Consumer Safety Inspector

Food Safety and Inspection Service • Newport News, VA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Consumer Safety Inspector ensures that regulated establishments produce safe meat and poultry products by applying inspection methods, identifying and documenting regulatory noncompliance, and initiating enforcement action when warranted. The inspector reviews records, observes plant operations, and conducts hands-on verification to assess compliance with federal requirements and whether establishments’ Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans meet requirements and effectively prevent unsanitary conditions and product adulteration.

The role includes assessing corrective and preventive actions, identifying trends in noncompliance, conducting oversight related to other consumer protections such as economic adulteration and misbranding, and communicating regulatory requirements and inspection findings to plant representatives and agency colleagues. Inspectors perform sampling, surveys, and tests for potential problem areas, including health and safety testing for microbes, residues, and contaminants.

For import assignments, the inspector verifies that meat and poultry products comply with federal import regulations, authorizes entry of compliant products, refuses entry of products that do not meet requirements, and coordinates with other federal agencies on matters such as animal health restrictions and refused-entry lots. Shifts and species vary by assignment, and employees may be detailed to any shift at any plant in the Raleigh District. The position has promotion potential to GS-9, subject to completing a development plan and management recommendation; promotion is not guaranteed. Training is required and must begin within 90 days of selection and be completed within 12 months.

Requirements

• U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Must be able to read, speak, write, and effectively communicate in English.
• Must begin required training within 90 days of the effective date of selection and successfully complete it within 12 months.
• Subject to satisfactory background investigation and/or fingerprint check; successful completion of a one-year probationary period unless previously served.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment medical examination and E-Verify employment verification check.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service System or be exempt from registration.
• Must use direct deposit for federal payments.
• GS-5 qualification: at least 52 weeks of qualifying experience involving knowledge of regulated food commodities or other products for human consumption, including relevant sampling or field testing, reporting findings, maintaining contacts, or making determinations against standards; qualifying education or a combination of education and experience may substitute as described in the posting.
• GS-7 qualification: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5, including independently carrying out routine, standard assignments on a regular and recurring basis; directly related graduate education or a combination may qualify as described in the posting.
• GS-8 qualification: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7, including experience with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts; basic SSOP and HACCP principles; basic mathematics and elementary statistics for testing and sampling; and interpreting conclusions.
• GS-9 qualification: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-8, with work at a more independent level, potentially including recommending refusal of exports and providing temporary coverage outside the official duty station; qualifying graduate education or a combination may substitute as described in the posting.
• Must be physically and medically able to perform essential job functions without posing a direct threat to self or others.
• Must have full range of motion for rapid repetitive twisting and working with arms above shoulder level; be able to stand and walk on slippery or uneven floors and catwalks and climb stairs and ladders.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 30 pounds, with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
• Must have upper-body manual dexterity, including arms, hands, and fingers, with normal sense of touch in both hands.
• Must have good near and distance vision, be free of chronic eye disease, and have correctable vision of at least 20/40 in one eye; must distinguish shades of color. Significant color blindness may be disqualifying.
• Hearing loss and/or need for hearing amplification will be assessed case by case.
• Must comply with FSIS assignment restrictions concerning family and personal relationships and gifts from regulated industry.

Responsibilities

• Apply inspection methods at regulated establishments to ensure production of safe products.
• Determine and document noncompliance with regulatory requirements and initiate enforcement action when warranted.
• Verify that establishments’ SSOPs and HACCP plans meet regulatory requirements and effectively prevent unsanitary conditions and product adulteration.
• Review records, observe operations, and conduct hands-on verification of regulatory compliance.
• Prepare detailed records of regulatory noncompliance.
• Determine whether regulatory control action is necessary and assess whether corrective or preventive actions are acceptable and effective, whether noncompliance trends exist, and whether enforcement is warranted.
• Conduct plant oversight related to other consumer protections, including economic adulteration and misbranding.
• Explain legal and regulatory requirements to plant managers, owners, and others; discuss plant SSOPs, HACCP plans, and other food safety programs.
• Communicate and defend noncompliance determinations and discuss plans for addressing noncompliance.
• Work with others to resolve problems and clarify differences in interpretation of HACCP, food safety, and consumer protection requirements.
• Advise other agency inspectors, supervisors, and officers on inspection and enforcement matters.
• Perform sampling, surveys, and tests to collect data on potential problem areas, industry trends, and other agency concerns.
• Conduct health and safety verification sampling and testing for microbes, residues, or contaminants.
• Verify that products approved for import comply with applicable federal regulations.
• Authorize entry of compliant meat or poultry products or refuse entry of products that violate admission requirements.
• Coordinate with other federal agencies on animal health restrictions and refused-entry lots.

Benefits

• $5,000 sign-on bonus, subject to a signed two-year service agreement and satisfactory performance and conduct.
• Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual may be available.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program information is provided.
• A $1,000 referral bonus may be available to eligible employees under stated conditions.
• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed