Sheriff's Correctional Deputy
County of Tulare
FreshPosted Feb 19
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Posted: February 21, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Sheriff Correctional Cook/Cook Lead
County of Tulare
Sheriff
Location
Visalia, California, 93291
Salary
$43,372.16 - $58,563.45
per year
Type
Closes
March 4, 2026
Job Description
Summary
This job involves preparing and cooking meals for inmates in a county jail, including managing special diets and overseeing inmate kitchen workers, with the lead role adding supervision of staff and inventory tasks.
It's ideal for experienced cooks from institutional settings like prisons or the military who enjoy working in a structured environment and have some leadership skills for the lead position.
The roles offer steady pay in Visalia, California, within the Sheriff's Department.
Key Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent
- One year of cooking and food preparation experience for large groups in institutional or military settings (for Cook)
- Two years of similar experience, including one year supervisory (for Cook Lead)
- Ability to cook a variety of foods, including special diets, desserts, and methods like frying, grilling, baking
- Experience using commercial kitchen equipment
- Supervisory skills for training staff and inmates (Cook Lead)
- Knowledge of food inventory, ordering, and accounting (Cook Lead)
Full Job Description
This recruitment will establish an employment list to fill current and any future vacancies within the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department. The anticipated life of the employment list is six months.
If interested in employment for this position or current or future vacancies, please submit an online application for consideration.
Current vacancies are with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department located in Visalia. The anticipated life of the list is six months.
Cook: $3,614 - $4,405 Monthly
Cook Lead: $4,004 - $4,880 Monthly
Requirements
Cook:
- Cook and oversee the cooking of a variety of foods and special diets.
- Schedule adult inmate workers kitchen workers daily assignments.
- Make desserts such as cakes, puddings, and pies.
- Use a variety of hand and motorized commercial kitchen equipment and machines.
- Perform frying, grilling, stewing, roasting, steaming and baking.
In addition to the above, Cook Lead:
- Discuss special diets with the Food and Laundry Manager or other higher-level staff.
- Train new employees.
- Supervise lower-level cooks and adult inmate staff in food preparation.
- Perform butchering tasks if required; order produce, meats and staples for jail feeding program.
- Account for food and hardware items on an assigned shift.
For a full list of duties for the Cook, please click here.
For a full list of duties for the Cook Lead, please click here.
Essential job duties may be assigned that are not listed above but are relative to this job classification.(Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law.)
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum qualifications are used as a guide for establishing the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license which are required and equivalent to the following.
Education: Equivalent to completion of twelfth (12th) grade.
Experience:
Cook:
- One (1) year of progressively more difficult and varied cooking and food preparation experience for large numbers of people such as is found in institutional or military cooking.
Cook Lead:
- Two (2) years of progressively more difficult and varied cooking and food preparation experience for large numbers of people such as is found in institutional or military cooking, one year of which includes supervisory responsibilities.
Equivalencies for Experience:
Cook:
- Two (2) years of progressively more difficult cooking and food preparation work with one (1) year of food related supervisory experience and one (1) year of experience ordering kitchen supplies.
Cook Lead:
- Three (3) years of progressively more difficult cooking and food preparation work with two (2) years of food related supervisory experience and one (1) year of experience ordering kitchen supplies.
Knowledge of:
- Safe and proper use of commercial equipment and machines commonly found in large kitchens.
- Sanitation practices and procedures pertaining to food preparation and kitchen work areas.
- Math sufficient to compute percentages, decimals and fractions.
- Food industry terminology to order supplies.
See the full list in link.
In addition to the above, Cook Lead:
- Storage and preservation of foods.
- Sanitation requirements for institutional kitchens.
- Kitchen cleaning materials.
- Basic nutrition.
- Meal planning and dietetic terminology.
Skill/Ability to:
- Work and communicate effectively with people of various education and socioeconomic backgrounds by respecting beliefs, interpersonal styles and behaviors of both clients and co-workers.
- Operate contemporary office equipment inclusive of computer, keyboard, and all applicable electronic equipment.
- Prepare, cook, and bake a variety of foods in large quantities.
- Follow recipes and instructions to train in the preparation of food and special diets.
See the full list in link.
In addition to the above, Cook Lead:
- Directly supervise inmates to get daily duties completed.
- Utilize fresh fruits, vegetables, and gleaning items for meals.
- Oversee the work of and train subordinate staff.
- Cook and serve appetizing meals.
Additional Information
Conditions of Employment: Candidates selected will be required to pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening.
Additionally, a background investigation may also be conducted, which may include a re-investigation every 10 years for some positions.
An Employment Eligibility Verification using E-Verify may be required on the first day of employment for some positions. Some job classes may also require a physical exam.
College Cost Reduction Access Act:This may be a qualifying position for student loan forgiveness through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA).
Only student loan payments made after October 1, 2007 and in a qualified repayment plan are eligible.
For more information you are encouraged to speak with your student loan service or visit: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
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