Cook I - Nurtrition Services - Temporary - Full Time - Shift

Kern Medical, established in 1867, is a venerable institution deeply rooted in serving the healthcare needs of the community. As an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, it holds the distinction of offering the only advanced trauma care facility between Fresno and Los Angeles. The medical center provides a broad spectrum of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty healthcare services. These include comprehensive high-risk pregnancy care and inpatient psychiatric services that are integrated with county mental health programs. Furthermore, Kern Medical boasts a rapidly expanding network of outpatient clinics delivering personalized, patient-centered wellness care. Annually, Kern Medical manages care for approximately 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients, underscoring its critical role in community health and wellness.

Kern Medical is committed to recruiting high-quality candidates to maintain a dedicated and high-performing workforce that consistently delivers excellent patient care. They offer extra-help employment opportunities, which are limited term (up to nine months), with potential health benefits coverage and a shift differential pay of 10% of base pay for hours worked between 7:00 PM and 7:30 AM with a two-hour minimum.

The Cook I position at Kern Medical is a temporary, full-time role with estimated compensation ranging from $19.2030 to $25.8072 per hour. This compensation is part of a broader package that may include differentials, incentives, and bonuses. This entry-level role in the cook series is primarily designed for individuals who perform closely supervised routine and repetitive culinary tasks according to established procedures. The position provides a foundation for career advancement, with opportunities to be promoted to Cook II upon successful completion of training and meeting performance benchmarks, without the need for further examination.

The Cook I’s essential duties encompass preparing, cooking, and seasoning various foods such as soups, meats, fish, poultry, vegetables, and desserts. This includes following master recipes accurately, preparing food for freezing, and operating kitchen equipment like grills, deep-fat fryers, steam cookers, slicers, and mixers. Maintaining cleanliness and order by assisting in cleaning equipment and the cooking area after meals is also a key responsibility, along with serving food as needed. The role additionally entails performing related duties as required, providing a well-rounded experience within the kitchen environment.

Employment standards for this role require at least one year of experience as a cook in a full-service restaurant or an institutional kitchen preparing food in quantity, or one year of experience as a Food Service Worker II, or an equivalent combination of education, training, or experience sufficient to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge. Candidates must be familiar with large-scale food preparation methods, kitchen sanitation, proper food storage, and maintain personal cleanliness and neatness. The ability to accurately read and follow recipes, prepare required food quantities with minimal waste, and organize work efficiently to meet meal preparation priorities is essential to succeed in this role.

As part of Kern County government employment, all employees are designated Disaster Service Workers under California law, requiring them to remain at or report for work during significant emergencies or disasters. In addition, if the role involves the use of personal or Kern Medical vehicles, possession of a valid California Driver’s License and compliance with the organization's vehicle use policies are mandatory. Kern Medical is an equal opportunity employer committed to informing applicants of their rights under federal employment laws.