Job Description

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Department of Human Services (DHS) merged on July 1, 2022, to form one agency, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). We are seeking a Cook to join the team at the Cherokee Mental Health Institute (CMHI). This is a temporary position with varied hours between 5:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday and rotating weekends and holidays. This temporary appointment is limited to less than 780 hours per fiscal year and provides opportunity for growth and advancement.

As a Cook at Cherokee, you will prepare food for clients and staff. We’ll need you to complete pre-prep, cook various menu items according to recipe directions, handle needed modifications and monitor food to ensure service and storage at safe temperatures. Other duties include portioning prepared food items for serving or transporting, preserving food for future use, accurately documenting information and always utilizing safe food handling procedures. Cleanliness is a high priority and as a Cook, you will be expected to set a high standard of sanitizing equipment, utensils, all surfaces and the general work area. Our Cooks work as part of a team in the dietary department and should expect to gain experience in all areas of the kitchen.

CMHI provides active inpatient treatment to adults, adolescents and children in need of acute psychiatric care. The facility offers several services including individualized treatment plans. Support for children and adolescent patients to continue their education is provided, and individuals are encouraged to collaborate with staff members in formulating their own plan.

If you would like to use your skills on a team that helps set the foundation for connecting adults, children, and families to mental health services and long-term care, this could be a great opportunity for you!

Please Note: Under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services new vaccine mandate for healthcare workers (published on November 5, 2021 and affirmed by the United States Supreme Court on January 13, 2022), all potential employees of this facility must have received, at a minimum, the first dose of a primary series or a single dose vaccine OR have an approved religious or medical exemption (as determined by the agency) OR have documentation reflecting a temporary delay in vaccination (as determined by the agency in accordance with CDC allowances), prior to the start date. Candidates shall coordinate with agency staff to ensure all requirements are met before the individual provides any care, treatment or other services for the facility and/or its clients.

Cherokee Highlights

CMHI is located in Cherokee, Iowa, a city of approximately 5,000 located in the beautiful Little Sioux River Valley in Northwest Iowa. Enjoy fishing and canoeing on the Little Sioux River that winds through town, providing a backdrop to a well-developed parks and trails system. In addition, Cherokee has over 1,000 acres of land devoted to parks for things like camping, hiking, and horseback riding. Cherokee is the home of the first accredited museum and planetarium in Iowa, Sandford Museum and Planetarium, established in 1951. Cherokee may be the smallest town in the world to have its own symphony orchestra! This 60-member orchestra has been referred to as the “best kept secret in Northwest Iowa.”

Cherokee is 1 hour from Sioux City, 2 hours from Omaha, and 2 ½ hours from Des Moines, home to Wells Fargo Arena (host site of NCAA Basketball and premier concerts) and Lauridsen Skatepark, the nation’s largest public skate venue. Additionally, Des Moines has one of the nation’s finest State Fairs and is home to professional sports teams the Iowa Cubs and Iowa Wolves. Check out these 10 Reasons to Move to Iowa.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages foster youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are also encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

This is a temporary non-merit position with the Iowa Department of Human Services -Mental Health Institute (Cherokee).

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Experience equal to one year of full-time quantity food production in a commercial, military, hospital, or institutional setting;

successful completion of a military, vocational, or community college program in commercial cooking; employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to six months of full-time work as a Food Service Worker.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description (Download PDF reader).