Equipment Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Houston, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Environmental Specialist IV position within the Milk Operations Branch (MOB) working under the limited direction of the MOB Manager with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Serves as Team Lead for the Branch and is responsible for all Operations work for the Branch to include policy review and development, statewide standardization of inspection procedures, quality assurance of inspection reports and sampling, ensuring inspections and sampling frequencies are met, and coordination with external partners. May plan, assign, review the work of others. Serves as a Subject Matter Expert for equipment and as a trainer and resource for other consumer protection division staff on equipment, statutes, regulations, and up-to-date information related to Milk and Dairy products. Provides technical supervision and consultative guidance to field staff and provides training assistance for the Sampling Program, Industry Sealer Program, and staff meetings. Provides support in plan reviews of milk and dairy facilities. Provides support in developing rules and revisions to Milk and Dairy rules. Responsible for Quality Assurance review of all laboratory and inspection reports. Reviews for Quality Assurance (QA) of data entry work performed by administrative staff using the Regulatory Automated System (RAS) and VERSA for recording sampling, inspection, and regulatory activities under the auspices of MOB. Maintains record keeping in conjunction with sanitation ratings of IMS Grade A facilities. Assists in the tabulation and development of Legislative Budget Board (LBB) program numbers related to performance measures established by the legislature. Coordinates programming and network modifications with IT staff as necessary to maintain data entry systems. Acts as a point-of-contact for complaints, open records requests, detentions, and destructions. Responsible for supporting issuance of warning letters and related compliance or enforcement notices. Evaluates evidence and recommends, prepares, and presents enforcement cases to the Enforcement Review Committee (ERC). May testify in court cases as an expert witness. Responsible for assisting stakeholders in obtaining a milk and dairy license. Responsible for receiving customer complaints related to milk and dairy producer, manufacturing plants or dairy farms. Engages with stakeholders and customers regarding questions about regulatory aspects of Milk and Dairy in Texas, including responding to open records requests. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to providing back up to the MOB Milk and Dairy Group Manager in Austin, assisting in managing the annual work plan. Actively participating and/or serving in a supportive role to meet the agency objectives and needs for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location on a temporary basis.

Requirements

• Extensive knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning the regulation of milk and dairy products.
• Knowledge of policies, procedures, standards equipment and methodologies for conducting all inspections and surveys of milk and dairy products including dairy farms, transport tankers, and pasteurization plants.
• Knowledge of administrative functions of the milk program and Departmental policy, administrative rules and practices.
• Skill in interpretation of highly technical federal regulations.
• Skill in time management and planning activities.
• Skill in verbal and written communications and the ability to communicate intelligently with program staff, regulated industry, trade associations, and the public.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate regulatory requirements for emerging and complex technologies.
• Ability to prepare concise reports and to organize and express ideas effectively in writing.
• Ability to make decisions and establish and maintain sound interpersonal relationships with staff members and the public.
• Ability to establish and implement project goals and objectives.
• Ability to meet deadlines and establish priorities.
• Ability to analyze and solve administrative and work-related problems.
• Ability to represent the Department at national and/or state meetings, etc. at which complex health physics issues are presented, discussed, and solved.
• Must be currently registered as a Sanitarian with the State of Texas or current National Accreditation as a Sanitarian.
• Bachelor’s Degree with an emphasis on natural sciences.
• Minimum of 3 years field experience performing inspections of dairy operations and milk processing faculties, conducting sampling surveillance, and testing of pasteurization equipment.

Responsibilities

• Reviews equipment plans.
• Trains inspectors on pasteurization systems and serves as subject matter expert for pasteurization equipment tests.
• Commissions pasteurization systems.
• Monitor, review and ensure inspection reports are logged into the appropriate database, review and monitor laboratory sample results and provide notice(s) as necessary to inspectors, dairy operators and farms as required.
• Enter submit required administrative reports.
• Conduct quality assurance review of inspection reports.
• Conduct quality assurance review of inspected facilities.
• Maintain licensing, sampling, and inspection records.
• Respond to Open Record Requests and Requests for Information.
• Prepares cases for enforcement.
• Issues warning letters to milk and dairy licensees as necessary to provide notice of violations.
• Provide oversight and QA for data entry and coordination of LBB reports.
• Support the investigations of sanitation ratings of IMS Grade A Milk facilities; including producer dairy BTU's; milk transfer stations; milk processing; and container/packaging manufacturing plants.
• Conduct Sampling Surveillance activities statewide as needed.
• Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.
• Acts as the Milk Operations Branch program manager in the manager’s absence.

Benefits

• insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior