Cook 1

Salary: $3,327.00 - $4,406.00 Monthly
Location : Clark County - Vancouver, WA
Job Type: Agency Internal - Permanent
Job Number: 2026-07266
Department: Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth
Division: Nutrition
Opening Date: 09/02/2026
Closing Date: 9/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


Description
Cook 1

Full-time/Permanent

Vancouver, WA
This recruitment is open to internal CDHY employees only at this time.
Note - This position is scheduled to work during the school year. During school breaks and closures (i.e. summer, winter, and spring break), there are no scheduled hours of work and employees can cash-out vacation hours. This position works approximately 10 months per school year depending on school and student activities.

Our Agency:


The Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY) is an educational community and statewide resource committed to ensuring all deaf and hard of hearing students in Washington reach their full potential. Our agency offers a variety of services in academic, residential, and outreach programming. CDHY celebrates all language experiences and deaf culture. We are committed to providing the best individualized learning experience for all students we serve.
Our Staff:


Our employees are more than just workers. They are part of a community, network, and family. Each staff member serves as a role model to students. We're looking for people that can contribute, grow, think, and dream. We thrive in a culture that embraces diversity and rewards imagination. CDHY is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion! Our agency strives to create an inclusive and diverse learning community with emphasis on access, success, and equity by recruiting, retaining, and ensuring the success of diverse students, faculty, and staff. CDHY aims to build a community that values and respects one another by providing the best learning environment for faculty, staff, and student success.


The Nutrition Services Department at the Washington School for the Deaf campus invites people with a background in preparing delicious meals to apply to this position. This is a residential school environment, and we serve students who are deaf and hard of hearing following USDA guidelines and best practices. If you are committed to excellence, have experience with food prep, and would like to work with great people, we are looking for you! For more information about our department and school please visit our website at


About the position:

WSD is seeking a qualified candidate to fill one full-time Cook 1 position. The Cook 1 works closely with the Food Service Manager and food service staff to provide quality breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals to students and school staff in the cafeteria at the Washington School for the Deaf (WSD) campus.

The schedule for this 40 hour per week position is: Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 6:30 pm Friday: 9:00am - 1:00 pm

Duties

• Follow all food handling safety procedures.
• Prepare up to 200 meals in accordance with published menus and USDA recipes and guidelines.
• Provide meals for special diets, sports, field trips, and catering requests.
• Regularly use and clean equipment such as the flat-top grill, steamers, convection ovens, gas ranges, meat slicer, steam kettles, and serving lines.
• Work as a team member with other food service staff to serve nutritious meals to students in a friendly, safe, and relaxed atmosphere.
• Assist the Food Service Manager with menus, recipes, event planning, catering, ordering, and inventory.
• Evaluate prepared food for flavor, presentation, and temperature to ensure nutritional quality and safety.
• Maintain daily HACCP logs and temperature records.
• Support and help train work experience students placed in the Food Service department.
• Regularly use the computer to document meal service, run reports, and to check work email.

Qualifications

• Valid Washington State food worker card or ability to obtain one prior to employment.
• At least 6 months experience cooking in a professional fast-paced food service environment, and/or applicable food service training.
• Ability to accurately follow written and/or oral instructions.
• Ability to adhere to state and federal guidelines, agency policies and supervisor directives.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. on a regular basis.
• Committed to working as a team member and maintaining positive relations with staff, students, parents, and the public.
• Must be able to successfully pass state and federal background checks.
• Must be willing and able to be a mandated reporter of child abuse and neglect.
• Ability to communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) is strongly preferred (must be willing to learn).

Supplemental Information
CDHY is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please provide completed application including education and work experience.


Please provide at least three (3) references.
Must be able to pass federal and state criminal background screening.

This position is eligible for benefits (medical, dental, retirement, long-term disability, and life insurance).

Some working hours may qualify for shift premium pay.


This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For membership questions, contact the local Union Representative.
Salary Information:

Salary is set using the State of Washington General government pay scales ().


Vacation and sick leave accrual, paid holidays, personal holiday, personal leave day and overtime eligible after 40 hours of work in a week.


For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email:
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.


Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.


Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.


Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.


Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026
01


This recruitment is open to internal CDHY employees only at this time. Are you a current, internal CDHY employee?

• Yes
• No

02


Are you able to communicate fluently using American Sign Language?

• Yes
• No

03


Are you able to communicate fluently in written English?

• Yes
• No

04


What is your preferred language?

• American Sign Language
• English
• Other

05


Select the answer that BEST describes your basic knowledge of standards of food safety.

• I have little or no experience or training.
• I am developing knowledge and skill through at least 6 months of experience or training.
• I have 1 - 3 years of experience and have successfully and regularly used basic knowledge of standards of food safety.
• I have obtained exceptional knowledge and skills through 3 years or more of experience with standards of food safety.

06


Please select the response that BEST reflects your level of experience in food preparation or cooking.

• I have less than 6 months of experience
• I have 6 months or more of experience
• The above does not apply to me.

07


Which BEST describes your experience in large-batch or institutional food preparation and serving?

• I have less than one year of experience.
• I have one to two years of experience.
• I have three or more years of experience.
• The above does not apply to me.

08


Select the answer that BEST describes your experience preparing meals to accommodate dietary allergies or intolerances, religious preferences, or nutritional needs.

• I have less than one year of experience.
• I have one to two years of experience.
• I have three or more years of experience.
• The above does not apply to me.

09


Are you able and willing to obtain a Food Worker's Card prior to employment?

• Yes
• No

10


Are you able to successfully pass state and federal background checks?

• Yes
• No

11


If offered the position with CDHY, are you able and willing to be a mandated reporter of child abuse and neglect?

• Yes
• No

Required Question