Cook

Salary: $20.80 - $23.00 Hourly
Location : Austin, TX
Job Type: Temporary
Job Number: 24-09342
Department: Juvenile Probation
Opening Date: 08/01/2024
Closing Date: 10/31/2024 11:59 PM Central
Job Summary
Do you have experience in the food industry? Are you looking for work that is meaningful and makes an impact? Are you interested in learning about working in and preparing meals for a juvenile detention facility? If so, Travis County Juvenile Probation Department (TCJPD) is now accepting applications for part-time Cook positions. These positions will work up to 24 hours per week.
TCJPD Cooks perform service work of preparing, cleaning and cooking a variety of foods using standardized or revised recipes under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). All work is performed using appropriate safety procedures. The food you prepare will be served to the juvenile residents to ensure they are getting proper and nutritious meals.
Duties and Responsibilities

• Plans, prepares and cooks meats, soups, vegetables, sauces and gravies, salads and desserts. Checks food for appearance and taste.
• Serves meals using proper portion control and acceptable methods of serving. Carves and displays meats, vegetables, salads and desserts. Plans for proper utilization of overproduced foods.
• Operates, cleans, and maintains cooking utensils and related equipment used in the preparation of meals. Ensures equipment is operational. Maintains cleanliness and safe working conditions in the kitchen area in accordance with Health Department standards.
• Ensures proper storage of food and supplies. Stores and rotates perishable and nonperishable food. Monitors inventory of food supply. Sets dishes and dining room equipment in proper storage. Receives and monitors kitchen deliveries.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements
Education and Experience:
One (1) year of increasingly responsible food preparation experience in a food service facility;
OR,
Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Food Handler's Registration as issued by the Austin/Travis County Health Human Services Department or by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Preferred:
Food Service Manager Certificate as issued by the Texas Board of Health.
Valid Texas Driver's License.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of:

• Methods of preparing and storing food in large volumes.
• Methods of preparing modified and calculated diets.
• Health, sanitation, nutritional and safety practices involved in food preparation.
• General office/clerical practices and procedures.

Skill in:

• Using and cleaning equipment and materials for food preparation.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Exercise judgment and initiative in estimating food quantities.
• Work independently and efficiently.
• Manage time well and meet timelines.
• Determine appropriate procedures, methods, and priorities for completing assigned work.
• Follow, understand and carry out verbal and written instruction and/or directions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information
Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 10-20 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, reaching, twisting to perform the essential functions.
Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.
This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.
Location: 2515 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX
Department: Juvenile Probation
Drug Test, Alcohol Test Required
Criminal Background Check, Driving, Education, Employment Verification Required
You must ensure your application accurately reflects your skills and abilities as they relate to the position. Only periods of employment and experience detailed in the "Work Experience" section of the application will be considered in determining which applicants move forward in the selection process, as well as determining pay level for candidate(s) recommended for hire.
Benefits
Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.
FY2024 Travis County Benefit Guide
In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.
Credit Union
Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.
Deferred Compensation
Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.
Direct Deposit
Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.
Employee Assistance Program
Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.
Employee Organizations
Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.
Employee Health & Wellness Clinic
Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.
Holidays
An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Insurance
Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.
The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.
Longevity
Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.
On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.
Parking
A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.
Personal Holidays
Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:
January - March
3 personal holidays
April - June
2 personal holidays
July - September
1 personal holiday
October - December
None
New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.
Retirement
Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.
Sick Leave
Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
Parental Leave
Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.
Tuition Refund
Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.
Vacation
Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:
0 to 5 years
4.0 hours per pay period
6 to 10 years
4.5 hours per pay period
11 to 15 years
5.0 hours per pay period
16 to 20 years
5.5 hours per pay period
21 plus years
6.0 hours per pay period
Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.
Workers' Compensation
The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.
01
How many years of increasingly responsible food service work experience do you have?

• Yes
• No

02
Do you have a Food Handler's Registration as issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services?

• Yes
• No

03
This position requires working in a secure environment with and around juvenile residents. Are you willing to work in this type of environment?

• Yes
• No

04
Are you available to work a non-traditional work schedule including some evenings and weekends?

• Yes
• No

05
ACKNOWLEDGMENT - NOTIFICATION VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL): Travis County Human Resources uses e-mail to notify our applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of your application. Therefore, as an applicant, you are hereby advised of the following: 1.) Ensure that the e-mail address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. It is preferable that the e-mail address you provide not be a shared email address. Spam or other filters should be adjusted to accept our e-mail notifications, i.e., for non-delivery of e-mail or if you fail to check your e-mail inbox in a timely manner, etc. 2.) Carefully read any notices that we send in a timely manner. Follow all instructions, if any. We recommend that you save or print our notices for your records. I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to the above.

• Yes
• No

06
WORK EXPERIENCE: You must ensure your application accurately reflects your skills and abilities as they relate to the position. Only periods of employment and experience detailed in the "Work Experience" section of the application will be considered in determining which applicants move forward in the selection process, as well as determining pay level for candidate(s) recommended for hire. I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to the above.

• Yes
• No

07
PROOF OF EDUCATION: You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. I understand that I may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and/or certification at any point during the selection process, and will be prepared to provide an official, certified copy of applicable college transcripts and/or certifications upon request. Selecting "Yes" indicates your acknowledgement of this requirement.

• Yes
• No

08
EMPLOYMENT REFERENCES: You must provide at least two (2) current or former supervisory references on your application before submitting. Selecting "Yes" indicates your acknowledgement of this requirement.

• Yes
• No

09
Have you been convicted of a Class "A" or Class "B" Misdemeanor in the past five (5) years (including deferred adjudication sentence)?

• Yes
• No

10
If yes, provide offense description and date of conviction. If no, please put "N/A".
11
Have you been convicted of a felony within the past ten (10) years (including a deferred adjudication sentence)?

• Yes
• No

12
If yes, provide offense description and date of conviction. If no, please put "N/A".
13
Have you ever been the subject of an investigation and/or an alleged perpetrator in a sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment investigation?

• Yes
• No

14
14. If yes, please explain. If no, please put "NA".
Required Question