Food Service Lead - Cook Coordinator

Food Service Lead

Job Class: Cook Coordinator

Agency: Corrections Dept

Job ID: 94751

Location: Minnesota Northeast Area

Telework Eligible: No

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Unlimited

Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers

Date Posted: 6/6/26

Closing Date: 6/22/26

Hiring Agency: Minnesota Department of Corrections

Division: Minnesota Correctional Facility - Willow River/Moose Lake

Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift/5:00 am - 3:00 pm

Days of Work: Friday - Monday

Days off: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Travel Required: No

Salary Range: $22.40 - $30.89 / hourly; $46,771 - $64,498 / annually

Classified Status: Classified

Bargaining Unit/Union: 203 - Service/AFSCME

Work Area: Nutrition Services

FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

Have a passion for food and helping people?

Start a career with excellent benefits and opportunity for advancement!

Work dependable hours with a schedule that doesn't fluctuate!

Retire early at the age of 55!

Receive a pension when you retire!

This position provides guidance, instruction and direction to incarcerated workers in the preparation, presentation, handling, serving and clean-up of daily meals in the food services area to ensure facility meals provided meet quality and nutrition standards and service timelines. Responsible to monitor and adhere to safety and sanitation standards within the food services area, while maintaining a secure environment.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and able to pass a criminal history check. For your success, you must be able to read, write, and communicate verbally in English and be able to stand, walk, bend, carry, push, and handle items the majority of shift.

To be qualified for and considered for this position, applicants must meet one (1) of the minimum qualifications listed below. Ensure that your resume contains descriptions of your work experiences sufficient for comparison against the requirements stated below and indicate the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.

• Nine months of full-time food production experience in a high-volume cafeteria, school, hospital, fast food, restaurant, catering, etc., or
• Six months of full-time experience performing cooking and food preparation in a correctional or secured environment, or
• Completion of a full-time vocational/technical school program in commercial cooking or commercial food preparation.

Required Training

Applicants who do not possess a ServSafe Food Manager Certification (or equivalent) at the time of appointment must obtain certification as a requirement to successfully pass the required probation.

Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are strongly desired of applicants seeking consideration for this position:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Valid Driver's License
• Experience working in a correctional or secured environment.
• Experience directing the work of others sufficient to direct incarcerated workers.
• Experience directing the work of others in a large food service setting.
• Two or more years of work experience in a large restaurant, cafeteria, school, hospital, or equivalent experience in large volume cooking and food preparation.
• Knowledge of food values, nutrition, and therapeutic diets
• Bilingual in a Spanish, Asian, or African dialect

Physical Requirements

The selected finalist is required to review and sign a Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) for this position and may be required to complete a tuberculosis screening prior to hire. For a copy of the PDA, please email Tracy Larsen at View email address on click.appcast.io (View email address on click.appcast.io)

Additional Requirements

The selection process may include screening the top candidate(s) on their criminal history, predatory offender registration, offender associations and/or other applicable background information in accordance with Department of Corrections' policy. Top candidate(s) must pass a criminal history check which includes successful completion of all sentencing and/or restitution requirements of law enforcement jurisdictions, including probation.

Employment history/reference checks, including incidents of sexual harassment, will also be conducted on the top candidate(s) in accordance with Department of Corrections' policy. This may include a review of job performance and discipline records.

New employees will be fingerprinted within the first 30 days of employment.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) does not participate in E-Verify. The DOC will not sponsor applicants for work visas, including F-1 STEM OPT extensions. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io. Please indicate what assistance is needed.