Job Description

Posting number: 2026-06945

Department: Dept. of Corrections

Division: Prisons - WSP

Job classification: COOK, AC

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Corrections, Food Services

The Department of Corrections is seeking highly motivated and qualified individual as an AC Cook at Washington State Penitentiary (WSP)

**Note: This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that may occur.**

The Washington State Penitentiary is staff 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. 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.

The Department of Corrections, 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.

The Washington State Penitentiary is comprised of 4 Close Custody Units, 3 Special Housing Units, 2 Intensive Management Units, 2 Medium Units, 2 Minimum Housing Units and a Hospital. In all, WSP houses approximately 2,000 incarcerated individuals and employees approximately 1,100 staff.

To be considered for this position, please attach a professional resume and a letter of interest (preferably no more than two pages) describing how you meet the qualifications and why you are an ideal candidate for this position.

Examples of duties

This position contributes to the agency’s mission to improve public safety by providing oversight for the vocational training, direction, and supervision of an offender work crew. The Cook A/C provides offenders needed vocational and job skills training to become better prepared and equipped to find meaningful and productive employment upon their transition into the community. Under the supervision of a Cook A/C, offenders attain job skills and training in the preparation, cooking, serving, and storage of food, and receive instruction in the appropriate use of equipment.

Duty:

Participate in the preparation and service of all food on a shift, to include delivery via tractor and/or trailer.

Tasks include:

• 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.

Duty:

Supervise and instruct offenders in general cooking, baking, meat cutting, and food preparation and service.

Tasks include:

• 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, 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 per manufacture’s guidelines, and safety hazards (HAZMAT)
• Maintain and model the highest standards of personal hygiene.
• Schedule and organize daily work of offenders.

Duty:

Perform inventory and reporting tasks.

Tasks include:

• 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.
• Mandatory reporting via Incident Report when accidents/damages occur.
• Prepare work orders and equipment repair orders

Duty:

Supervise and monitor offenders.

Tasks include:

• Intervene in emergencies by calling for assistance, containing the incident, and assisting staff in incident response.
• Monitor inmates, and intervene when inappropriate behavior is displayed.
• Maintain security in assigned area to include personal safety and the safety of other staff, and perform duties consistent with good security practices.
• Perform area searches as needed.
• In emergent situations, perform pat searches as needed.

Qualifications

Valid Drivers License.

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

Observation - Observes and strategizes personal action based on environmental conditions and human behavior.

Technology - Learns and utilizes computer-based applications in the performance of job duties.

Stress Tolerance - Remains calm and rational while handling difficult situations to include, but not limited to, volatile, threatening or other crisis/emergency situations. Appropriately intervenes in response to threats.

Professional Standards - Knows and applies relevant law, policy, procedure, and practice. Adheres to established productivity standards and timelines. Identifies own training needs and proactively seeks training opportunities.

Supplemental information

To be considered for this position, please attach a professional resume and a letter of interest (preferably no more than two pages) describing how you meet the qualifications and why you are an ideal candidate for this position.

For additional information about the agency, please visit doc.wa.gov

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.

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, 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:

• Please include 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. **Please note: Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.
• Answers to supplemental questions must be verifiable with provided work history.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 ofhire. When positive tests result, further information, testing, and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.

Telework Details
This is an onsite position and not allocated for telework.

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 vacations 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!

* The 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 on the first day of employment.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email ctcooper@doc1.wa.gov For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.