Cook, Wisconsin Veterans Homes - $3000 Sign-on Bonus

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs "Join our team and honor Wisconsin's veterans.” The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking multiple Cooks to join the food service teams at our Veterans Homes. The Homes are 24/7/365 skilled nursing, long-term care facilities that specialize in providing comfort, support, and professional healthcare services to elderly or disabled veterans and their spouses.

One position is available at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King (WVHK), on the picturesque shoreline of the Chain O'Lakes, off Highway 10 between Stevens Point and Appleton. NOTE: Work schedule information listed under Job Details was updated 10/06/2026. Three positions are available at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in Union Grove (WVHUG), in Racine County, a short drive from Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, and other key locations in southeastern Wisconsin.

NOTE: Work schedule information listed under Job Details was updated 10/06/2026. The list of eligible applicants created from this posting may be used to fill Cook vacancies that occur in the next six months. Sign-on bonus of $3000 for new hires who agree to remain in the position for one year. WDVA employees have access to an excellent benefit and compensation package that includes: Substantial leave time including 9 paid holidays and ample accrued sick time that rolls over each year Excellent and affordable health, dental, vision, and flexible spending account benefits An exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment, plus an optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan Wellness and Employee Assistance programs The Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program To learn more about State of Wisconsin’s complete compensation package, visit the Total Rewards Calculator !

Follow the link to see a video highlighting what working for the State of Wisconsin is all about ! This agency is committed to serving Wisconsin's veteran population. Our positions offer the satisfaction of serving those who have served us all. The State of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce .

Want to apply your cooking skills to provide delicious and nutritious meals to Wisconsin veterans? Cook 1: This entry-level position performs quantity cooking in a food service program. Cooks at this level receive training in nutrition, cooking techniques, food quality, safety and sanitation. The position prepares and monitors high-quality food items, using appropriate methods to preserve nutrient content and produce an appealing flavor and appearance, proper texture and consistency.

The incumbent also prepares food for special diets and guides the work of food service assistants. Click the link to request a copy of the full Cook 1 job description . Cook 2: This objective-level position independently performs the same functions as Cook

1. The incumbent applies expertise in nutrition, cooking techniques, and food quality, safety and sanitation standards and is responsible for maintaining compliance with these standards. The position also guides the work of team members at the Cook 1 level. Click the link to request a copy of the full Cook 2 job description .

Starting pay for Cook 1 is $21.39 per hour. Starting pay for Cook 2 is $23.07 per hour. The positions receive additional compensation for nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime. Cook 1 is in pay schedule-pay range 03-10. Cook 2 is in pay schedule-pay range 03-11. Pay will be set in accordance with the State of Wisconsin Compensation Plan in effect at the time of hire.

Pay for current State of Wisconsin employees may vary based on applicable provisions in the Compensation Plan.

The full-time Cook position currently available at the Veterans Home in King works a base schedule of 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Week 1: Sunday-Thursday, Week 2: Monday-Thursday and Saturday. Two full-time Cook positions are currently available at the Veterans Home in Union Grove: One works a base schedule of 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.

m., Week 1: Sunday-Monday and Wednesday-Friday, Week 2: Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday One works a base schedule of 5:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Week 1: Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday, Week 2: Sunday-Tuesday and Thursday- Friday The part-time (70%) position currently available at the Veterans Home in Union Grove will work either 5:30 a.

m. to 2:00 p.m. or 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., depending on the day, and will work every-other weekend. More information about the schedule will be provided during interviews. All duties are performed on site. Due to the nature of the positions, WDVA will conduct a criminal background check prior to an offer of employment.

Employment in this position is contingent upon passing a pre-employment tuberculosis (TB) skin test. A 12-month probationary period may be required.

Required qualifications that will be reviewed in the first step of the process are experience with: Food preparation (e.g., using appropriate methods; washing, cutting and storing raw materials; monitoring quality; inspecting for appearance, texture and consistency; assembling orders; disposing of excess; etc.) General cooking (e.

g., demonstrating proper equipment setup and usage; operating appliances, following recipes, monitoring consistency and color, adjusting recipes, using units and measurements; etc.) In addition to the qualifications reviewed in the first step of the process, qualifications that will be reviewed in next steps are experience: Following food safety and sanitation standards * Following and using recipes, units, and measurements * Communicating as a team member * With quantity cooking Using standard recipes and adjusting recipes Interpreting and preparing therapeutic diets Using industrial kitchen equipment (e.

g., combi ovens, steam kettles, grinders, etc.) Items marked with an asterisk ( * ) are requ ired. In addition to the above qualifications, the Cook 2 level requires experience: Independently managing work time and workload Training others Completion of an industry-standard food safety train ing course (e.g., Serv. Safe, U-Serve, etc.)

is desired.

You must apply online on Wisc. Jobs. Click the link to view instructions for Applying to State Service . You will be required to attach a resume. Attaching a letter of qualifications is recommended. To make it easier to apply, save your documents on Wisc. Jobs before attaching them with your application. Your resume and letter must describe your education, training, and experience related to the required and preferred qualification/s listed in the “Qualifications” section of the job announcement.

Click the link to view tips for writing and what to include in your resume and letter of qualifications . NOTE: You cannot update or change the documents once the application is submitted. Make certain that your attached documents are how you want them to be before you click Submit . Current permanent, classified state employees who are eligible for transfer or demotion into a position assigned to pay schedule-pay range 03-10 or 03-11, should complete the online application process.

What happens next? After the established deadline, resumes and letters will be reviewed by one or more job experts, and qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Failure to complete all steps of the online process, including submitting a resume and letter, will result in an incomplete application, which will not be considered.

The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30%-or-greater, service-connected disability rating, Veterans Non-competitive Appointment (VNCA). Click the link to view more information on the VNCA process and to apply for eligibility verification . Veterans who have applied and been verified through the VNCA job posting, Job ID 3375 , should email the contact below and mention your eligibility and interest in the position.

Current State of Wisconsin employees in permanent positions are not eligible for non-competitive appointment. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., a lawful permanent resident, or an alien authorized to work in the U.S. without WDVA sponsorship) at the time of appointment.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs does not sponsor work or student visas and is not an eligible OPT employer for those with F1 visas. WDVA participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with Form I-9 information for all new employees to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Questions can be directed to J Lea Roberts at jlea.

roberts@wisconsin.gov or 608-266-3344.

All application materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on October 15, 2026 .