food preparation, and production methods and procedures
- food service record keeping
- HACCP protocols, practices, and tools for food service
Understanding of:
- weights and measures and differentiate between applications
- rethermalization of food process/procedures
PREFERRED:
- Successful completion of classes relating to food safety and food service sanitation.
- Ability to solve problems on short notice.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
- Complete a felony disclosure form prior to employment and submit to a criminal background check.
- Successfully complete, within mandated timeframes, employee orientation and all other mandatory annual in-service and other required training.
- Provide physical residential address and home telephone number to the Department of Corrections.
- Become familiar and comply with all Department policies and procedures and Collective Bargaining Agreements as applicable.
- Submit to drug testing in accordance with Collective Bargaining Agreement and agency policy.
- This position is included in a union shop.
- Possess and maintain a current Food Handlers permit.
- In an emergency situation employees may be asked to stay for an extended period of time and perform duties appropriate to the situation.
Additional Information
Supplemental Information
Vision: Working together for safer communities.
Mission: Improving public safety by positively changing lives.
Our Commitment: To operate a safe and humane corrections system and partner with others to transform lives for a better Washington.
Our Core Values:
- Cultivate an environment of integrity and trust: Corrections values partnership and trust. We foster openness and support courageous conversations. We are committed to doing what we say we are going to do by being accountable and taking personal ownership in our actions.
- People's safety: Corrections believe in creating an environment that values physical, mental, and emotional security and well-being. We honor those who advance safety for all.
- Positivity in words and actions: At Corrections, we assume positive intentions and believe there is a shared desire for the best outcome. We consistently demonstrate positive behavior and always put forth our best effort.
- Supporting people's success: Corrections is committed to our community - understanding individuals, instilling hope, embracing change, and providing opportunities.
Respectful and inclusive interactions: Corrections appreciate and values individuals by promoting an inclusive and diverse environment, which encourages safety.
We respect, value, and listen to the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives of our stakeholders and consider the impact on those we serve as well as each other.
ANTI-RACISM COMMITMENT:
The Washington State Department of Corrections recognizes both the historic and systemic disparities that exist within the incarceration system.
Our agency is committed to ensuring a work environment which is free of prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism against a person or people on the basis of their membership to a particular racial or ethnic group.
We emphasize our condemnation of visible and invisible discrimination and racism in all of its forms, whether conscious or unconscious.
Our agency believes that critical reflection, concrete actions, and sweeping accountability are the building blocks for institutional change and civil progress.
We pledge to correct our own institutional practices which perpetuate a culture of privilege, bias, and discrimination for our employees, our incarcerated population, and our community.
DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
REQUIRED Please include a RESUME, COVER LETTER and a minimum of THREE (3) PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES with your application.
A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies.
If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.
** Failure to provide this information may result in your application not being considered for this position ** **Please note: Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.
A completed application packet will include:
- A detailed resume
- A cover letter
- Three professional references
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. The hiring authority reserves the right to offer the position at any time during the recruitment process. It is to the applicant's advantage to apply as early as possible.
- A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
- Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.
- Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
- Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
- DOC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws.
A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances will be disqualified from consideration.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire.
When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
DOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements for the federal employment eligibility verification form I-9.
The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form.
https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
What We Offer: As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority.
Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation.
Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:
- Remote/telework/flexible schedules (depending on position)
- Up to 25 paid vacation days a year
- 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
- 12 paid holidays a year
- Generous retirement plan
- Flex Spending Accounts
- Dependent Care Assistance
- Deferred Compensation and so much more!
Many DOC jobs are covered by the Public Safety Employees' Retirement System (PSERS).
If someone moves from a Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) eligible position to a PSERS eligible position, they actually retire under two different systems/plans.
For more information, please contact the Department of Retirement System (DRS) at: 1-800-547-6657.
For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please emailRachelle.Tripp@doc1.wa.gov.
For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes