Consumer Safety Inspector

Food Safety and Inspection Service•Edinburg, VA

About The Position

The Consumer Safety Inspector ensures that regulated establishments produce safe meat, poultry, and other regulated products by applying inspection methods, identifying and documenting noncompliance, and initiating enforcement action when warranted. The inspector verifies that establishments’ Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans meet regulatory requirements and are effectively implemented to prevent unsanitary conditions and product adulteration. This includes reviewing records, observing operations, conducting hands-on verification, assessing corrective and preventive actions, identifying trends, and determining whether regulatory control or enforcement is necessary. The position includes oversight of consumer protections such as preventing economic adulteration and misbranding, communicating regulatory requirements to plant managers and others, defending inspection determinations, resolving differences in interpretation, and advising agency personnel on inspection and enforcement matters. The inspector may conduct sampling, surveys, and tests for potential problem areas and industry trends, including health and safety testing for microbes, residues, or contaminants. Import-related duties include verifying compliance with Federal requirements, authorizing entry of compliant products, refusing noncompliant products, and coordinating with other Federal agencies. Shifts and species vary by assignment; an employee may be detailed to any shift at any plant in the Raleigh District. The work is performed in a hazardous environment and requires meeting specified physical and medical functional requirements.

Requirements

Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
Pass applicable background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
Successfully complete a one-year probationary period unless previously served.
Successfully complete a pre-employment medical examination and be at least 18 years of age.
Pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
Be able to read, speak, write, and communicate effectively in English.
Complete required training: begin within 90 days of the effective date of selection and successfully complete within 12 months.
Meet the specialized experience or qualifying education requirements for the applicable grade level. GS-05 requires 52 weeks of qualifying experience, or qualifying education or a combination; GS-07 requires one year of GS-05-equivalent specialized experience or qualifying graduate education or a combination; GS-08 requires one year of GS-07-equivalent specialized experience, including relevant inspection acts, SSOP/HACCP, sampling and testing methods, and interpretation of results; GS-09 requires one year of GS-08-equivalent specialized experience or qualifying graduate education or a combination.
Be physically and medically able to perform essential job functions without posing a direct threat to oneself or others.
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.
Be able to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 30 pounds, with occasional lifting up to 50 pounds.
Have upper-body manual dexterity, including arms, hands, and fingers, and a normal sense of touch in both hands.
Have good near and distance vision, be free of chronic eye disease, and have correctable vision of at least 20/40 in one eye; be able to distinguish shades of color.
Hearing loss or a need for hearing amplification is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Meet applicable assignment restrictions concerning family and personal relationships with regulated industry.

Responsibilities

Inspect regulated establishments to help ensure they produce safe products, using appropriate inspection methods.
Identify and document noncompliance with regulatory requirements and initiate enforcement action when warranted.
Verify that meat and poultry establishments’ SSOP and HACCP plans meet regulatory requirements and are effectively implemented.
Review records, observe plant operations, and perform hands-on verification of regulatory compliance.
Prepare detailed Non-Compliance Records and assess corrective or preventive actions, trends in noncompliance, and the need for regulatory control or enforcement.
Conduct regulatory oversight concerning consumer protections, including economic adulteration and misbranding.
Explain legal and regulatory requirements to plant managers, owners, and others; communicate and defend determinations and discuss plans for addressing noncompliance.
Work with others to resolve problems and clarify interpretations of HACCP, food safety, and consumer protection requirements.
Advise other agency inspectors, supervisors, and officers on relevant inspection and enforcement matters.
Conduct sampling, surveys, and tests to collect data on potential problem areas, industry trends, and other agency concerns.
Perform health and safety verification sampling and testing for microbes, residues, or contaminants.
Verify that meat and poultry products approved for import comply with Federal regulations; authorize entry of compliant products or refuse entry of noncompliant products.
Coordinate with other Federal agencies on matters such as animal health restrictions and refused-entry lots.

Benefits

$5,000 sign-on bonus, subject to a two-year service agreement, satisfactory performance and conduct, and agency staffing needs and budget availability.
$1,000 referral bonus, subject to eligibility criteria and restrictions.
Creditable service for annual leave accrual.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Accelerated promotion program, subject to training-plan completion and program requirements; promotion is not guaranteed.
Comprehensive Federal employee benefits package; specific eligibility depends on the type of position.

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