Military Cook Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $43,372.16 - $58,563.45 Annually
Location : Visalia, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-012730
Department: Sheriff
Opening Date: 02/21/2026
Closing Date: 8/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
This recruitment will establish an employment list to fill current and any future vacancies within the Tulare County Sheriff's Department. The anticipated life of the employment list is six months. If interested in employment for this position or current or future vacancies, please submit an online application for consideration.
Current vacancies are with the Tulare County Sheriff's Department located in Visalia. The anticipated life of the list is six months.
Cook: $3,614 - $4,405 Monthly
Cook Lead: $4,004 - $4,880 Monthly
Please note, our policy contains personal appearance standards which include prohibiting visible tattoos above the collar line or below the wrist. We ask that all applicants be able to meet this requirement.
Typical Duties
Cook:

• Cook and oversee the cooking of a variety of foods and special diets.
• Schedule adult inmate workers kitchen workers daily assignments.
• Make desserts such as cakes, puddings, and pies.
• Use a variety of hand and motorized commercial kitchen equipment and machines.
• Perform frying, grilling, stewing, roasting, steaming and baking.

In addition to the above, Cook Lead:

• Discuss special diets with the Food and Laundry Manager or other higher-level staff.
• Train new employees.
• Supervise lower-level cooks and adult inmate staff in food preparation.
• Perform butchering tasks if required; order produce, meats and staples for jail feeding program.
• Account for food and hardware items on an assigned shift.

For a full list of duties for the Cook, please click
For a full list of duties for the Cook Lead, please click
Essential job duties may be assigned that are not listed above but are relative to this job classification. (Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law.)
Minimum Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum qualifications are used as a guide for establishing the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license which are required and equivalent to the following.
Education: Equivalent to completion of twelfth (12th) grade.
Experience:
Cook:

• One (1) year of progressively more difficult and varied cooking and food preparation experience for large numbers of people such as is found in institutional or military cooking.

Cook Lead:

• Two (2) years of progressively more difficult and varied cooking and food preparation experience for large numbers of people such as is found in institutional or military cooking, one year of which includes supervisory responsibilities.

Equivalencies for Experience:
Cook:

• Two (2) years of progressively more difficult cooking and food preparation work with one (1) year of food related supervisory experience and one (1) year of experience ordering kitchen supplies.

Cook Lead:

• Three (3) years of progressively more difficult cooking and food preparation work with two (2) years of food related supervisory experience and one (1) year of experience ordering kitchen supplies.

Knowledge of:

• Safe and proper use of commercial equipment and machines commonly found in large kitchens.
• Sanitation practices and procedures pertaining to food preparation and kitchen work areas.
• Math sufficient to compute percentages, decimals and fractions.
• Food industry terminology to order supplies.

See the full list in link.
In addition to the above, Cook Lead:

• Storage and preservation of foods.
• Sanitation requirements for institutional kitchens.
• Kitchen cleaning materials.
• Basic nutrition.
• Meal planning and dietetic terminology.

Skill/Ability to:

• Work and communicate effectively with people of various education and socioeconomic backgrounds by respecting beliefs, interpersonal styles and behaviors of both clients and co-workers.
• Operate contemporary office equipment inclusive of computer, keyboard, and all applicable electronic equipment.
• Prepare, cook, and bake a variety of foods in large quantities.
• Follow recipes and instructions to train in the preparation of food and special diets.

See the full list in link.
In addition to the above, Cook Lead:

• Directly supervise inmates to get daily duties completed.
• Utilize fresh fruits, vegetables, and gleaning items for meals.
• Oversee the work of and train subordinate staff.
• Cook and serve appetizing meals.

Additional Information
Conditions of Employment:
Candidates selected will be required to pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening. Additionally, a background investigation may also be conducted, which may include a re-investigation every 10 years for some positions. An Employment Eligibility Verification using E-Verify may be required on the first day of employment for some positions. Some job classes may also require a physical exam.
College Cost Reduction Access Act:
This may be a qualifying position for student loan forgiveness through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA). Only student loan payments made after October 1, 2007 and in a qualified repayment plan are eligible. For more information you are encouraged to speak with your student loan service or visit:
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Bargaining Unit 2
The information listed is a general summary of benefits. These provisions do not constitute an expressed or implied contract and are subject to change.
Benefit Amount: An annual benefit amount is provided and may be applied towards health insurance premiums (medical, dental, vision and life). This benefit is pro-rated and paid on a pay period basis (24 pay periods).
Health Insurance: A choice of PPO and HMO medical plans which include PPO and HMO dental plans and include dental and vision coverage. Dependent coverage is available. Providers include Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, Delta Dental, and Vision Services Plan (VSP).
Retirement: The retirement plan is a defined benefit plan administered pursuant to the 1937 Act County Employees Retirement Act and integrated with Social Security. In addition to ordinary retirement benefits, the plan provides disability and death benefits. Retirement contributions are made by both the County and the employee. The County has reciprocity with the State of California, contracting PERS agencies, and all County 1937 Act Retirement Systems.
Paid Holiday Leave: 12 set days and 1 personal holiday.
Vacation Accrual:
2 weeks per year (0-3 years of service)
3 weeks per year (3-7 years of service)
4 weeks per year (7-11 years of service)
5 weeks per year (11+ years of service)
Limit of 300 hours.
Sick Leave Accrual: 12 days per year with unlimited accumulation, 60 hours of which may be used toward family sick leave.
Career Incentive Pay
Employees who have completed five (5) or more Years of Service with Tulare County and meet the eligibility criteria described in Administrative Regulation - 52, earn additional pay according to the schedule below.
Years of Service
% Increase
Total
5
3%
3%
10
2%
5%
15
3%
8%
20
2%
10%
Group Term Life Insurance and AD&D: $10,000; Provided by Standard Insurance Company.
Disability Insurance: Employees are covered by State Disability Insurance. The premium is paid by the employee.
Deferred Compensation: A voluntary deferred compensation plan is available.
To view more detailed descriptions of Tulare County's benefits, please view the Benefits section of our Web site at
The Provisions Of This Bulletin Do Not Constitute An Expressed Or Implied Contract And Are Subject To Change.
01
The supplemental application form is an EXAMINATION. All candidates are required to complete the questions at the end of the application. The supplemental application questions will be used to select the most highly qualified candidates who will then advance to the next step in the selection process. The questions that follow will be used to evaluate the extent to which a candidate has demonstrated and applied the knowledge, skills and abilities critical to successful performance for this position. You must respond to all required questions to be considered for this position. Describe your cooking and food preparation experience in a military, institution, or central kitchen facility. Include in your response the number of years of experience, types of food prepared, duties performed, and the number of people served.
02
Identify which of the following types of food you have prepared, and indicate the quantity prepared and the number of persons served: soups, salads, meats (entrees), vegetables, starches, breads, desserts and others that apply.
03
Describe your experience in supervising and training employees. Include in your response the number of employees supervised, the type of work involved, and your responsibilities (e.g. hired, trained, evaluated performance, disciplined, etc.).
04
Indicate whether you are able and/or willing to perform the following with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Lift, carry or move foods and equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Pull, push or drag food containers and carts containing food containers weighing up to 200 lbs.
• Supervise court referrals and GAIN workers and provide security of inmate helpers.
• Drive a meal van to various sites.

Required Question