FSQA NSIS Technologist

Smithfield Foods•Denison, IA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

As a valued member of our Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FS/QA) team, you’ll play a key role in maintaining the highest standards of food safety. You’ll conduct routine sanitation checks, ensuring that HACCP and USDA regulations are consistently followed. Your work will directly impact the safe delivery of our top-quality products from renowned brands like Smithfield, Eckrich, and Nathan’s Famous, all the way to our customers and consumers. In this role, you’ll be responsible for performing NSIS procedures. The New Swine Inspection System (NSIS), developed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is designed to create a more flexible, efficient, and fully integrated meat inspection system. Unlike traditional methods, NSIS shifts more control to the establishment, with Agency personnel focusing on carcass and verification activities. As an NSIS Technologist, you’ll conduct critical inspections of live hogs, heads, carcasses, and viscera. You’ll be on the front lines, identifying and controlling potential food safety hazards related to pathological conditions and contamination during processing, ensuring the safety and quality of our products every step of the way.

Requirements

High school diploma or general education degree (GED), required.
Ability to complete required applicable forms in English, which requires the ability to read and write in English.
Ability to follow written and verbal directions.
Ability to create and interpret technical documents (quality specs, safety rules, manuals).
Ability to use monitoring equipment.
Ability to work with software like spreadsheets, presentations, and word processing.
Strong written and verbal communication skills for reporting and addressing inquiries from customers or regulatory agencies.
Ability to make decisions.
Ability to problem-solve.
Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, fostering positive relationships and a team-oriented atmosphere.
Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Ability to perform repetitive tasks and stand for prolonged periods of time.
Specific vision includes close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Must be able to identify color properly to detect abnormalities.
Continually stand and use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
Must process fine motor skills and hand eye coordination for handling inspection tools, knives and detailed examinations.

Nice To Haves

2+ years’ experience (Harvest processing, USDA inspector, or FSQA) in a related field, preferred.
Bilingual skills are a valuable asset, allowing you to communicate effectively in diverse, multicultural environments and enhance team collaboration.
Strong understanding of quality assurance principles, food science, meat processing, and USDA regulations.
Ability to uphold regulatory and company standards while interpreting and applying corrective actions and regulatory expectations.

Responsibilities

Recognize and identify diseases, consumer concerns, and contamination in pork/swine, ensuring compliance with Federal Regulations, Directives, and Guidelines.
Ensure products meet RTC pork definitions, communicate with helpers to use the correct tags/markings, and verify inspection documentation with USDA officials and Plant Management.
Work with other departments to implement procedure changes, address non-compliance issues, and apply technical knowledge to prevent and resolve product/process failures.
Interpret customer specifications, apply subjective quality decisions (appearance, texture, etc.), and continuously improve product quality through attention to processes and ongoing improvements.
Conduct routine sanitation checks, ensuring that HACCP and USDA regulations are consistently followed.
Perform NSIS procedures, including critical inspections of live hogs, heads, carcasses, and viscera.
Identify and control potential food safety hazards related to pathological conditions and contamination during processing.