Dining Services III - CMHHIP - Full Time

Dining Services III - CMHHIP - Full Time

Salary

$3,698.00 - $5,176.00 Monthly

Location

Pueblo, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

IIB 06204 07/17/2026

Department

Colorado Department of Human Services

Division

OBH - CMHIP

Opening Date

07/17/2026

Closing Date

7/24/2026 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

Shanice.Hill@state.co.us

Primary Physical Work Address

In person at Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP) 1600 W 24th St, Pueblo, CO 81003.

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Department Information

Dining Services III - CMHHIP - Full Time

Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP)

1600 W 24th St, Pueblo, CO 81003

100% In-Person

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

This position is required to work at the assigned work location during your scheduled work times.

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Opt-in below to receive text message updates on CDHS recruiting events!

CDHSCareers

About us

As a cornerstone of the Pueblo community for over a century, the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo is a leading employer, provider of quality mental health services, and a community partner.

About the Nutrition Services department:

The Nutrition Services Department exists to provide quality food service and medical nutrition therapy to more than 1600 clients in a mental health care facility and the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC). With over 100 employees, the department strives, within available resources, to provide adequate nutrition to clients based on medical, spiritual, ethnic, cultural, and mental health needs

Description of Job

About this position:

The purpose of this position is to prepare and serve meals, snacks, and beverages for clients in a high and/or medium-security setting while adhering to federal, state, and local regulations. The position prepares food by using a variety of cooking methods such as grilling, baking, roasting, steaming, etc. with commercial food service equipment. Food is re-thermed, assembled, and portioned by dining services positions in the dining rooms. Position stores food in accordance with food safety guidelines and is responsible for cleaning equipment, production areas, and dishes while following proper safety and sanitizing guidelines. May be scheduled to work in the North Kitchen or dining rooms, based on business needs.

Production Cooking

• Prepares food by utilizing a variety of cooking methods.
• Follow standardized recipes, diets, cooking instructions, production sheets, tallies, and load slips to prepare meals, snacks and baked goods. In the preparation of recipes visually, inspect for correct consistency, color, and texture.
• During cooking, monitors and documents food temperatures following Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) guidelines.
• Operates and cleans commercial food equipment, following manufacturers guidelines and instructions for safe operation.
• Counts and portions of food items based on census per location.

Meal Preparation and Service

• Prepares and re-therms food and beverage products.
• Takes QA sample bags and stores for 72 hours until testing is completed.
• Cooks meals by using various cooking methods and equipment (i.e. combi-oven, griddle, conveyor toasters, etc.).
• Prepares meals in accordance to load slips and ensures food safety and sanitation guidelines are followed.
• Assembles and portions food items, snacks, sack meals, beverages and baked goods. Prepares sack lunches for clients as needed.
• The position also serves meals/snacks to CMHHIP patients in accordance with the meal report.
• The position is responsible for completing an inventory of supplies in their designated production area and orders supplies from North Kitchen as needed by using bread and milk order form.
• Receives supplies and stores them in the appropriate location based on the item being delivered (i.e. cold item, dry storage, chemicals, etc.) following First In First Out (FIFO) guidelines.
• Assists in the arrangement of a dining area/food service equipment; Assists in the production, transporting, and serving of food, as necessary.

Cleaning and Organization

• Scours and/or cleans counters, cabinets, tables, kitchen equipment, and fixtures in a food service unit.
• Washes dishes, utensils, pots and pans by using a dishwasher or 3-compartment sink. Cleans garbage cans and disposes of garbage.
• Pushes food carts to designated locations.
• Transports dishes, utensils, equipment, and supplies to and from proper storage areas; sets up tables, counters, and trays for service; clears tables and transports soiled dishes to the kitchen.
• Sweeps and dusts food service unit; washes, mops, and scrubs floors and washes walls (as assigned) in kitchen and serving areas.
• Responsible for maintaining supplies of detergents and other cleaning agents in designated areas.

Safety and Sanitation

• Follows policies and procedures regarding utensils counts, key monitoring, food auditing, operation and minor servicing of equipment.
• Applies proper sanitation techniques when cleaning production areas and equipment.
• Records dish machine wash and rinse temperatures.
• Documents knife counts, refrigeration temperatures and food temperatures on designated log sheets.
• Ensures all refrigerators and other log sheets are updated daily.
• Ensures IOJ and incident reports are completed in a timely manner.
• Follows food safety guidelines following federal, state, and department standards.
• Monitors and documents food temperatures, following HACCP guidelines.
• Maintains equipment and supplies needed in service area.

Training and Computer use

• Maintains active computer access to complete Cornerstone trainings.
• Attends yearly competency fair and completes mandatory hospital and departmental training.
• Completes timecards by payroll deadlines.
• Checks email correspondence at least one time per week. Log-in to TeamWorks to obtain the assigned schedule.

Others duties as assigned

• Other duties may be assigned or may be asked to work other units to ensure coverage

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed below to continue in the selection process for this position. Work experience must be specifically documented in the work experience section of your application. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two (2) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position

Substitutions:

None

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience working in a commercial or institutional setting, utilizing raw ingredients, following prescribed large-scale recipes to create meals or baked goods from scratch.

