Cook 1 - Norristown State Hospital

The Position

Do you want to turn your passion for cooking into a fulfilling career in public service? The Cook 1 at Norristown State Hospital plays an important role in preparing fresh, well-made meals for patients each day. This position gives you the chance to use your cooking skills in a supportive and team-focused environment. You will help create meals that support health, comfort, and quality of care. Join a workplace where your talent and dedication make a meaningful difference!

Description Of Work

The Cook 1 helps prepare meals, organize food production tasks, and maintain clean and safe kitchen areas. This role supports large-scale meal service and works closely with other staff to keep operations running smoothly. As a Cook 1, you will perform the following duties:

• Meal Preparation: Cook menu items by following recipes and prepare ingredients such as meats, vegetables, and eggs
• Food Production: Assign and inspect routine food tasks completed by food service workers
• Equipment Operation: Operate ovens, fryers, broilers, mixers, and other kitchen equipment safely
• Temperature Checks: Check and record food temperatures before and after blast chilling and refrigeration
• Kitchen Cleaning: Wash utensils, clean work areas, and maintain sanitation of equipment and surfaces
• Service Support: Supply food to the tray line and assist with deliveries of perishable items

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 40 hours per week
• Work hours are 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with rotating days off and a 30-minute lunch. You will be required to work every other weekend and holidays as assigned. This may change based on operational needs.
• Overtime as operationally necessary
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• FREE parking!
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Required Experience, Training & Eligibility

Qualifications

Desirable Preparation for Work:

• Experience in cooking or quantity food preparation; or
• any equivalent combination of experience and/or training.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• A conditional offer of employment will require a medical examination.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Older Adult Protective Services Act. Under the Act, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports, including but not limited to, PA State Police and FBI clearance.

In accordance with the seniority provisions of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, this position was previously posted for seniority candidates. Since there were no seniority candidates, it is now open to all applicants.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. 7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

Examination Information

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or: your score may be lower than deserved. You may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.

Benefits

Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this short video!

See the total value of your benefits package by exploring our benefits calculator. Health & Wellness We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.

Compensation & Financial Planning We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.

Work/Life Balance We know there's more to life than just work! Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S. holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.

Values and Culture We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.

Employee Perks Sometimes, it is the little "extras" that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships. For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visit and click on the benefits box. Eligibility rules apply.