Agriculture Compliance Specialist 1- Retail Food Safety
About The Position
The Agriculture Compliance Specialist 1 works within the Retail Food Program of the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Division. The program enforces state laws and regulations through sanitation inspections of licensed retail food establishments, including grocery and convenience stores, bakeries, seafood and salvage food operations, mobile meat trucks, and rolling stores. The specialist conducts random, unannounced inspections to assess compliance with Good Retail Practices and ensure food wholesomeness. Successful completion of retail standardization is required. The position conducts inspections and investigations, collects and transports samples for laboratory analysis, evaluates equipment and food handling practices, and reports compliance findings. It also involves managing an assigned territory, maintaining program knowledge and industry relationships, completing required forms, carrying out USDA Country of Origin Labeling contract work as directed, and maintaining state-issued equipment. The assigned territory requires the employee to reside in or relocate to Effingham, Bulloch, Candler, Evans, Tattnall, Toombs, Long, or Wayne County. The work includes inspections of facilities that process or package foods containing or potentially containing major food allergens. The role involves extended standing and walking, possible climbing, exposure to weather and varied temperatures, long travel days, lifting equipment weighing 30 pounds or more, and typing or repetitive movements. Flexibility may be needed for emergencies, outbreaks, and responses outside regular working hours, including nights and weekends.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, animal science, biology, chemistry, or a job-related area from an accredited college or university, or certification as a Registered Sanitarian or Environmental Health Specialist.
- Successfully complete retail standardization.
- Reside in or be willing to relocate to Effingham, Bulloch, Candler, Evans, Tattnall, Toombs, Long, or Wayne County.
- Flexibility to meet departmental needs for emergencies, outbreaks, and responses outside working hours, including nights and weekends.
- Ability to meet the physical demands of prolonged standing and walking, possible stair or ladder climbing, weather and temperature exposure, long travel days, lifting equipment weighing 30 pounds or more, and typing or repetitive movements.
Nice To Haves
- Two years of professional experience conducting inspections and investigations for compliance with established state and federal health and food and/or milk sanitation laws, rules, and regulations.
- Working knowledge of Windows computer operating systems and applications.
Responsibilities
- Inspect and investigate retail food establishments for compliance with applicable health and sanitation laws and regulations.
- Perform duties in compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
- Collect food samples, water samples, and environmental swabs for laboratory analysis.
- Transport samples to laboratories for analysis using prescribed methods and within required timeframes.
- Maintain working knowledge of current policies, laws, regulations, and guidance documents.
- Attend training sessions, meetings, and conferences.
- Verify the accuracy of scales.
- Check refrigeration equipment for proper operation.
- Check product packaging and labeling.
- Observe food facilities and employees.
- Ensure proper equipment cleaning procedures and proper handling of insecticides and sanitizing chemicals.
- Investigate food wholesomeness after disasters, including fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and transportation accidents.
- Plan, organize, and manage assigned territory, training, and program activities.
- Report compliance findings through the appropriate chain.
- Serve as a technical expert within the assigned program.
- Maintain working relationships with the food industry and related entities, including federal, state, and local agencies.
- Prepare and complete agency, state, and federal forms as required.
- Perform USDA Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) contract work as directed.
- Maintain state-issued equipment properly.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
