Consumer Safety Inspector

Food Safety and Inspection Service•Kapolei, HI

About The Position

The Consumer Safety Inspector ensures that regulated establishments produce safe meat and poultry products by conducting inspections, identifying and documenting noncompliance, and initiating enforcement action when warranted. The inspector verifies that establishment Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans meet regulatory requirements and are effectively carried out to prevent unsanitary conditions and product adulteration. This includes reviewing records, observing plant operations, conducting hands-on verification, preparing detailed Non-Compliance Records, assessing corrective and preventive actions, identifying trends, and determining whether regulatory control or enforcement action is necessary. The position also involves oversight of consumer-protection matters such as economic adulteration and misbranding; explaining regulatory requirements to plant managers, owners, and others; discussing food-safety programs; communicating and defending inspection determinations; and working with stakeholders to resolve differences in interpretation. Inspectors may advise other agency personnel on inspection and enforcement matters, conduct sampling and testing for microbes, residues, or contaminants, and oversee the importation of meat and poultry products. They authorize entry of products that comply with federal regulations or refuse entry of products that do not, coordinating as needed with other federal agencies. The work is performed in a hazardous environment and requires successful completion of required training and a pre-employment physical. Shifts and species vary by assignment. The position may be eligible for an accelerated promotion program and further career-ladder promotion, subject to successful completion of requirements and management recommendation.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Must read, speak, write, and effectively communicate in English.
Must complete required training beginning within 90 days of selection and successfully finish it within 12 months of selection.
Must pass a pre-employment medical examination and be physically and medically able to perform essential job functions.
Must pass applicable background investigation and/or fingerprint adjudication and complete a one-year probationary period unless previously served.
Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
GS-05 qualification: at least 52 weeks of qualifying experience involving knowledge of regulated food commodities or other ingestible products, or qualifying education or an allowable combination of education and experience.
GS-07 qualification: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05, including independently performing routine, recurring assignments, or qualifying directly related graduate education or an allowable combination.
GS-08 qualification: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, including experience with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts; basic SSOP and HACCP principles; basic mathematics and elementary statistical concepts for testing and sampling; and interpreting conclusions.
GS-09 qualification: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-08, including more independent work such as recommending refusal of exports or providing temporary coverage outside the official duty station, or qualifying graduate education or an allowable combination.
Must meet the physical requirements, including full range of motion for repetitive twisting and overhead arm work; ability to stand and walk on slippery or uneven floors and catwalks and climb stairs and ladders; ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds; upper-body manual dexterity and normal touch in both hands; and qualifying vision and color discrimination.
Hearing loss or use of hearing amplification is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Must comply with assignment restrictions concerning family and personal relationships with regulated industry.

Nice To Haves

Qualifying experience in consumer safety inspection, food inspection, public health inspection, quality inspection, or similar work involving sampling, quality control, and sanitation in food production or a comparable environment.
Experience collecting samples or performing field tests and examinations, identifying product or production-environment abnormalities, and recommending corrective actions.
Experience preparing written reports or communicating findings orally and maintaining effective contacts with internal or external stakeholders.
Education in agricultural, biological, or physical sciences; food technology; epidemiology; home economics; pharmacy; engineering; or nutrition may qualify at applicable grade levels.
Specialized government or military training directly related to the position may be creditable.
A directly related master's degree or two years of directly related graduate education may qualify for GS-09.

Responsibilities

Inspect regulated establishments to ensure they produce safe products and comply with regulatory requirements.
Verify that meat and poultry establishment SSOPs and HACCP plans meet regulatory requirements and are effectively implemented.
Review records, observe plant operations, and conduct hands-on verification of compliance.
Document noncompliance in detailed Non-Compliance Records and determine whether regulatory control or enforcement action is warranted.
Assess corrective and preventive actions for acceptability and effectiveness and identify trends in noncompliance.
Conduct regulatory oversight of consumer-protection matters, including economic adulteration and misbranding.
Explain legal and regulatory requirements to plant managers, owners, and other contacts, and discuss establishment food-safety programs.
Communicate and defend determinations on noncompliance and work with individuals to resolve problems and differences in interpretation.
Advise other agency inspectors, supervisors, and officers on relevant inspection and enforcement matters.
Conduct sampling, surveys, and tests to obtain data on potential problem areas, industry trends, and other agency interests.
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 or refuse entry as appropriate.
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 applicable conditions.
Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual may be available.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Referral bonus awards of $1,000 may be available, subject to eligibility and criteria.
Accelerated Promotion Program may be available to eligible Consumer Safety Inspectors.
Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees.

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