Cook II - Extra Help

Shasta County Probation Department Cook

The current vacancy is within the Shasta County Probation Department at the Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility. Oral exam is tentatively scheduled for October 2026. See special requirements section regarding possession of a valid driver's license. Responses to supplemental questions required. Final filing date: September 25, 2026, at 9:00 AM. Salary information $23.22 - $29.63 approximate hourly. Extra help positions are hourly employees that may work up to 900 hours in a fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Benefits are not included.

About the department: The Probation Department provides services and supervision, accountability, rehabilitation, and support services for both youth and adults in the criminal justice system to include divisionary services, conducts pre-sentence/adjudication investigations, prepares sentencing and disposition reports and other court ordered reports, makes placement recommendations for juveniles and adults, completes assessments, and develops case plans. Following sentencing/disposition, the department monitors adults placed on formal supervision and juveniles placed on supervision by the court and given terms of probation. The major divisions and "core" functions of the department are adult and juvenile intake and supervision, adult pretrial services, and the Community Corrections Center providing reentry services.

The Shasta County Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility (JRF) is a 24-hour secure detention facility administered by the Probation Department. The JRF is responsible for the care, custody, and control of youth and transitional-aged youth up to twenty-five years of age. Our mission is accomplished by ensuring staff hold residents accountable while encouraging them to embrace positive community values, accept responsibility, and cultivate healthy relationships which is accomplished by ensuring staff serve as role models and project an appearance, attitude, and behavior which creates an atmosphere conducive to positive change, and by working closely with our community partners to deliver research-driven programs targeting the individual needs of our population.

About the position: Under direction, to perform cooking and related kitchen duties at an adult or juvenile security facility; to supervise kitchen helpers; to order supplies and keep records; instruct and assist inmates in laundry operation; and to perform related work as required.

Special note: Shifts for this position will be scheduled on an as-needed basis, which can include weekends. An individual will be required to pass a background investigation relevant to working in a law enforcement office or facility prior to being hired. Extra help positions are hourly employees that may work up to 900 hours in a fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Benefits are not included.

Distinguishing characteristics: This is a journey-level cook class used in the Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility. The Cook II differs from the Cook I class in that the Cook II must train and supervise trusties/wards as kitchen and laundry help; places orders for perishable goods such as produce and dairy products; bakes much of the bread and pastries used. The Cook II at the Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility is the relief cook.

Examples of Essential Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: prepares, cooks and dispenses soups, meats, dairy and poultry products, fish, and vegetables according to standardized menus and special diets; trains and coordinates the activities of trusties/wards in food preparation; bakes bread and pastries; orders perishable goods such as produce and dairy products; maintains inventory records; rotates stock; supervises the cleaning of the kitchen and the equipment; plans and supervises the processing of laundry including the receiving, marking and sorting of laundry articles; establishes work schedules; enforces safety practices; inventories and requisitions supplies; maintains a record of all laundry items and supplies; writes incident reports as necessary; performs other duties as required.

Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:

Knowledge of: cooking and baking utensils and equipment; methods used in preparing large quantities of food; baking bread and pastries; how to prepare special diets; safety and sanitation principles applicable to the preparation and serving of food; methods of portion control; safety procedures and precautions related to the operation of laundry equipment; proper use and preparation of soaps, bleaches, starches, scouring, brightening, and other washing solutions used in the laundry.

Ability to: read and prepare standard and special diet menus; arrange food preparation sequence in order to serve meals on schedule; properly and safely operate and clean a variety of food preparation equipment and appliances; plan and schedule work to make efficient use of all laundry equipment and to meet work schedules; adjust standard recipes according to varying number of servings; use methods and procedures required in the preparation of large quantities of food; train and supervise trusties/wards in food and laundry preparations; follow security procedures; maintain accurate inventory and records.

Minimum qualifications: It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below. Either one (1) year of experience equivalent to a Cook I with Shasta County; or two (2) years of experience preparing and cooking food and baking in an institutional or commercial kitchen. One (1) year of experience working in an institutional or commercial laundry may be required for some assignments.

Special requirements: possession of a valid California driver's license.

Supplemental questions: responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application.

1. Do you possess one (1) year of experience preparing and cooking food in an institutional or commercial kitchen? Yes / No If "Yes," please provide details including, but not limited to, employers, dates of employment, and job duties. If "No," type N/A.
2. Do you possess one (1) year of experience working in an institutional or commercial laundry? Yes / No If "Yes," please provide details including, but not limited to, employers, dates of employment, and job duties. If "No," type N/A.
3. Do you possess a valid food handler's certificate? Yes / No
4. I acknowledge this position requires a valid California driver's license. Yes / No
5. I understand this application is for an Extra Help position, and shifts will be scheduled on an as needed basis and may include weekends. Yes / No

Physical demands and work environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is constantly required to stand or walk. The employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other considerations: All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account. Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy. Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position. As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered. Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing.

Shasta County participates in E-Verify. For more information visit DOJ Right to Work Poster (Download PDF reader). If you do not have internet access, contact Personnel at View phone number on click.appcast.io to request a flier. In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.

Application and Selection Procedures

Shasta County Personnel will accept applications and responses to the supplemental questions until 9:00 a.m., on September 25, 2026. A resume and/or cover letter will be accepted in addition to the application form but will not serve