Consumer Safety Inspector

Food Safety and Inspection Service • Idaho Falls, ID

8d • Onsite

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 actions 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 adulterated products. The role includes reviewing records, observing plant operations, performing hands-on verification, assessing corrective and preventive actions, and identifying patterns of noncompliance.

The inspector conducts oversight related to other consumer protections, including economic adulteration and misbranding. The role involves explaining regulatory requirements to plant managers, owners, and others; communicating and defending inspection determinations; collaborating to resolve differing interpretations; and advising other agency personnel on inspection and enforcement matters. The inspector also conducts sampling, surveys, and tests, including tests for microbes, residues, and contaminants.

The position also covers inspection of imported meat and poultry products. The inspector authorizes entry of products that comply with federal regulations or refuses entry of noncompliant products, coordinating with other federal agencies when needed. The employee primarily works in one plant but may be detailed to any shift at any plant in the Denver District; shifts and species vary by assignment. The work is performed in a hazardous environment and requires successful completion of job-related training and a pre-employment medical examination.

Requirements

• U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be able to read, speak, write, and effectively communicate in English.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Must pass background investigation and/or fingerprint check, E-Verify employment verification, and a pre-employment medical examination.
• Must complete a one-year probationary period unless previously served.
• Must begin required training within 90 days of selection and successfully complete it within 12 months of selection.
• Must meet the specialized experience or qualifying education requirements for the applicable grade level. Experience requirements vary by grade from 52 weeks of qualifying experience at GS-05 to one year of experience at the next lower grade for GS-07, GS-08, and GS-09.
• For GS-08, specialized experience includes working 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.
• For GS-09, experience is expected at a more independent level and may include recommending refusal of exports and providing temporary coverage outside the official duty station.
• Must be physically and medically able to perform essential job functions safely, including repetitive twisting, working with arms above shoulder level, standing and walking on slippery or uneven floors and catwalks, and climbing 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 and a normal sense of touch in both hands.
• Must have good near and distance vision, correctable to at least 20/40 in one eye, and the ability to distinguish shades of color; significant color blindness may be disqualifying.
• Hearing loss or use of hearing amplification is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Responsibilities

• Inspect regulated establishments to help ensure they produce safe products, using appropriate inspection methods.
• Determine and document noncompliance with regulatory requirements and initiate enforcement actions when warranted.
• Verify that establishment SSOP and HACCP plans meet regulatory requirements and are effectively implemented.
• Review records, observe plant operations, and conduct hands-on verification of regulatory compliance.
• Assess corrective and preventive actions, identify trends in noncompliance, and determine whether regulatory control or enforcement action is warranted.
• Conduct regulatory oversight concerning consumer protections such as economic adulteration and misbranding.
• Explain legal and regulatory requirements and discuss establishments’ SSOP, HACCP plans, and other food safety programs with plant personnel.
• Communicate and defend determinations on noncompliance and discuss plans for addressing it.
• Work with others to resolve problems and differences in interpretation 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 gather data on potential problem areas, industry trends, and other agency concerns.
• Perform health and safety verification sampling and tests for microbes, residues, and contaminants.
• Verify that imported meat and poultry products comply with applicable federal regulations.
• Authorize entry of compliant meat or poultry products or refuse entry of products that do not meet admission requirements.
• Coordinate with other federal agencies on matters such as animal health restrictions and refused-entry lots.

Benefits

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is available.
• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

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