Ranch Cook

This position is located at Walker Creek Ranch, a Residential Outdoor Science School and Conference Center located at 1700 Marshall Petaluma Road, in West Marin County, near the small town of Marshall, California. It is about a 30-minute drive west of Novato and Petaluma. The property is owned and operated by the Marin County Office of Education, and programs are offered to public and private schools, and a wide variety of conference groups. 

THE POSITION: Performs food preparation duties using prescribed menus and recipes to prepare a wide variety of foods, maintains appropriate kitchen sanitation and adheres to strict deadlines. May be required to work weekends based on the needs of the Ranch. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Prepares entrees, soups, vegetables, meats, fish, casseroles, cereals, sauces and other foods; bakes breads, desserts, pies, cakes, and pastries; makes sandwiches and salads; checks recipes and alters quantities of ingredients needed according to expected number of patrons; stores and plans the use of foods; operates a wide variety of professional kitchen equipment, including bbq; prepares food for banquets, picnics, and special events as assigned; instructs staff in procedures of assigned tasks; coordinates activities of staff to complete meal preparation and serves food within allocated time; cleans and stores food services equipment and food supplies; reports needed equipment repairs; inventories supplies and equipment; records needed food and supplies; maintains recipe files; instructs staff in safety precautions for use of food service equipment; instructs staff on alternative food preparation when low inventory and/or specialized dietary requirements of clients, require substitutions while maintaining the original menu’s nutritional requirements; performs varied duties, as necessary requiring essentially the same efforts, skills, and responsibilities when work requirements are changed or modified. 

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: Any combination of training and experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge and ability stated above and the skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position is the minimum employment standard for the class. A typical background is experience in cooking and baking large quantities of food where attention to nutritional balance was required. Must possess and maintain a valid CA driver’s license.

 Knowledge Of: Principles and methods of quantity food preparation, service, and storage; Care and use of standard institutional kitchen appliances and equipment; Sanitation procedures related to industrial kitchens, particularly food preparation, service and storage; Basic mathematics and weights and measures; Appropriate safety precautions and procedures relating to food service; Procedures and equipment used in quantity food preparation, service and sanitation; Principles of cooperation with other workers in spontaneous situations; State and Federal regulations regarding food preparation, safety, and nutritional values of food in order to properly modify or substitute menu items; Proper lifting techniques; familiarity with a variety of food allergies, specialized diets, and menu substitutions necessary to address customer needs efficiently within the allocated resources. 

Ability To: Demonstrate positive customer service practices when Interacting with students and while engaging in work and at leisure when on facility grounds; Prepare large quantities of food skillfully; Operate standard kitchen appliances, equipment, and utensils; Read, follow, expand, and decrease recipes; Weigh and measure ingredients; Arrange and present foods in an appealing manner; Estimate amounts of food and ingredients needed; Initiate ordering and store food and other supplies; Understand and carry out written and verbal directions; Organize work and perform a variety of duties independent of supervision; Operate a vehicle in mountainous or wilderness conditions; Plan, organize, and prioritize work to meet deadlines and accomplish tasks within established timelines; Be flexible and receptive to change.

Skills In: Ability to read and write at a level sufficient for the performance of assigned duties; Communicate effectively with Marin County Office of Education personnel, parents, students, and the general public, demonstrating tack, diplomacy and sensitivity to individual concerns; Computational skills involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using whole numbers, fractions and decimals; ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple instructions; Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional variables; Decision making skills to exercise independent thinking and good judgment.

TO APPLY: Submit the following documents online at www.edjoin.org