Correctional Food Services Supervisor 1 #260803-2475CO-001

The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is seeking a motivated and experienced culinary leader to join our team as a Correctional Food Services Supervisor. This vital role oversees the daily preparation, cooking, and distribution of hundreds of meals while ensuring strict compliance with health, safety, and security standards within a correctional facility.

About the role

As the Food Services Supervisor, you will:

• Supervise and train offender staff
• Plan and implement kitchen functions
• Oversee food preparation and serving
• Practice food safety and sanitation
• Maintain a clean and sanitary standardized workplace
• Assist with food inventory, including ordering, shipping, receiving, storage, and rotation (FIFO)

You will have direct contact with inmates of all security levels, both as workers and within your assigned facility. After two years of successful service, you will be promoted to the position of Correctional Food Services Supervisor 2.

Schedule

This is a full-time position, 36.25 hours per week. The schedule is a 5-day work week with rotating weekend and holiday shifts.

About Us

The Department of Correction strives to be a leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re-entry initiatives to support responsive evidence-based practices geared toward supporting reintegration and reducing recidivism. Safety and security are priority components of this responsibility, coinciding with an unwavering respect for the human dignity of staff, victims, citizens, and offenders.

Training

The selected candidate will complete 14 weeks of training at our Training Academy in Cheshire, CT, consisting of both classroom and on-the-job training. Training includes physical elements such as the Behavior Management Program, which involves one day of classroom presentation and nine days of “hands-on” physical training. To graduate, trainees must pass a written exam and a practical skills test. All Food Service professionals will be provided with uniforms and footwear.

Responsibilities

• Supervise inmates and assist in preparation, retherming, and serving of food in a correctional facility or district
• Oversee cleaning, sanitation, and maintenance of kitchen area and equipment
• Instruct and train inmates in light food preparation, retherming, and serving
• Assist with storage, rotation, and security of food
• Keep records and make reports
• Assist with requisition of food and kitchen supplies
• Maintain discipline and security measures
• May assist in food preparation, cooking, and serving
• May conduct security checks and tours
• May physically restrain inmates, quell disturbances, and otherwise assist custodial forces in emergencies

Requirements

General Experience

Two (2) years of experience in the preparation and serving of complete daily meals in a large-scale (500 meals per day) institutional or commercial setting such as a hospital, residential school, extended care facility, rest home, full-service restaurant, military mess, large catering business, or other similar environment. Note: Experience in fast food operations does not qualify.

Substitutions Allowed

College training in dietetics, hotel, restaurant and/or food service, nutrition, or a related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of one (1) year.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience producing large volumes (500 meals per day), including receiving foods, food inventory, food ordering, food storage and rotation (FIFO), food safety, and sanitation
• Experience supervising food services employees in a large-scale institutional or commercial setting (hospital, residential school, extended care facility, rest home, full-service restaurant, military mess, or large catering business)
• Experience handling disagreements and stressful situations while maintaining a high level of professionalism
• Experience managing or training employees
• Experience with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
• Experience planning and implementing day-to-day work assignments for staff
• ServSafe Certified

Special Requirements

• Incumbents may be required to possess a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification at the time of appointment
• Incumbents may be required to successfully complete a formal training course in correctional work

Character Requirements

A thorough background investigation of each candidate may be made before persons are certified for appointment.

Physical Requirements

• General good health, free from any disease or injury that would impair health or usefulness
• Sufficient physical strength, stamina, agility, endurance, and visual and auditory acuity required to perform all duties of the class
• A comprehensive medical examination, including a controlled substance screening, will be required upon a conditional offer of employment

Working Conditions

Incumbents may be exposed to significant stress of confinement within a dangerous and volatile environment.

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance
• A Hazardous Duty pension plan (State Employees Retirement System Tier IV)

Locations

The current approved vacancies for this position are located at York Correctional Institution in East Lyme. This posting may also be used to fill vacancies at Bridgeport Correctional Center, Corrigan Correction Center, and Brooklyn Correctional Institution.