Corrections Food Service Coordinator (Salem) Temporary Opportunity

Temporary assignment estimated to last 6 months or less at Santiam Correctional Institution in Salem, Oregon. This position 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 work flow and assigns tasks to AIC workers.
  • Directs AIC crews to enforce job-related rules, policies, procedures, and security guidelines while maintaining discipline and order.
  • Instructs and trains AICs on safe, sanitary, and efficient food preparation and service techniques.
  • Evaluates AIC work performance for training and assignment purposes; may interview and recommend crews.
  • Conducts searches of AICs and work areas to ensure absence of contraband.
  • Checks and signs AIC time cards.
  • Monitors work areas for cleanliness, sanitation, and order; directs cleaning tasks.
• Food Preparation/Service
  • Directs, instructs, and coordinates AIC crews in preparing food according to predetermined menus.
  • Oversees tasks such as gathering and combining ingredients, washing, slicing, chopping, grating, stirring, kneading, measuring, and weighing food products.
  • Cooks food using methods such as boiling, grilling, steaming, deep frying, roasting, or baking.
  • Prepares a variety of foods, including meats, casseroles, vegetables, starches, soups, salads, sandwiches, quick breads, dressings, sauces, and gravies.
  • Prepares desserts such as cobbler, cakes, custard, and gelatin.
  • Operates commercial cooking equipment, including grills, steam-jacket kettles, slicers, mixers, and choppers.
  • Serves food on food lines according to established portion control standards.
  • May prepare food for distribution to institutional wards or tray lines; bake items such as bread, donuts, cookies, and pastries; or cut meats.
  • Adjusts recipes for larger quantities and modifies them to control food waste.
  • Suggests menu changes to improve product quality.
  • Plans cooking schedules to ensure food is ready at serving times without excessive advance preparation.
  • May monitor preparation of special or therapeutic diets, such as low-sodium or religious diets.
  • May participate directly in food preparation.
• Sanitation
  • Directs and coordinates AIC crews in storing food properly, cleaning stoves, grills, and countertops, and maintaining sanitary work areas.
  • Controls dishwasher temperatures and rotates supplies in coolers and freezers to meet health standards.
• Requisition Supplies
  • Conducts daily inventory of products and supplies for cooking operations.
  • Requests needed products and supplies from supervisor.
  • Verifies delivered supplies meet type, quantity, and quality specified by purchase orders.
  • May assist supervisor in ordering food items from vendors.
  • Directs AICs in unloading and storing food products and supplies.
• Records
  • Keeps records of food prepared, served, or distributed, as well as leftovers.
  • Counts and records equipment (e.g., knives, chopping blades) and food items for inventory.
  • Records AIC work time.

Positions are located in food preparation areas of correctional institutions. The role requires willingness to work in this environment, enforce security procedures, and conduct searches of AICs and areas for contraband.

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. Some felony convictions may disqualify applicants; contact the recruiter for details.

Skills

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

Working Conditions

• Works inside a secure adult correctional facility with inherent custodial duties, including handling incidents in the immediate work area.
• Responsible for preventing escapes by controlling keys, tools, and contraband, and documenting unusual incidents.
• High noise levels, extreme temperature variations, and prolonged standing or walking on concrete floors.
• Frequent bending for searches and working with wet, slippery floors.
• Daily interaction with Adults in Custody; possible encounters with abusive individuals posing injury risks.
• Subject to call-back during emergencies and may be assigned to any post in the institution.
• During a “work stoppage,” may be required to fill any assigned post in the institution.

About the Department

The Oregon Department of Corrections oversees over 12,000 adults in custody across 12 state prisons and advises 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 that reflects the diversity of the population served and ensures 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 insurance.
• Term life insurance.
• Fully paid retirement program.
• Oregon Saving Growth Plan.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and childcare.