Agricultural Commodity Grader I

State of Maryland • Baltimore County, MD

12h • Onsite

About The Position

The Maryland Department of Agriculture, a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services, plant and pest management, and resource conservation, is seeking an Agricultural Commodity Grader I. This role is part of the Food Quality Assurance Program, which ensures consumers receive safe, high-quality agricultural food products through inspections, audits, registrations, and certifications. This position is emergency essential, requires flexibility for rotating day or night shifts (typically 7:00 am-5:00 pm for day shift and 4:30 pm-3:30 am for night shift), and U.S. Citizenship is required for USDA licensing. Positions are available in Baltimore County and on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, with primary duties within designated regions but potential for occasional work outside assigned areas for training and coverage. The main purpose of this job is to certify compliance of poultry samples with established standards for grade, weight, labeling, and buyer specifications, ensuring uniform marketing and buyer satisfaction.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
• One year of successful progressively responsible technical experience in a phase of sampling, testing, marketing, grading or inspecting agricultural products.
• U.S. Citizenship is required to obtain required USDA licensing.
• Possession of a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.
• Must obtain the appropriate commodity grader license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, after a period of training, and within three months of appointment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in an industrial, manufacturing, or processing environment with exposure to raw food products, chemicals, temperature extremes, odors, heavy machinery, or slippery floors, or requirements to wear personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Experience in any phase of sampling, testing, marketing, grading, or inspecting agricultural products.
• Experience working on a farm or ranch, including internships and volunteer work.

Responsibilities

• Select, evaluate, and document results for samples of poultry accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with established standards.
• Evaluate safety hazards, document findings, and take appropriate action in accordance with established standards and procedures.
• Retain product or prohibit processing of USDA shielded product based on safety hazards, labeling, and/or sampling results and maintain control of retained product.
• Review documents, regulations, procedure updates, memos, and specifications from Maryland Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, and other agencies; maintain files/handbooks and initiate action to implement as required.
• Complete and submit required documents (certificates, volume reports, time sheets, work assignment sheets, charge sheets, etc.) accurately and in accordance with established requirements.
• Effectively communicate with plant management, MDA supervisor and other MDA employees, industry personnel/management, wholesale, retail and food service management, federal supervisors, consumers, etc., concerning regulations, technical grading standards, procedures, and non-compliances.
• Provide prompt and dependable coverage of assigned shifts and other duties as assigned in accordance with established procedures.
• Provide effective training and education concerning poultry standards & quality factors to plant employees, other MDA employees, students, and the general public.
• Successfully complete available training to maintain professional standards in accordance with the training plan.
• Oversee and coordinate grading activities at poultry processing plants to ensure specification requirements are met.

Benefits

• Subsidized health benefits coverage for employees and their dependents (75% paid by the State).
• Option to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance (employee pays full premium).
• Leave granted at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED