Kings County
The Kings County Sheriff's Office is currently seeking qualified individuals for the position of:
Jail Cook I/II Jail Cook I:
$37,252.80 - $45,448.00 annually
Jail Cook II:
$41,142.40 - $50,211.20 annually
The Kings County Sheriff’s Office is now hiring motivated and dependable individuals for
Jail Cook I/II
positions within our detention facilities. This is more than a kitchen role—it’s an essential position that supports daily operations, safety, and structure in a fast-pace, mission-driven environment. Whether you’re starting your culinary career or bringing valuable experience to the table, this opportunity offers competitive pay, varied shifts, and a clear path for growth within County service.
Shifts and Hours
(1) 4:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
(2) 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Please click here for additional information about the Kings County Sheriff's Office.
To discover what makes Kings County a great place to live and work, click here to watch a short video.
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
Some duties, knowledge, skills, and abilities may be performed in a learning capacity for entry-level (I Level) positions.
Supervises incarcerated workers and personally participates and supervises the preparation, cooking, and portioning of meals, including special diet meals and planning for the use of leftovers and cleanup activities.
Assists in planning the general menu and writes menu sheets following established guidelines.
Cuts and prepares all types of meat, fowl, and fish; prepares and cooks vegetables, salads, desserts and other foods and beverages.
Directs the portioning of food for distribution to the population served.
Ensures that food preparation equipment, cooking and serving utensils, kitchen work areas, and the dining area are orderly, clean, and sanitary in compliance with sanitary standards; ensures appropriate care and maintenance of equipment and observance of proper procedures when in use.
Uses, cleans, adjusts, and performs minor maintenance to a variety of cooking equipment.
Follows rules and security procedures including, but not limited to, reporting all suspect behavior, and ensuring security of locked areas.
Requisitions, inspects, and supervises the storage of groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, meat, and other food supplies.
Stores food, supplies, and leftover food properly and in an appropriate location.
Maintains records of accounts related to food service operations.
Instructs incarcerated workers in the techniques of food preparation, cooking, portioning, safe work procedures, and the use and minor maintenance of institutional cooking equipment.
Loads, transports and unloads supplies, food, and meal carts.
Operates light truck in transporting commodities and meals; operates lift truck/pallet stacker to unload trucks, move and stack pallets of food and related supplies.
Maintains records of food and supplies used, meals served, etc.; prepares periodic and special reports as required.
Properly uses personal protective equipment as directed and trained.
Effectively utilizes a computer, general office equipment, telephone, and radio to perform components of the job.
Monitors and maintains the security of facilities and equipment.
Performs related duties as assigned.
Please note: Work experience for the last 15 years must be included in the work history portion of your application. It is also important that your application show all the relevant education and experience that you possess, even if it extends beyond the required past 15 years.
A resume may be attached, but is not a substitute for completing the application and supplemental questions. Failure to submit a completed application may eliminate you from the recruitment.
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Education and Experience Education:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
Experience:
Jail Cook I:
One (1) year of responsible experience in high-volume food preparation and cooking of meals in an institutional or commercial full-service kitchen.
Jail Cook II:
One (1) year of experience performing duties at a level equivalent to the classification of Jail Cook I with Kings County.
Licenses and Certifications Licenses:
Possession of a valid California driver’s license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of appointment.
Certifications:
Jail Cook I:
Possession of, or ability to obtain during a six (6) month probationary period, a valid forklift operator’s certification to be maintained throughout employment.
Jail Cook II:
Possession of a valid forklift operator’s certification to be maintained throughout employment.
Special Requirements Qualify for security clearance through a background investigation and fingerprint check. Ability to qualify for deputization by the Kings County Sheriff’s Office for the purpose of supervising incarcerated workers. Ability to work irregular hours including evenings, weekends and holidays, and work overtime as necessary. Ability to work directly with incarcerated workers in a locked detention facility which enforces a lockdown, no hostages policy.
Physical Demands Mobility to work in an institutional kitchen environment necessitating the ability to frequently exert a moderate amount of force to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including hot and/or steaming food, weighing up to fifty (50) pounds, with the use of proper equipment or assistance and to frequently crouch, bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties as well as push and pull drawers open and closed; the ability to climb a step stool to stock shelves and retrieve items and to push and pull loaded, wheeled carts, weighing up to 300 pounds; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone and finger dexterity to operate a variety of kitchen tools and equipment used in the performance of daily tasks, operate food preparation and portioning equipment, and to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator.
For a detailed job description click here.
All completed applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed. Depending upon the number of applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, the examination process may include a screening committee (pass/fail) and/or a written examination (pass/fail) and/or an oral examination (100%) and may include a written practical component to determine placement on the eligible list. Note: The top 40 written test scoring applicants with passing scores will be invited to participate in the oral examination interview process.
Veteran's Preference Available upon Request
Submit a certified DD-214 and a new request form for each application submission prior to the closing date.
Tentative Recruitment Process Final Date to Apply:
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Human Resources Interview:
Week of February 2, 2026
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Jail Cook I/II Jail Cook I:
$37,252.80 - $45,448.00 annually
Jail Cook II:
$41,142.40 - $50,211.20 annually
The Kings County Sheriff’s Office is now hiring motivated and dependable individuals for
Jail Cook I/II
positions within our detention facilities. This is more than a kitchen role—it’s an essential position that supports daily operations, safety, and structure in a fast-pace, mission-driven environment. Whether you’re starting your culinary career or bringing valuable experience to the table, this opportunity offers competitive pay, varied shifts, and a clear path for growth within County service.
Shifts and Hours
(1) 4:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
(2) 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Please click here for additional information about the Kings County Sheriff's Office.
To discover what makes Kings County a great place to live and work, click here to watch a short video.
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
Some duties, knowledge, skills, and abilities may be performed in a learning capacity for entry-level (I Level) positions.
Supervises incarcerated workers and personally participates and supervises the preparation, cooking, and portioning of meals, including special diet meals and planning for the use of leftovers and cleanup activities.
Assists in planning the general menu and writes menu sheets following established guidelines.
Cuts and prepares all types of meat, fowl, and fish; prepares and cooks vegetables, salads, desserts and other foods and beverages.
Directs the portioning of food for distribution to the population served.
Ensures that food preparation equipment, cooking and serving utensils, kitchen work areas, and the dining area are orderly, clean, and sanitary in compliance with sanitary standards; ensures appropriate care and maintenance of equipment and observance of proper procedures when in use.
Uses, cleans, adjusts, and performs minor maintenance to a variety of cooking equipment.
Follows rules and security procedures including, but not limited to, reporting all suspect behavior, and ensuring security of locked areas.
Requisitions, inspects, and supervises the storage of groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, meat, and other food supplies.
Stores food, supplies, and leftover food properly and in an appropriate location.
Maintains records of accounts related to food service operations.
Instructs incarcerated workers in the techniques of food preparation, cooking, portioning, safe work procedures, and the use and minor maintenance of institutional cooking equipment.
Loads, transports and unloads supplies, food, and meal carts.
Operates light truck in transporting commodities and meals; operates lift truck/pallet stacker to unload trucks, move and stack pallets of food and related supplies.
Maintains records of food and supplies used, meals served, etc.; prepares periodic and special reports as required.
Properly uses personal protective equipment as directed and trained.
Effectively utilizes a computer, general office equipment, telephone, and radio to perform components of the job.
Monitors and maintains the security of facilities and equipment.
Performs related duties as assigned.
Please note: Work experience for the last 15 years must be included in the work history portion of your application. It is also important that your application show all the relevant education and experience that you possess, even if it extends beyond the required past 15 years.
A resume may be attached, but is not a substitute for completing the application and supplemental questions. Failure to submit a completed application may eliminate you from the recruitment.
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Education and Experience Education:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
Experience:
Jail Cook I:
One (1) year of responsible experience in high-volume food preparation and cooking of meals in an institutional or commercial full-service kitchen.
Jail Cook II:
One (1) year of experience performing duties at a level equivalent to the classification of Jail Cook I with Kings County.
Licenses and Certifications Licenses:
Possession of a valid California driver’s license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of appointment.
Certifications:
Jail Cook I:
Possession of, or ability to obtain during a six (6) month probationary period, a valid forklift operator’s certification to be maintained throughout employment.
Jail Cook II:
Possession of a valid forklift operator’s certification to be maintained throughout employment.
Special Requirements Qualify for security clearance through a background investigation and fingerprint check. Ability to qualify for deputization by the Kings County Sheriff’s Office for the purpose of supervising incarcerated workers. Ability to work irregular hours including evenings, weekends and holidays, and work overtime as necessary. Ability to work directly with incarcerated workers in a locked detention facility which enforces a lockdown, no hostages policy.
Physical Demands Mobility to work in an institutional kitchen environment necessitating the ability to frequently exert a moderate amount of force to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including hot and/or steaming food, weighing up to fifty (50) pounds, with the use of proper equipment or assistance and to frequently crouch, bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties as well as push and pull drawers open and closed; the ability to climb a step stool to stock shelves and retrieve items and to push and pull loaded, wheeled carts, weighing up to 300 pounds; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone and finger dexterity to operate a variety of kitchen tools and equipment used in the performance of daily tasks, operate food preparation and portioning equipment, and to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator.
For a detailed job description click here.
All completed applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed. Depending upon the number of applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, the examination process may include a screening committee (pass/fail) and/or a written examination (pass/fail) and/or an oral examination (100%) and may include a written practical component to determine placement on the eligible list. Note: The top 40 written test scoring applicants with passing scores will be invited to participate in the oral examination interview process.
Veteran's Preference Available upon Request
Submit a certified DD-214 and a new request form for each application submission prior to the closing date.
Tentative Recruitment Process Final Date to Apply:
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Human Resources Interview:
Week of February 2, 2026
#J-18808-Ljbffr