Exam Bulletin - Food Administrator I, Correctional Facility

California Correctional Health Care Services

Exam Code: EX-2331

Examination Plans Included:

  • FOOD ADMINISTRATOR I (CORRECTIONAL FACILITY) - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
In Person (see bulletin for details)

Bulletin Updates

  • A Recompete period has been changed on an Exam Plan.

Classification Details

FOOD ADMINISTRATOR I (CORRECTIONAL FACILITY): $7,326.00 - $9,173.00 (P) per Month

View the FOOD ADMINISTRATOR I (CORRECTIONAL FACILITY) classification specification.

Application Instructions

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 2/3/2025
  • 3/3/2025
  • 4/1/2025
  • 5/1/2025
  • 6/2/2025
  • 7/1/2025
  • 8/1/2025
  • 9/2/2025
  • 10/1/2025
  • 11/3/2025
  • 12/1/2025

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will be processed in the next group.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • FOOD ADMINISTRATOR I (CORRECTIONAL FACILITY) - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 3 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2331

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

You may apply by mail to:

  • California Correctional Health Care Services
    Examination Services Section
    PO Box 588500, Personnel D-1
    Elk Grove, CA 95758

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

  • California Correctional Health Care Services
    Examination Services Section
    8280 Longleaf drive
    Building D - Lobby Drop Box
    Elk Grove, CA 95758
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

Applications MUST include “to” and “from” dates (month/day/year), time base, civil service class title(s), and range (if applicable) for all work experience. College course information MUST include title, number of semester or quarter units, name of institution, completion dates, and degree (if applicable). Applications received without this information may have delays in processing and/or may be rejected.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00102153 - FOOD ADMINISTRATOR I (CORRECTIONAL FACILITY)

Either I

One year of experience in California state service performing the duties of a Dietitian.

Or II
One year of experience in a hospital as a dietitian, nutritionist, or food service manager, with responsibility for the technical direction of a group of diet pantry employees. And


Education: Equivalent to graduation from college and completion of an approved internship in institutional management or dietetics. (Membership in the American Dietetic Association or eligibility for such membership may be substituted for the required internship.)

Or III
Experience: Three years of experience as a dietitian, nutritionist, or food service manager with responsibility for the technical direction of a group of dietary unit employees, one year of which must have been under the supervision of a professionally trained dietitian. And


Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Foods, Nutrition, or Institution Management.

Special Personal Characteristics: Sympathetic understanding of and willingness to work with the resident population of a State correctional facility; personal cleanliness; good sense of smell and taste, and freedom from communicable diseases.

Special Physical Characteristics: Persons appointed to positions in this class must be reasonably expected to have and maintain sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during stressful (physical, mental and emotional) situations encountered on the job without compromising their health and well-being or that of their fellow employees or that of incarcerated persons.


Assignments during tour of duty may include sole responsibility for the supervision of incarcerated persons and/or the protection of personal and real property.

State Civil Service Out of Class Experience:  A completion of an “out-of-class (OOC) assignment memorandum”, dated within one year of assignment completion, is required to use OOC experience to meet the minimum qualifications for examination purposes.  Employees may obtain this documentation from their Classification and Pay Analyst or institutional Personnel Liaison.  OOC experience without the required documentation cannot be considered for examination purposes.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) are committed to building an inclusive and culturally diverse workplace. We are determined to attract and hire more candidates from diverse communities and empower all employees from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts to increase representation at all levels of the Department.

CDCR/CCHCS values all team members.  We work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population, which includes medical, dental, nursing, mental health, and pharmacy.  We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR/CCHCS mission.

Commitment to CA Model: CDCR and CCHCS are proud to partner on the California Model which will transform the correctional landscape for our employees and the incarcerated. The California Model is a systemwide change that leverages national and international best practices to address longstanding challenges related to incarceration and institution working conditions, creating a safe, professional, and satisfying workplace for staff as well as rehabilitation for the incarcerated. Additionally, the California Model improves success of the decarcerated through robust re-entry efforts back into the community.

Position Description

00102153 - FOOD ADMINISTRATOR I (CORRECTIONAL FACILITY)

Food Administrator I (Correctional Facility), under direction, either (1) in a small State correctional facility, plans, directs, and coordinates, all food service and dietary activities; or (2) in a large State correctional facility plans, organizes, and directs the therapeutic diet program; organizes and conducts training programs for food service personnel; assists in the administration of the food service department; maintains order and supervises the conduct of incarcerated persons, wards, residents, or patients; protects and maintains the safety of persons and property; and does other related work.

Positions exist statewide. 

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Education/ExperienceN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:

1. Principles and practices of nutrition and dietetics;

2. Food-handling sanitation and the sanitation and safety measures used in the operation, cleaning, and care of utensils, equipment, and work areas;

3. Effective personnel management practices;

4. Food accounting;

5. Use of purchase orders for food and equipment;

6. Preparation and use of recipes in a food control program;

7. Principles and practices of quantity cooking;

8. Training methods;

9. Specifications and plans for suitable buildings, working areas, and equipment for culinary departments;

10. Department’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program objectives;

11. A manager’s role in the EEO Program and the processes available to meet EEO objectives.

 

Skill in:

1. Judging food quality.

 

Ability to:

1. Apply the principles and practices of nutrition and dietetics;

2. Plan, organize, and direct the work of others;

3. Adjust rations to changing needs;

4. Keep inventories and make requisitions;

5. Apply the principles and practices of quantity cooking; 

6. Plan and conduct in-service training programs;

7. Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action;

8. Keep records and prepare reports;

9. Effectively contribute to the Department’s EEO objectives.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the FOOD ADMINISTRATOR I (CORRECTIONAL FACILITY) Classification will be established for:

  • California Correctional Health Care Services

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Testing Departments

  • California Correctional Health Care Services

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Correctional Health Care Services
Examination Services Section
PO Box 588500, Personnel D-1
Elk Grove, CA 95758
Phone: (916) 691-5894
CPHCSSelectionServices@cdcr.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California 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.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

California Correctional Health Care Services reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Alternate Application Process

While we recommend that you utilize your CalCareer Account to take advantage of all the tools available, you may choose to apply for this examination without using your account. In this case, print and complete the Exam Application Package Checklist and include it if you submit a hard copy application.

Exam Application Package Checklist

Blank Application Form (STD678)

Accommodation Request (STD679)