Cook Pool - Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility

Cook Pool - Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility

The Oregon Youth Authority is seeking a dedicated and skilled Cook to join our team at the Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility where you will be providing nutritious, balanced meals for the youth we serve. In this role, you will be responsible for food preparation, ensuring meals meet dietary requirements, and maintaining high standards of food safety. A key aspect of the position involves direct interaction with the youth in our program, where you will supervise and train young individuals in cooking and kitchen tasks while preparing and serving meals. This hands-on approach helps foster life skills and a sense of responsibility in our youth. Additional duties include maintaining accurate record-keeping of meal inventories, tracking food supplies, and ensuring that kitchen equipment and resources are properly managed. If you have a strong culinary background and a passion for working with youth, we encourage you to apply.

Top duties of the position:

• Works independently while cooking, preparing and coordinating meals from OYA menus and recipes.
• Supervises and trains youth in custody in the preparation and serving of meals.
• Maintains required records of meals served and quantities prepared for the Federal Food Program.

Working conditions:

• OYA facilities are tobacco free environments.
• Shift work in a 24-hour, 7-day a week operation, with night shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required.
• Adhere to the dress code of the specific work site.
• Frequent exposure to verbal abuse, threats, and dealing with impulsive, rebellious, assaultive youth.
• Uses commercial cooking equipment (slicers, mixers, and choppers)
• Use of computer and USDA approved software for menu developments, standardization of recipes, and nutrient analysis.
• The use of reasonable force in the performance of duties or during a disturbance or other emergency situation may be required.
• Physical standards for vision, hearing, dexterity, push/pull, running, and jogging.
• Transport youth as requested, and, if in a security position, operate state vehicles constantly.

Minimum qualifications:

• One year of experience as a cook in a food service facility OR
• Possession of a Certificate of Completion in culinary arts and/or Foods and Hospitality Service from a certified community college or technical school.

Special qualifications:

• This position requires a food handler's card, must have the ability to obtain the appropriate county food handler's card within 30 days of hire.

Desired attributes/application scoring criteria:

• Demonstrates integrity, accountability, honesty, and professionalism in interactions and decision-making.
• Experience maintaining a safe and secure environment through effective supervision, monitoring, and adherence to safety procedures and protocols.
• Reliability: Consistently dependable and punctual, demonstrating accountability and follow through with job responsibilities.
• Professionalism: Maintains a courteous, respectful, and professional demeanor in all interactions and work responsibilities.

How to apply:

• Click on the "Apply" link above to complete your online application and submit by the posted closing date and time. For step-by-step instructions click apply to work for the state or current state employee.
• RESUME REQUIRED: Ensure your resume thoroughly reflects your skills, experience (both lived and professional), knowledge, and/or education pertinent to this position, including how you meet the minimum qualifications and any/all desired attributes. Include in your resume dates of employment and descriptions of duties/responsibilities for each position.
• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.
• Be sure to check Workday and your email for additional tasks and updates . After hitting submit there may be additional required tasks for you to complete prior to the announcement closing. Please save a copy of this job announcement for reference, as it is not available for you to view after the announcement deadline.
• Following the submission of your application, promptly respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. If you're an employee, these tasks will be in your Workday inbox.
• Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources. Be sure to submit your documentation upon application in order to have the preference considered.

Caution: If you fail to follow these instructions, including failing to attach a resume as described above, we will have to disqualify your application. We cannot consider incomplete or late applications.

About OYA:

At OYA, diversity, equity, and inclusion are more than just words on a page. To meet our mission and live our values as an agency, DEI must be at the heart of all we do. We support cultural competence, develop teams and cultivate leaders in ways that are equitable to everyone, especially people of color, those who identify as LGBTQ+, or those from other marginalized communities. We are explicit and intentional as we identify resources that all our youth and staff need to grow and prosper. Our DEI work connects closely with our culture of positive human development, with safe and supportive environments where everyone is held accountable and connected to their community. The end goal is to protect the public and reduce crime by holding youth accountable and providing opportunities for reformation in safe environments.

If you are looking to join a team that values individual and cultural differences, with the opportunity to contribute to youth reformation by enriching our workforce with diversity, OYA wants to hear from you! People of color, women, and other members of historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply!

For more information please visit

Our amazing benefits include:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, vision, and dental plans for you and your family. Additional benefits include life insurance, short- and long-term disability, deferred compensation savings plans, and flexible spending accounts for health and childcare.
• Generous Paid Time Off: 11 holidays, 3 personal business days, monthly sick leave and vacation leave that increases with years of service.
• Retirement Benefits: Membership in Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/ Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Wellness Resources: Support for work-life balance, health, and overall well-being.
• Career Development: Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
• Commuting : Access to Get There - Oregon's carpool matching tool and trip planner.
• Student Loan Forgiveness: Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

Helpful Links & Resources

• How to Set Job Alerts | Workday Applicant FAQ | What You Need to Know to Get the Job
• Oregon Job Opportunities Webpage | Classification and Compensation | Pay Equity

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we are here to serve. OYA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be individualized based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law." The more diverse we are, the better our work will be.

Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process. For assistance regarding reasonable accommodation or for alternative format please contact OYA Recruitment at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Oregon Relay Service can be reached by calling 7-1-1.

Pre-employment Checks:

In keeping with our mission, OYA will conduct a criminal record check, per OAR 416 Division 800, a driving record background check and a vulnerable population abuse and neglect check. Information obtained about an individual is confidential. An individual who refuses to consent to a criminal records/background check shall be disqualified from consideration in the position for which you applied. All applicants are subject to additional pre-employment check(s) such as fingerprint based on criminal records check, pre-employment drug screening and/or education verification as required for