Cook 1

Do you want to help create meals that bring comfort and care to veterans every day? As a Cook 1 with the Southwestern Veterans' Center, you will help create nutritious and enjoyable meals for the residents who rely on your skill and dedication. This position gives you the opportunity to work with a wide variety of ingredients and cooking equipment in a supportive environment. You will help ensure meals are prepared safely, efficiently, and to high standards. Put your culinary talents to work where every meal makes a meaningful difference!

Click here to learn more about the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

This role focuses on preparing meals for residents while maintaining a clean, safe, and organized kitchen environment. The position also includes operating cooking equipment, managing inventory, and supporting the daily workflow of the food service team. As a Cook 1, you will perform the following duties:

• Equipment Operation: Use ovens, fryers, mixers, skillets, and other kitchen equipment in accordance with safety guidelines and established kitchen workflows
• Food Preparation: Prepare meats, vegetables, soups, and desserts for regular and therapeutic diets
• Sanitation Tasks: Clean utensils, equipment, floors, and work areas to maintain a sanitary kitchen
• Inventory Management: Record food and supply usage and assist with requisitions and inspections
• Recipe Handling: Measure, package, and label ingredients and help test new recipes
• Team Coordination: Guide Food Service Workers and assist in training new Cooks

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 40 hours per week
• Work hours are 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, rotating weekends and holidays, with a 30-minute lunch.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS
Desirable Preparation For Work:

• Experience in cooking or quantity food preparation; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training.

• You must have experience or training in cooking or quantity food preparation.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

• A conditional offer of employment will require a medical examination.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Older Adult Protective Services Act.
  • Under the Act, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports, including but not limited to, PA State Police and FBI clearance.

In accordance with the seniority provisions of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, this position was previously posted for seniority candidates. Since there were no seniority candidates, it is now open to all applicants.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.