Cook- Sheriff's Institutions

About Sheriff's Office

To learn more information about the Sheriff’s Office, please visit our website heriff.org.

We are accepting applications to fill current and future vacancies in All Locations throughout the County of Santa Barbara for the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office.

The established employment list will be used to fill vacancies at all locations in the Sheriff's Office Custody Jail Facilities, which includes Santa Barbara Main Jail and Santa Maria Northern Branch Jail. Separate lists for different locations will not be established. Incumbents must be willing to accept an assignment at any Custody Jail Facility throughout Santa Barbara County.

Under general supervision, coordinates the preparation, cooking and serving of meals for large groups of people in a central jail kitchen; trains and oversees a crew of inmates assigned to work in the kitchen; and performs related duties as required. Food services are responsible for meal preparation of over 3,000 meals a day, 7 days a week, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The position is responsible for limited cooking in an oversight capacity, assigning, and instructing up to 25 inmates to do specific tasks that include slicing meat, making salads, staff cook, making special diet meals, kitchen helper, dishwashers, making sandwiches, and directed to other assignments as necessary. This requires checking with each inmate that they are following instructions and doing assignments correctly.

This position requires shift work, days and/or nights, including weekends and holidays (e.g. Thanksgiving and Christmas). Shift schedules include nights 4 days/10 hours and day shift at 12 hours with rotating days. Night shift qualifies for shift differential pay at $0.75 per hour for regularly assigned night shift work.

Benefits and wellness plans include medical, dental, and vision. Compensation summary, retirement plans, and other benefits are available. In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for retirement reciprocity and time and service credit toward an advanced vacation accrual rate.

Vacation: 12 to 25 days per year depending on length of public employment. Holidays: 13 days per year (including floating holidays). Sick leave: 12 days sick leave per year. Unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement. Health plan: choice of medical and dental plans (with vision care). County contributes toward the employee's premium. On‑site employee health clinics in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria provide ongoing and episodic services.

Uniform allowance: $5–$10 bi‑weekly. Shift differential pay: $0.75 per hour for regularly assigned night shift work.

• Reputation for honesty and trustworthiness
• Good moral character
• Credibility
• Integrity
• Dependability
• Good judgment under pressure
• Ability to converse fluently in English and Spanish is desirable.

• An adult felony conviction in California, or with a conviction for an offense in another state which would be classified as a felony in California
• Currently on Probation or Parole
• Adult felony and/or misdemeanor conviction(s) may be disqualifying depending on type, number, severity, and how recent
• Conviction of/or sustained petitions for any sex crime
• Recent drug use; failure to reveal prior use will be disqualifying
• Unfavorable work history
• Poor credit history
• History of committing domestic violence
• Dishonesty or failure to reveal pertinent information
• Illegal use of drugs

• Prepares and cooks food in accordance with the State of California requirements for prisoners and inmate calorie intake.
• Uses a variety of kitchen equipment such as blenders, mixers, grinders, and slicers.
• Maintains cleanliness of working area and equipment.
• Trains and oversees a crew of inmates assigned to prepare, cook, and serve meals and clean kitchen and dining area; estimates food requirements and instructs inmates in the preparation of quality meals.
• Coordinates the work of the crew to complete adequate food preparation and serving at the allotted times.
• Observes the work of inmates in the…