Cook III

Performs a variety of cooking and general food preparation activities; prepares special diet food; assists in keeping kitchen or cafeteria areas clean; may serve in a lead capacity.

Work product consists of food prepared according to menu and standardized recipes; utensils, equipment and food service areas cleaned according to established procedures; preparation work for next day completed; food ready for delivery to serving area(s).

• Prepares special diet food; ensures proper textures and consistencies as related to residents' or clients' ability to consume them without difficulty

• Reviews menus for next day, daily count of residents, special activities, special diet orders; determines what preparation work needs to be done

• Pans up food and/or prepares pre-plated meals for delivery to serving areas; covers to eliminate spilling and to prevent contamination

• Receives food and supplies; checks quantities and specifications to ensure compliance with purchase orders; stores in proper area

• Maintains list of residents requiring special diets, writes changes on diet cards from notes provided by medical staff

• Cooks a variety of foods (meats, vegetables, fruits, etc.) following standardized recipes and methods of preparation

• Operates standard cooking equipment such as mixing machines, meat slicers, peelers, food choppers, etc

• Participates in in-service training and staff development programs for regularly employed staff

• Ensures that the correct temperature is maintained in both hot and cold foods being served

• Participates in establishing and maintaining a safe and sanitary work environment

• Cleans equipment and kitchen area according to standard cleaning methods

• Properly covers, labels and dates left-over food; places in refrigerator

• Hand washes, scrubs and dries dishes, or posts and pans in kitchen

• Replaces food in carts or trucks for transportation to serving areas

• Modifies recipes to meet quantities needed by an institution

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Frequently required to lift and carry food and/or supplies weighing 20 to 50 pounds

• Hot cooking surfaces, sharp tools and mechanical equipment

• Considerable standing, bending and walking

• Occasional damp, wet or slippery floors

• Rotating shift work may be required

Knowledge:

• Applicable sanitation and safety codes, rules and regulations; cleaning materials, methods and techniques; polices and procedures established for the work unit

• Food textures and consistencies as related to residents' ability to consume them without difficulty

• Cooking techniques used to preserve natural nutrients and palatability of product

• Proper temperature ranges for thawing, cooking and storage of food

• The methods, materials and practices of institutional food service

• Precautions needed to guard against health hazards

• Health hazards in food service activities

• Basic arithmetic computation methods

Skill:

• Slicing, dicing and shredding products to achieve optimum present ability and freshness

• Preparing nutritional, palatable food with minimal waste

• Using and operating cooking equipment

Ability:

• Establish and maintain work relationships

• Communicate verbally and in writing

• Present food in an attractive manner

• Possession of a current, valid food handler's permit

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance

• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year

• Health and dental insurance

• Retirement plan

• Sick leave

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)

• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment

• If you have any questions please feel free to contact Arlene Seagraves at arlene.seagraves@aph.az.gov