• Previous experience working as a cook in a high volume, batch production kitchen, following prescribed large-scale recipes, monitoring production schedules and maintaining inventory and supply orders.

• Experience in Corrections or high-security kitchen.

• Food Safety Certification

• Excellent customer service skills

• Basic computer skills

• Food service operations and the preparation and production of food

• Cleaning and sanitizing practices as they relate to food service operations

• Knowledge of safe food handling, and storage practices and regulations

• Knowledge of weights, measures, (e.g., food scales, measuring cups, and spoons), and food measurement techniques.

• Knowledge of the techniques used in mixing food (e.g., gelatin, pancake batter, salad dressing, scrambled eggs, etc.).

• Knowledge of cooking methods (e.g., frying, deep-fat frying, boiling, steaming, and baking).

• Knowledge of food safety related to handling and storing cooked foods, serving and storing temperatures and reading food thermometers.

Conditions of Employment:

• Full Background - Name and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification, Drug Screen, Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS

• Must be available for shift work

• Use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials

• Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal, or financial relationships with patients during or any time after hospitalization, even if the patient requests or initiates the relationship; all relationships with current or former patients must be disclosed on your application.

• Ability to read, write, and fluently communicate in English to successfully pass all modules of the CMHHIP New Employee Orientation core curriculum, relevant competency assessments, and institutional safety and security protocols.

• Demonstrate full body agility, limb strength, and the endurance to stand for extended periods, kneel, stoop, crouch, reach, climb stairs, and consistently transport heavy food carts or lift kitchen equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

• Maintain continuous visual and auditory acuity to monitor food safety metrics, observe dining room behavior, and immediately respond to potential safety breaches or missing contraband/utensils.

• Possess the operational ability to strictly execute facility-adopted food service production, re-therming, safety protocols, and rigorous sanitation mandates.

• Work compliantly in environments with fluctuating noise and extreme temperature variations, including concrete floor/wall settings, walk-in freezers, commercial ovens, and grills.

• Comply with mandatory emergency reporting requirements to ensure continuous facility operations during adverse situations.

• Must successfully complete a 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening upon hire and maintain compliance with annual influenza vaccinations and any other vaccinations required by the State of Colorado.

• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

• Disclose that information on the application.

• Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

• Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

CDHS Selection Process Explanation

Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:
• Relevant years of state service experience.

Minimum Qualification Screening Process

A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."

You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Comparative Analysis Process - Structured Application Review

After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.

Your Work Experience/Job Duties

Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.

If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

Supplemental Questions

Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

Appeal Rights

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.

• You can find the official appeal form here.

• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

• By email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), or

• Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or

• Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or

• Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

• At (303) 866-3300, or

• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Directors Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

Supplemental Information

How to apply to the State of Colorado(Youtube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)

The Assessment Process

About Us & Benefits

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dentalhealth plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center

• Employee Wellness program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment.

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries tocdhs_ada@state.co.us.

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a "Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a "Colorado for ALL" drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Support For Your Application

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agencys contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

The bottom of this job announcement provides links to additional information on how to apply, the assessment process, toll free applicant technical support, and about how the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. Please acknowledge below that you have read the information provided in these links.

• This information is available to me and I have read this information.
• I am unable to access the links with this information on the job posting. (If you select this option, please contact the recruiter, whose information is listed on this announcement, so that they can send this information directly to you.)

02

Your legal name is used in the hiring process for background checks. Did you use your full legal name in your application? If not, please update your information before submitting your application.

• Yes
• No

03

If you are a current or former State of Colorado employee, please list your employee number (starts with 997…). Your application may be considered incomplete if you do not provide this information. An incomplete application may not move forward in the Selection process. If you are a former or current state employee, please identify what state agency you work(ed) with and how many years of relevant state service you have related to the position you are applying for. (Ensure this is listed on your application under work experience).

04

Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application. In the space below, please explain why the prior termination or resignation should NOT disqualify your application from the current position.

05

This position may require you to float to different dining rooms on the Colorado Mental Health Hospital Campus (CMHHIP). Are you willing and able to work in multiple locations, including secure facilities?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have a food handlers or other food safety certification? If so, please upload or list certification on your application for verification purposes.

• CDPHE - Approved food safety certification (i.e Serve Safe, AAA food handler, 360 training, state food safety, NRFSP, Always food safe)
• Other food safety certification
• Detailed food safety training or experience
• Food safety knowledge
• Limited or no food safety experience

07

Describe your customer service experience.

08

How many years of experience do you have working in a commercial or institutional (High Security) setting?

• More than 5 years of experience
• 4 years + 1 day up to 5 years of experience
• 3 years + 1 day up to 4 years of experience
• 2 years + 1 day up to 3 years of experience
• Less than 2 years of experience

09

How many years of experience do you have working as a cook in a high volume, batch production kitchen, following prescribed large-scale recipes, monitoring production schedules, and maintaining inventory and supply orders?

• More than 5 years of experience
• 4 years + 1 day up to 5 years of experience
• 3 years + 1 day up to 4 years of experience
• 2 years + 1 day up to 3 years of experience
• Less than 2 years of experience

Required Question

Employer State of Colorado

Address See the full announcement by clicking

the "Printer" icon located above the job title

Location varies by announcement, Colorado, --

Website https://careers.colorado.gov/