Introduction

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The Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) recognizes its employees as a highly valued resource and are offering Monetary Recruitment Incentives to new DOC employees in accordance with the DOC Employee Signing Bonus Program.

The program provides recruitment incentives as follows :

• Sign-On Bonus - $5,000 to new Cadets paid in installments.
• Out of State Correctional Officer Pay - Upon successful completion of the Correctional Employee Initial Training (CEIT) course, employees who have equivalent work experience from another Department of Correction agency may be placed on the salary step table with up to 10 qualified years of experience.

NOTE : This program is administered by the Department of Correction Bureau of Administrative Services. The program may be terminated by the Department of Correction at any time with or without notice.

Summary Statement

This class describes full performance cooking applying food service principles, practices and methods for food preparation activities and acquiring a working knowledge of correctional / youth security procedures and techniques.

Career Ladder

Upon satisfactory completion of department promotional standards and job requirements, employees may be eligible to be promoted to the next level.

Essential Functions

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class.

Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Applies food service principles, practices and methods governing food preparation activities such as food handling, proper storage and temperature control, cleaning of kitchen equipment and utensils to comply with safety and sanitary standards.
• Instructs inmate food service workers in the operation of various commercial kitchen equipment such as dishwashers, ovens, toasters, meat slicers, choppers, deep fryers, food processors, steam pots, blenders, and mixers.
• Instructs inmates / youth food service workers in food preparation, cooking, safe food and storage handling.
• Supervises inmates / youths in their kitchen assignments, directing their activities and establishing a positive working relationship.
• Maintains a positive supportive relationship with youth / inmates food service workers through appropriate use of active listening skills in providing guidance as needed.
• Prepares and cooks meals.
• Maintains control of kitchen utensils, tools and equipment.
• Enforces rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the institution and the department in the maintenance of discipline, order, security and housekeeping of assigned locations and staff.
• Enforces personal hygiene rules for inmate / youth food service workers to maintain sanitary standards.
• Prepares various reports and maintains accurate records.
• Attends various Department approved training courses.

Job Requirements

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Correctional Officer / Youth Rehab Food Service Specialist I

Applicants must have education, training and / or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas :

• Possession of a High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Six months experience in institutional or commercial cooking and baking.
• Knowledge of proper safety, storage and sanitation standards for food items.
• Knowledge of narrative report writing.
• Possession of a valid Driver’s License (not suspended, revoked or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).
• At least 19 1 / 2 years of age.

Additional Posting Information

This posting may be closed on or before 2 / 17 / 2025 upon filling the vacant positions.

Incumbents working four or more hours of work between the hours of 6 : 00 p.m. and 8 : 00 a.m. the following day will receive 5% shift differential pay.

The Correctional Officer Training Program is approved by the Veterans Administration of Delaware State Approving Authority for the training of Veterans.

Employees in a Correctional Officer (CO) series position will be eligible to retire under the provisions of HB363 if at the time of retirement they have completed twenty-five (25) years of pension creditable State service, and with at least twenty (20) of those years of pension creditable service as a CO series classified position.

Selected incumbent’s annual base starting salary is $51,540. Upon successful completion of the Correctional Employee Initial Training (CEIT) course, and after being assigned to a facility, the salary will increase to $61,776.

Additionally the incumbent will be eligible for a 5% shift differential if he / she works four or more hours between the hours of 6 : 00 p.m. and 8 : 00 a.m.

Prior to institutional assignment, candidates must successfully complete all phases of an eleven- week Correctional Officer Basic Course.

This course is administered by the Department of Correction Steven R. Floyd Sr. Training Academy. Coursework includes physical, classroom and hands-on training.

Instruction is provided in the areas of inmate supervision, defensive tactics, riot control, weapons, report writing and emergency medical training.

A writing sample will be requested at the time of interview.

Conditions of Hire

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware Executive Branch participates in the Federal E-Verify system where the State will provide the federal government with each new hires Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

As a condition of hire you must possess a valid driver's license (not suspended, revoked or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).

Pre-employment Drug Testing : Upon a conditional offer, you must undergo pre-employment drug testing as part of the hiring process.

Strength and Agility Tests : Upon a conditional offer, you must pass a strength and agility test as part of the hiring process.

This position is a classification organized under an exclusive bargaining representative (labor organization) that has been elected by employees as their representative for collective bargaining and other applicable terms and conditions of employment, in accordance with Title 29, Chapter 59 and Title 19, Chapter 13 and 16.

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement based on its individual terms.

DOC : For admission to the State of Delaware Department of Correction Academy applicants who are made a conditional offer of employment shall be required to successfully complete a criminal background check, physical ability test to demonstrate fitness for duty, an approved psychological examination, pre-employment drug test and medical examination.

The recruiting agency requires the applicant to pay for the medical examination as part of the conditional offer of hire.

Upon a conditional offer, the applicant must undergo a pre-employment base line two step tuberculin skin test (TST) as part of the hiring process.

Benefits