Corrections Food Service Coordinator (Salem) Temporary Opportunity

Temporary assignment at Santiam Correctional Institution (Salem) estimated to last 6 months or less. Positions are represented by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and may be eligible for Police & Fire (P&F) benefits through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), as defined by statute.

About The Role

The Corrections Food Service Coordinator coordinates, instructs, and directs Adults in Custody (AIC) in the production and serving of meals and participates in the preparation of large-volume cooking in a corrections institution setting.

Responsibilities

Adults in Custody Work Crews

• Coordinates the work flow and assigns work to Adult in Custody (AIC) workers.
• Directs AIC crews to ensure job-related rules, policies, procedures, and security guidelines are enforced; maintains discipline and order.
• Instructs and trains AICs on work techniques and procedures for safe, sanitary, and efficient food preparation and service.
• Evaluates work performance of AICs for training and assignment purposes; may interview and recommend crews.
• Conducts searches of AICs and area to ensure absence of contraband.
• Checks and signs AIC time cards.
• Monitors area for cleanliness, sanitation, and order; directs the work crew in cleaning.

Food Preparation/Service

• Directs, instructs, and coordinates AIC work crews who prepare food according to predetermined menus.
• Gathers and combines ingredients required by standardized recipes; performs tasks such as washing, slicing, chopping, grating, stirring, kneading, measuring, and weighing food products.
• Cooks food by boiling, grilling, steaming, deep frying, roasting, or baking.
• Prepares various foods including meats, casseroles, vegetables, starches, soups, salads, sandwiches, quick breads, dressings, sauces, and gravies.
• Prepares desserts such as cobbler, cakes, custard, and gelatin.
• Uses commercial cooking equipment such as grills, steam-jacket kettles, slicers, mixers, and choppers.
• Serves food on food lines according to established portion control; may prepare food for distribution to institutional wards or food service tray lines.
• May bake items such as bread, donuts, cookies, and other pastries; may cut meats.
• Adjusts recipes for larger quantities and recipe changes to control food waste; suggests menu changes to improve product quality.
• Plans cooking schedules to ensure food is ready at serving time without excessive advance preparation.
• May monitor the preparation of special and/or therapeutic diets such as low sodium or religious diets.
• May participate directly in food preparation.

Sanitation

• Directs and coordinates AIC work crews in storing food in designated areas, cleaning stoves, grills, and countertops, and maintaining sanitary work conditions.
• Controls dishwasher temperatures and rotates supplies in cooler and freezer to maintain health standards.

Requisition Supplies

• Conducts daily inventory of products and supplies for cooking operations; requests needed items from supervisor.
• Checks supplies or food products at delivery to ensure they meet type, quantity, and quality specified by purchase order.
• May assist supervisor in ordering food items from vendors.
• Directs AICs in unloading and storage of food products and supplies.

Records

• Keeps records of the amount of food prepared, served, or distributed (on cart slips), and amount left over.
• Counts and records equipment, such as knives and chopping blades, and food items for inventory.
• Records AICs work time.

Positions are located in food preparation areas of correctional institutions. Requires willingness to work in the environment associated with the position’s location and purpose, enforce security procedures and guidelines, and conduct searches of AICs and areas for contraband.

Skills

• Team/crew management of up to 30 or more individuals.
• Experience managing, supervising, and/or leading a kitchen (restaurant, school cafeteria, military dining, government, or private food establishment).
• Demonstrated experience cooking a variety of foods (e.g., vegetables, desserts, breads (yeast and quick types), main entrees).
• Knowledge of progressive cooking to minimize food waste of cook-to-serve foods.
• Knowledge of food temperature safety zones.
• Ability to instruct work crews in proper procedures for maintaining high sanitation standards in the work area.
• Maintaining order while fostering a positive work environment.
• Ability to follow all security operational procedures.
• ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certificate.
• Basic computer skills.

Requirements

• Must obtain a Food Handlers Permit within 30 days of hire.
• Must pass a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility. Note: Some felony convictions may disqualify you; contact the recruiter for details.

Working Conditions

This position works inside a secure adult correctional facility. Responsibilities include:

• Handling incidents in the immediate work area to prevent escapes by controlling keys, tools, and contraband.
• Documenting unusual incidents.
• Working in high noise levels, extreme temperature variations, and standing/walking for long periods on concrete floors.
• Bending for searches and dealing with wet/slippery floors.
• Daily interaction with Adults in Custody; possible encounters with abusive AICs posing risk of injury.
• Subject to call-back during emergencies and may be assigned to any post in the institution.
• During a “work stoppage,” required to fill any assigned post in the institution.

About The Department

The Oregon Department of Corrections is responsible for over 12,000 adults in custody across 12 state prisons and advises/evaluates counties on probation and parole programs supervising more than 24,000 offenders. The mission is to protect communities, promote accountability, and transform lives.

The department is committed to creating an organization reflecting the diversity of the population served, ensuring all employees thrive in a culture of safety, trust, and belonging. It strives to be an anti-racist corrections system, welcoming and inclusive of all people, free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Benefits

The salary range listed is for non-PERS qualifying applicants. PERS-qualifying applicants may be eligible for an adjusted range reflecting an additional 6.95%. The State of Oregon provides a generous benefit package, including:

• Family health, vision, and dental insurance.
• Vacation, sick leave, and 11 paid holidays.
• 21 days paid military leave for National Guard and reserve components.
• Optional short- and long-term disability.
• Term life insurance.
• Fully paid retirement program.
• Oregon Saving Growth Plan.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and childcare.

Pay

$5,233 - $6,271 per month.