Food Service Lead - Cook Coordinator

Location: Shakopee • Full-time • Unlimited (permanent) position

About the role

This position provides guidance, instruction, and direction to incarcerated workers in the preparation, presentation, handling, serving, and clean-up of daily meals in the food services area to ensure facility meals meet quality and nutrition standards and service timelines. Responsible for monitoring and adhering to safety and sanitation standards within the food services area while maintaining a secure environment. This position has direct contact with incarcerated individuals.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily meal preparation, presentation, handling, serving, and clean-up.
• Direct incarcerated workers to meet quality, nutrition, and timeline standards.
• Monitor and enforce safety and sanitation standards in the food services area.
• Maintain a secure environment while working with incarcerated individuals.

Requirements

• At least 18 years old and able to pass a criminal history check.
• Able to read, write, and communicate verbally in English.
• Physically able to stand, walk, bend, carry, push, and handle items for the majority of the shift.
• Meet one of the following minimum qualifications:
  • Nine months of full-time food production experience in a high-volume cafeteria, school, hospital, fast food, restaurant, or catering environment.
  • Six months of full-time cooking and food preparation experience in a correctional or secured environment.
  • Completion of a full-time vocational/technical school program in commercial cooking or commercial food preparation.

Preferred Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Experience working in a correctional or secured environment.
• Experience directing the work of others, sufficient to direct incarcerated workers.
• Experience directing the work of others in a large food service setting.
• Two or more years of work experience in a large restaurant, cafeteria, school, hospital, or equivalent experience in large-volume cooking and food preparation.
• Knowledge of food values, nutrition, and therapeutic diets.
• Bilingual in a Spanish, Asian, or African dialect.

Required Training

Applicants who do not possess a ServSafe Food Manager Certification (or equivalent) at the time of appointment must obtain certification as a requirement to successfully pass the required probation.

Physical Requirements

The selected finalist is required to review and sign a Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) for this position and may be required to complete a tuberculosis screening prior to hire.

Additional Requirements

• Top candidate(s) must pass a criminal history check, including successful completion of all sentencing and/or restitution requirements of law enforcement jurisdictions, including probation.
• Employment history, reference checks, and incidents of sexual harassment may be reviewed.
• New employees will be fingerprinted within the first 30 days of employment.
• The Minnesota Department of Corrections does not sponsor applicants for work visas, including F-1 STEM OPT extensions. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Pay

$22.79 - $31.43 / hourly; $47,585 - $65,625 / annually

Schedule

Evening Shift: 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm • Rotating days off

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• 12 paid holidays each year.
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans.
• Fertility care, including IVF.
• Diabetes care.
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children.
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children.
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years).
• Employer-paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury.
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care.
• Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being.
• Training, classes, and professional development opportunities.
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (some positions may qualify).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support, including mental health, relationship challenges, grief and loss, finances, legal issues, and daily living/convenience services.