Careers

Learn More & Apply Here

Final Filing Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025

Exam: #25/70K92/11IE

Sheriff's Correctional Cook I: $3,883 - $5,304 per month

Sheriff's Correctional Cook II: $4,292 - $5,860 per month

The Sheriff 's Office is comprised of the Administration, Corrections and Enforcement Operation Bureaus.  The Sheriff’s Office delivers public safety to the residents of Monterey County by providing 24-hour uniformed patrol, investigations, custody services, court security, and law enforcement support.

Sheriff’s Correctional Cooks are assigned to the Corrections Operations Bureau and works within a 24-hour, 7-day weekly schedule. This position supervises and instructs inmates in the preparation of a wide variety of meals for approximately 830 inmates housed in the Corrections Facility. Sheriff’s Correctional Cooks are also responsible for observing and controlling the movement of inmates in restricted areas and assures sharp edged objects and food items are not removed from the kitchen area.

SHERIFF’S CORRECTIONAL COOK I:

The class of Sheriff’s Correctional Cook I is at the entry level of this class series.  In this class incumbents with journey level experience prepare a large volume of meals and would be expected to learn to train, instruct and supervise adult inmates in food preparation and meal service.

SHERIFF’S CORRECTIONAL COOK II:

The class of Sheriff’s Correctional Cook II is a journey level class and is distinguished from the Sheriff’s Correctional Cook I in that the former possesses County or State Correctional Facility experience directly supervising, training, and instructing adult inmates in food preparation and meal service.

This classification is part of a flexible series.  Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis.

Examples of Duties

SHERIFF’S CORRECTIONAL COOK I:

• Learns to instruct inmates in the process and preparation of meals, use of kitchen equipment, serving and distribution of food in various sections of the jail, adherence to state cleanliness and sanitary standards.

• Learns to observe and control the movement of inmates in restricted areas and assures sharp edged objects, and food items are not removed from the kitchen area.

• Personally, prepares and instructs inmates in the preparation of a wide variety of meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, salads and pastries from scratch.

• Accounts for knives and meat slicer blades by signing in/out; verifies number and location of all sharpened instruments at the end of each shift.

• Assures that foods are stored properly under correct temperature controls; properly rotates foods and attempts to use government issued products prior to purchased goods.

• Determines the menu and prepares the individual meals for special diets such as diabetics, low fat, low cholesterol, low sodium and liquid.

• Prepares menu production sheets for each meal served; list task assignments necessary to prepare meal; records portion sizes and number of meals served.

SHERIFF’S CORRECTIONAL COOK II:
In addition to the level I duties, the level II also includes: 

• Instructs inmates in the process and preparation of meals, use of kitchen equipment, serving and staging the distribution of food in various sections of the jail, adherence to state cleanliness and sanitary standards.

• Reviews menus, production schedules and receipts, estimates number of meals to be served; determines if there are sufficient quantities of food ingredients; assures supplementary food items are available to provide additional meals as is necessary.

To view the complete classification descriptions, please visit the County of Monterey website:  
Sheriff's Correctional Cook I(Download PDF reader)
Sheriff's Correctional Cook II(Download PDF reader)

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
 Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Sheriff’s Correctional Cook I:
Working knowledge of: 

• Methods, procedures, cooking terms and equipment involved in the large-scale preparation of food.

• Health and safety hazards in institutional food preparation and of necessary precautionary measures.

• Methods, procedures and techniques of receiving, inspecting, storing and issuing food and supplies.

Skill and Ability to:

• Prepare and cook food in large quantities, serving approximately 1,200 meals or more per shift.

• Supervise, train and utilize inmate workers effectively and appropriately within a correctional facility environment.

• Coordinate a large volume of meals being served simultaneously at several locations within the Sheriff's Correctional Facility.

• Prepare modified diet plans and meals in accordance with Minimum Jail Standards nutritional requirements.

• Understand, follow and enforce specific, detailed instructions, rules and regulations.

• Read, understand and speak English in order to follow recipes and convey instructions to staff.

• Estimate in advance, the food and supply requirements for a non-stable population.

• Make arithmetical calculations in order to adjust recipe serving portions.

• Prepare and maintain appropriate records and reports.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and inmates.

Sheriff’s Correctional Cook II:
In addition to the level I knowledge, skills and abilities, the level II also includes:

Thorough knowledge of:

• Departmental rules and regulations necessary in the observation and control of the movement of inmates in restricted areas; issuance of sharp edge objects; and issues regarding personal and officer safety.

Working knowledge of: 

• Inventory control methods and procedures.

• Cost containment measure related to institutional food service.

Skill and Ability to:

• Practice safety and security measures while supervising, training and utilizing inmate workers effectively and appropriately within a correctional facility environment. 

• Proper use of handheld radios.

Examples of Experience/Education/Training

Any combination of training, education, and/or experience which provides for the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties listed above is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Sheriff’s Correctional Cook I:

Experience

Approximately two or more years of journey level work experience preparing, cooking and serving meals in large quantities in an institutional kitchen.

Sheriff’s Correctional Cook II

Experience

Approximately two or more years of journey level work experience preparing, cooking and serving meals in large quantities in an institutional kitchen.

AND

A minimum of nine months of work experience directly supervising; instructing and training adult inmates in food preparation and meal service.

Learn More & Apply Here

Salary: $3,735.00 - $5,099.00 Monthly

Opening Date: 04/21/2023

Final Filing Deadline: Open Filing Period

Exam: #23/80I16/04LA

Applications received after May 20, 2024, will be considered on an as needed basis until the position is filled.

The Sheriff 's Office is comprised of the Administration, Corrections and Enforcement Operation Bureaus. The Sheriff’s Office delivers public safety to the residents of Monterey County by providing 24-hour uniformed patrol, investigations, custody services, court security, and law enforcement support.

The Sheriff’s Records Specialist works in the Records Division of the Administration Operations Bureau. This non-sworn position works within a 24-hour, 7-day weekly schedule and independently performs complex specialized law enforcement records work requiring a working knowledge and application of law enforcement codes, vocabulary and procedures.

The ideal candidate will be flexible, adaptable, have strong customer service skills and able to communicate effectively; will demonstrate the ability to process various legal documents, get along with others and be a team player.

This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis.

Examples of Duties

• Maintains confidential criminal records related to law enforcement activity; operates, accesses, and queries multiple automated and manual criminal justice information systems and subsystems.

• Processes criminal records such as, warrant, subpoena, restraining order, criminal and traffic citation, felony and misdemeanor warrant, CLETS, NCIC and other criminal records.

• Relays information by telephone or radio, on individuals and vehicles, to officers in the field; and confirms warrant information to field officers for service.

• Reviews warrants, other court and legal documents to verify that information in accordance with applicable regulations, laws, and procedures.

• Transcribes and prepares sensitive reports dealing with highly emotional and often traumatic events.

• Updates information on the status of warrants, seals and purges records in compliance with court orders and state statutes, code citations, accidents, and other reports according to Uniform Crime Reporting standards.

• Audits information for accuracy and completeness and edits according to rules and regulations.

• Researches and compiles data for subpoena compliance, provides information to other law enforcement agencies, courts, attorneys, and the public in accordance with legal requirements governing the release of criminal record information and crime and incident reports.

• Responds to subpoenas and testifies in court or other legal hearings regarding law enforcement records.

• Compiles and prepares a variety of annual, quarterly and monthly reports.

• Sets court dates and identifies conflicts in scheduled court appearances and notifies involved parties.