JTDC - Food Service Worker

About the role

The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) provides safe and temporary housing for youth ages 10 – 18 with pending legal action in the Cook County Courts. The JTDC is dedicated to providing its youth with leadership, structured care, and supervision through a balanced approach of creative programming and services that teach responsibility, accountability, and sensitivity.

Responsibilities

• Reviews daily menus and meal counts, ensures necessary food items are stocked and fresh, and prepares food items for use as appropriate (washing, peeling, chopping/dicing, seeding, etc.).
• Follows standard recipes and uses various ingredients and seasonings to prepare cold items including salads, sandwiches, desserts, and beverages.
• Utilizes various kitchen utensils, appliances, and heavy equipment in food preparation (knives, peelers, dicers, slicers, mixers, etc.).
• Packs lunches for residents and staff in courtrooms.
• Aids the cooks when needed.
• Loads and transports food carts to and from the designated floor units and school area.
• During holidays or special occasions, may be asked to set up special events, caterings and may even have to help serve.
• Follows proper kitchen standards when cleaning/sanitizing the work area (floors, food carts, tables, kitchen utensils and equipment, dishes, and tableware, etc.).
• Maintains sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas.
• Completes production logs to track specific information for each meal.
• Maintains proper inventory levels.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• GED or High School diploma required.
• Illinois Food Handlers License must be obtained within 30 days of employment.
• Previous high-volume institutional or commercial food service experience strongly preferred.
• Skilled in the safety, sanitary, and effective handling of food, cooking utensils, and food processing equipment.
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and otherwise move objects weighing at least 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand and/or walk for long periods and adapt to a large kitchen environment with varying temperatures (-8 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Knowledge of basic arithmetic.
• Effectively reads, listens, understands, and communicates in English (verbally and in writing).
• United States citizenship.
• 21 years of age at the time of application submission.

Qualifications

• Highly accountable, reliable, and prompt, with a strong work ethic.
• Physical Requirements: Reaching, bending, and stooping to perform daily tasks; extended periods of walking throughout the facility; extended periods of standing; ability to physically lift, carry and manage weights of at least 50 lbs. when handling food items; ability to respond to emergency situations according to JTDC policies, procedures and protocols; must be able to work unscheduled overtime based on departmental needs; open daily availability including weekends and holidays for any of two standard shifts, that may be subject to change (5:00 am – 7:00 pm) with 2 consecutive days off; must pass Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) screening requirements.

Benefits

Benefits package information can be found at the Circuit Court of Cook County Employment Opportunities Page.