Lead Cook - CSCD

Bexar County, located in Texas, is a recognized governmental entity committed to delivering essential services to its residents through various departments and specialized facilities. Among these is the Adult Residential Center (ARC) under the Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD). Bexar County prides itself on fostering a workplace culture centered around equality, diversity, and inclusivity. It emphasizes providing competitive salaries, retirement plans, and a wide-ranging benefits package designed to support employees and their families. Being an Equal Opportunity Employer, Bexar County seeks to create accommodating environments where individuals with disabilities and protected veterans can thrive through reasonable accommodations and supportive work policies.

The Lead Cook position at the ARC within the CSCD is a full-time, hourly role that directly reports to the ARC Manager. This role is pivotal in ensuring that nutritional needs of the residential treatment facility's residents are met while adhering strictly to health, safety, and sanitation standards. The Lead Cook is responsible not only for preparing and serving meals according to prescribed menus but also for managing inventory, ordering supplies, and working closely with dieticians and management to ensure that menus meet dietary requirements. Importantly, the Lead Cook holds a key role in supervising residents assigned to kitchen duties, ensuring both food safety and operational efficiency.

This position requires someone with practical experience in food service, including menu preparation and kitchen inventory management. The candidate must possess a Food Service Manager Certification, or secure one within 60 days of employment, along with a valid Health Department Food Handling license. Physically, the role demands capabilities such as lifting moderately heavy items, operating kitchen equipment skillfully, and enduring varied physical activities such as standing, walking, and reaching during shifts in a correctional facility environment.

Working as a Lead Cook at Bexar County’s ARC includes exposure to the unique challenges of a controlled correctional environment with potential risks. Staff must be prepared for interactions with residents who have felony or misdemeanor convictions and maintain professionalism and safety at all times. Flexible scheduling and potential on-call duties require adaptability. The employment relationship is governed by the legal doctrine of employment at will, with a 12-month probationary period to ensure mutual suitability.

Overall, this position offers an opportunity for dedicated food service professionals to contribute to the health and wellbeing of residents within a structured residential facility, supported by the extensive resources and benefits of Bexar County. The Lead Cook plays an essential role in the proper operation of the facility's kitchen and directly impacts the residents' quality of life through nutritious and safe meal preparation.