Jail Cook Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $57,252.03 - $84,308.37 Annually Location : Ventura and Santa Paula, CA Job Type: Full-Time Regular Job Number: 0914SHF-26AA (MP) Department: Sheriff Opening Date: 01/01/2026 Description What We OfferThe County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. Aside from our base salary range, an employee within this position will also be eligible for the following:

• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Some positions may be eligible for bilingual incentive depending on the applicable memorandum of agreement and the needs of the department. To qualify for this incentive, incumbents in eligible positions must take and pass the applicable bilingual fluency examination.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans - You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participation in the County's defined benefit pension plan. If eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS.
• Holidays - 13 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office has immediate openings for experienced cooks. Under direction, performs large quantity cooking in a sheriff's correctional institution (jail). Work will involve contact and direction of jail inmates in the preparation and serving of food. The ideal candidate will have experience cooking in a large-scale eatery preparing a variety of meals in large quantities. Must be willing and able to work rotating 12-hour shifts, weekends, and holidays. Applicants who fail to indicate on their application their ability to work rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays will not continue in the process. Dependent upon qualifications/experience, incumbents may receive a salary anywhere within the salary range. In addition, incumbents receive a shift differential calculated at the rate of five percent (5%) of the base pay. PAYROLL TITLE: Jail Cook AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Sheriff's Office Jail Cook is represented by Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra-help vacancies. There are currently four (4) vacancies. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OPENING DATE: Thursday, January 1, 2026 CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applicants to meet business needs. Examples Of Duties Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Prepares and cooks food in accordance with the State of California requirements for prisoner and inmate caloric intake;
• Assists in serving of food at correctional facility(ies);
• Maintains cleanliness of working area and equipment;
• Directs and trains inmate workers in the preparation and serving of food; and
• Performs related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list. EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE: A minimum of two (2) years of experience as a cook in a kitchen preparing a variety of meals in large quantities. NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

• Must possess or obtain and maintain a valid California driver license.
• Must be willing and able to work rotating 12-hour shifts, weekends and holidays.

DESIRED: Experience as a cook in a correctional facility, military setting, hospital, university or other large-scale eatery. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES: Working knowledge of: methods of preparing food in quantity and considerable variety, kitchen sanitation, and food storage. Working ability to: plan and direct the work of others; write simple English sentences; understand and follow written and oral instructions and recipes; prepare tasty food, serve it attractively, and prepare large quantities of food required with a minimum of waste. Recruitment Process FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L1970, Ventura, CA 93009 by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009. NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here for additional information. Applicants must provide sufficient information under the Education/Work Experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire in order to determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application. SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration. APPLICATION EVALUATION - Pass/Fail: An application evaluation will be conducted to determine whether or not each applicant possesses the minimum requirements as outlined in this job posting. Those candidates who possess the minimum qualifications will be given a score of seventy percent (70%) and placed on the eligible list. Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: PRIOR TO ACTUAL APPOINTMENT FROM THE ELIGIBLE LIST, THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO PASS A THOROUGH BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE SHERIFF'S HUMAN RESOURCES WHICH MAY ALSO INCLUDE A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION FINDINGS MAY BE A BASIS FOR REMOVAL FROM THE ELIGIBLE LIST. TO SPEAK TO A SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE CONCERNING THE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION PROCESS, CALL (805) 654-2375. For further information about this recruitment, please contact Martha Perez by email at EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE Service Employees International Union (LOCAL 721) (SEIU) To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• or you may call (805) 654-2570.

Union Codes: UPA, UPC, UPE, UPH, UPI, UPJ, UPT, UWS 01 Please note: You are applying for a position within a law enforcement agency. If you are successful in the application, testing and selection process, you will undergo a thorough background investigation prior to receiving an offer of employment. The background investigation may take up to 3 months to complete. The following are some of the more common reasons for disqualification from the background investigation: * Conviction of a felony. * Conviction of two or more misdemeanors in the past ten years. * Conviction of a sex related crime. * Having had a driving privilege suspended or revoked for non-medical reasons within the past five years. * Having any convictions for violent crimes or domestic violence incidents that prohibit the possession of a firearm under 29805 PC. * History of having illegally possessed, purchased, or sold any of the following substances in the past seven years: cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, LSD, MDMA, ecstasy, psilocybin (psychedelic mushrooms), or PCP. * History of serious financial irresponsibility within the past 5 years. * Having been on any court ordered probation at any time within the past 5 years. * Dishonesty during any part of the application or hiring process, including the background investigation.

• I have read and understand the above statement.

02 Do you have experience cooking in a correctional facility, hospital, university, military or other large-scale eatery?

• Yes
• No

03 If you answered "yes" to question number 1, please list: A. Name of employer B. Your job title C. Dates of employment D. Description of the work you performed. If you answered "no", please answer "Not applicable." 04 What is the largest number of meals you have prepared at one time? 05 Are you willing and able to work rotating 12-hour shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays?

• Yes
• No

06 Do you possess or have the ability to obtain and maintain a valid California driver's license?

• Yes
• No

Required Question