Exam Bulletin - Correctional Food Manager I, DOC

Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation

Exam Code: EX-4496

Examination Plans Included:

  • CORRECTIONAL FOOD MANAGER I DEPT OF CORRECTIONS - Open

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

Bulletin Updates

  • Continous filing dates have been deleted.

Classification Details

CORRECTIONAL FOOD MANAGER I DEPT OF CORRECTIONS: $7,523.00 - $9,420.00 per Month

View the CORRECTIONAL FOOD MANAGER I DEPT OF CORRECTIONS classification specification.

Application Instructions

All applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for this examination by the cut-off date.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 9/2/2025
  • 10/1/2025
  • 11/3/2025
  • 12/1/2025
  • 1/2/2026
  • 2/2/2026
  • 3/2/2026
  • 4/1/2026
  • 5/1/2026
  • 6/1/2026
  • 7/1/2026

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.

Note: Check back periodically as cut-off dates may be added in the future. Additionally, cut-off dates are subject to change or be cancelled at any time. Such changes or cancellations will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules.

 

Results notices will be sent in 6-7 weeks following each cut-off date. Please contact Talent Acquisition at (279) 223-2700 if you have not received your notice after 7 weeks.

Who Should Apply:

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications as stated below.

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):

  • CORRECTIONAL FOOD MANAGER I DEPT OF CORRECTIONS - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    4496

For CORRECTIONAL FOOD MANAGER I DEPT OF CORRECTIONS, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-04496

How To Apply:

How to apply section: All applicants must complete and submit an Examination Application (STD. 678) and Qualifications Assessment 

 

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:

  • Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
    Talent Acquisition - Examination Services Unit
    P.O Box 942883
    Sacramento, CA 94283-0001

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:

  • Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
    Talent Acquisition - Examination Services Unit
    9825 Goethe Road, Suite 200
    Sacramento, CA 95827-3553
    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.

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.

00105477 - CORRECTIONAL FOOD MANAGER I DEPT OF CORRECTIONS

Education: Equivalent to completion of the eighth grade. and

Either 1
Experience: One year in the California state civil service performing the duties of an Assistant Correction Food
Manager (Department of Corrections).
Or 2
Experience: Three years in the California state civil service performing the duties of a Supervising Correctional
Cook (Department of Corrections).
Or 3
Experience: Four years of experience in the management of one or more large kitchens with responsibility for supervision of food service personnel and for the planning, preparation, and serving of meals for at least 300 persons per meal, three meals per day. (Additional education may be substituted for not more than two years of the required experience on the basis of two years of college being equal to one year of experience. Such education should have included major work in hotel, restaurant or institutional management, food and nutrition, or business administration.)

Experience in the California state civil service applied toward this requirement must include at least three years performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility not less than that of Supervising Correctional Cook (Department of Corrections).

OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE: A “completion of an out-of-class assignment” memorandum, dated within one year of assignment completion, is required to use as out-of-class experience to meet the minimum qualifications for examination purposes. Employees may obtain this documentation from his/her Institutional Personnel Officer/Personnel Liaison. Out-of-class experience without required documentation will not be considered for examination purposes.

Persons appointed to positions in this class series 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 inmates. Assignments include sole responsibility for the supervision of inmates and/or the protection of personal and real property.

Position Description

00105477 - CORRECTIONAL FOOD MANAGER I DEPT OF CORRECTIONS

A Correctional Food Manager 1, DOC is the third supervisory level in the series. As the manager of the institution's food services program, incumbents typically have responsibility for the overall management and supervision of an organized food program on a 24-hour basis in a complex facility; plan, direct, coordinate, and implement all food service activities. Incumbents in conjunction with the Business Manager, prepare budgets and quarterly food estimates; integrate the feeding program with other programs of the institution; select and train staff; evaluate their performance and take or recommend appropriate action; supervise custody staff assigned to culinary; dictate correspondence and prepare reports.

Sympathetic understanding of and willingness to work with the resident population of a State correctional facility; supervisory ability; personal cleanliness; good sense of smell and taste; and freedom from communicable diseases)

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Supplemental ReportWith Application100%

Components that are due with your application will be scored and will count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items may result in disqualification or elimination from the examination.

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

Qualifications Assessment for Correctional Food Manager 1, DOC is available from the CDCR website at: Correctional Food Manager I, Department of Corrections.

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:

Scope: Emphasis in the examination will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each candidate’s:

Knowledge of:
  1. Principles, procedures, and equipment used in the storage, care, preparation, cooking (including baking), dispensing, and serving food in large quantities.
  2. Kitchen sanitation and safety measures used in the operation, cleaning, and care of utensils, equipment, and work areas.
  3. Food handling sanitation.
  4. Food values as well as nutritional and economical substitutions within food groups.
  5. Food accounting.
  6. Use of purchase orders for food and equipment.
  7. Methods of cutting and preparing meat.
  8. Training methods.
  9. State laws governing procurement process, legal requirements that pertain to a food service operation as set forth by the Federal Drug Administration, United States Drug Administration, Department of Health Services, United States Drug Administration grading standards, and the United States Drug Administration commodity standards.
  10. Effective personnel management practices and planning.
  11. Specifications and plans for suitable buildings, working areas, and equipment for culinary departments.
  12. Department's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program objectives.
  13. A manager's role in the EEO Program, and the processes available to meet EEO objectives.

Ability to:
  1. Plan palatable and adequate menus.
  2. Plan, organize, and direct the work of others.
  3. Adjust rations to changing needs.
  4. Keep inventories and make requisitions.
  5. Use of appropriate equipment.
  6. Judge food quality.
  7. Prepare and cook all food groups.
  8. Determine food quantities necessary for groups of varying size.
  9. Direct the preparation of special diets (both medical and religious).
  10. Plan food production to schedule.
  11. Communicate effectively at a level required for successful job performance.
  12. Plan and conduct in-service training programs.
  13. Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
  14. Keep records and prepare reports.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the CORRECTIONAL FOOD MANAGER I DEPT OF CORRECTIONS Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation

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.

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.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Talent Acquisition - Examination Services Unit
9825 Goethe Road, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95827-3553
Phone: (279) 223-2700
HRCustomerConnect@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.

Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation 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.

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