Performs a variety of cooking and general food preparation activities; prepares special diet food; assists in keeping kitchen or cafeteria areas clean; may serve in a lead capacity.
Work product consists of food prepared according to menu and standardized recipes; utensils, equipment and food service areas cleaned according to established procedures; preparation work for next day completed; food ready for delivery to serving area(s).
• Prepares special diet food; ensures proper textures and consistencies as related to residents' or clients' ability to consume them without difficulty
• Reviews menus for next day, daily count of residents, special activities, special diet orders; determines what preparation work needs to be done
• Pans up food and/or prepares pre-plated meals for delivery to serving areas; covers to eliminate spilling and to prevent contamination
• Receives food and supplies; checks quantities and specifications to ensure compliance with purchase orders; stores in proper area
• Maintains list of residents requiring special diets, writes changes on diet cards from notes provided by medical staff
• Cooks a variety of foods (meats, vegetables, fruits, etc.) following standardized recipes and methods of preparation
• Operates standard cooking equipment such as mixing machines, meat slicers, peelers, food choppers, etc
• Participates in in-service training and staff development programs for regularly employed staff
• Ensures that the correct temperature is maintained in both hot and cold foods being served
• Participates in establishing and maintaining a safe and sanitary work environment
• Cleans equipment and kitchen area according to standard cleaning methods
• Properly covers, labels and dates left-over food; places in refrigerator
• Hand washes, scrubs and dries dishes, or posts and pans in kitchen
• Replaces food in carts or trucks for transportation to serving areas
• Modifies recipes to meet quantities needed by an institution
WORKING CONDITIONS:
• Frequently required to lift and carry food and/or supplies weighing 20 to 50 pounds
• Hot cooking surfaces, sharp tools and mechanical equipment
• Considerable standing, bending and walking
• Occasional damp, wet or slippery floors
• Rotating shift work may be required
Knowledge:
• Applicable sanitation and safety codes, rules and regulations; cleaning materials, methods and techniques; polices and procedures established for the work unit
• Food textures and consistencies as related to residents' ability to consume them without difficulty
• Cooking techniques used to preserve natural nutrients and palatability of product
• Proper temperature ranges for thawing, cooking and storage of food
• The methods, materials and practices of institutional food service
• Precautions needed to guard against health hazards
• Health hazards in food service activities
• Basic arithmetic computation methods
Skill:
• Slicing, dicing and shredding products to achieve optimum present ability and freshness
• Preparing nutritional, palatable food with minimal waste
• Using and operating cooking equipment
Ability:
• Establish and maintain work relationships
• Communicate verbally and in writing
• Present food in an attractive manner
• Possession of a current, valid food handler's permit
If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.
The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Sick leave
Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page
• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment
• If you have any questions please feel free to contact Arlene Seagraves at arlene.seagraves@aph.az.gov