COOK SPECIALIST I

$3,799.00 - $4,656.00 per Month New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 9/14/2026

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team at the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). We advocate with purpose and passion every day for our state’s veterans and their families and connect them to their earned benefits. We offer a range of services, from our network of award-winning veterans' homes to our innovative home loans program. Additionally, we provide special statewide benefits and veteran outreach services.

CalVet provides our staff with a wide range of fulfilling and enriching growth opportunities in skilled trades, healthcare, administrative and professional fields, and beyond. We actively cultivate an inclusive atmosphere that embraces individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life journeys, empowering them to excel and flourish. We enthusiastically welcome your distinctive contributions to our organization and the meaningful work we undertake.

This position is located in the Dietary & Food Service Department of the Veterans Home of California- Fresno and is responsible to assist in preparing, cooking, and dispensing food for the residents, employees and visitors of a Veterans Home; care for culinary equipment, supplies, and work areas; work with other culinary employees; and perform other related work as assigned.

We especially encourage veterans to apply utilizing CalVet’s Veterans Hiring Preference (please refer to the Special Requirements section below) and the state’s Veterans Preference program.

Please note: You will need to take and pass an examination for Cook Specialist I to establish list eligibility prior to job offer. Please visit for more information.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Working overtime is a requirement of this position. Employees of CalVet will be required to follow state or county public health guidelines and requirements enacted in accordance with infectious disease prevention and control.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• COOK SPECIALIST I

COOK SPECIALIST I $3,799.00 - $4,656.00 A New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Telework: In Office

Facility: VHC-F Human Resources

Work Shift: To be determined

Work Week: To be determined

Department Information

The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) works to serve California veterans and their families. With nearly 1.6 million veterans living in the State, CalVet strives to ensure that its veterans of every era and their families get the state and federal benefits and services they have earned and deserve as a result of selfless and honorable military service. CalVet strives to serve veterans and their families with dignity and compassion and to help them achieve their highest quality of life.

Veterans may qualify for a CalVet Veterans Hiring Preference. Military service must be included in the Employment History section of the Employment Applications (STD. 678). The application package must include documentation of discharge, appropriate to the branch of service. The documentation must reflect a discharge/release under conditions other than dishonorable. If the candidate fails to include this information then the CalVet Veterans Hiring Preference shall not be granted in the recruitment.

Successful completion of a live scan and a pre-employment physical (including drug testing for certain civil service classifications) will be required.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website:

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact: EEO Office

California Relay Service: (TTY), (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.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free 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.