Grain Inspector 1

State of Washington • Cowlitz County – Other, WA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Agriculture's Commodity Inspection Division provides unbiased third-party inspections for a wide variety of Washington State Agricultural products and assists agricultural companies in the movement and exporting of their products. The Grain Inspection Program specifically provides sampling, weighting, quality testing, grade inspection, and phytosanitary services for grains and commodities to facilitate grain movement. These services are available on request, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at various inspection offices. This position reports directly to a Grain Inspection Supervisor and involves weighing and certifying grains and/or commodities, checking ship holds and containers for fitness to load, and drawing samples from hazardous areas like railroad yards and grain elevators using approved sampling devices. The role also includes performing mycotoxin testing and other analytical tests, operating specialized grain inspection equipment for protein (NIRT) and other determinations. This is an in-training opportunity, potentially hired as a Grain Sampler/Weigher or Grain Inspector 1, with a formal plan to gain required experience on the job. Successful completion of the in-training plan leads to the next job classification. The position works in both office and industrial settings, including hazardous areas, and may require travel in a state vehicle. Some locations require specific safety gear.

Requirements

• Must be able to acquire and maintain a valid driver's license to travel on agency business.
• Must be able to acquire a valid Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC).
• Must be able to pass background check for Customs and Border Protection to allow boarding of vessels prior to Customs and Border Protection personnel.
• Must have or obtain through the in-training plan, four (4) basic USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) commodity inspection licenses to include wheat, corn, soybeans, sorghum, and one (1) additional license based on assigned region.

Nice To Haves

• Experience interpreting and applying rules and regulations.
• One (1) year as a Sampler/Weigher.

Responsibilities

• Inspects, grades and certifies wheat and eight other grains and/or commodities that are marketed in the inspection area.
• Drives an agency vehicle to perform inspections.
• Inspects, grades and certifies grain and agricultural commodities at mills, shipping points, grain elevators and other locations.
• Operates testing equipment in a laboratory.
• Conducts inspections and testing of grain and/or other commodities using laboratory equipment and computers to determine grades or other quality descriptions and varieties of grain.
• Utilizes results to determine grain handling procedures at elevators, freight terminals and shipping points.
• Completes relevant inspection logs.
• Submits required number of samples for quality assurance surveys.
• Samples and/or weighs grain and other commodities using official scales provided by the applicants for service.
• Weighs and/or samples and examines grain and agricultural commodities at mills, shipping points, grain elevators and other locations and operates testing equipment in a laboratory.
• Works with hopper, platform, dial and electronic scales to determine weights and make necessary adjustments as needed; records gross and tare weights, computes net weights and issues Domestic Official Weight Certificates.
• Maintains records and documentation of scale conditions and all weighing activities.
• Obtains samples from railcars, trucks containers and other conveyances, moving streams of grain, and vessel holds using standardized sample collection equipment provided by employer.
• Records on sample ticket the container condition, identification, seal numbers applied, and other required information.
• Works in railroad yards and other hazardous areas, opening and closing container doors, recording on sample ticket container condition, identification, seal numbers applied, and other required information.
• Samples, checks weight, and checks load shipping containers for compliance with government contracts.
• Samples commodities and grain for inspection and phytosanitary certification, samples grass seed for phytosanitary certification, samples products and/or weighs commodities under directions issued by USDA agencies, such as the Agricultural Marketing Service or Farm Service Agency.
• Maintains careful and accurate documentation of all inspection and testing duties performed, which substantiate certificates issued.
• Drives an agency vehicle to collect and transport samples to the inspection office.
• Follows standardized instructions and procedures.
• Conducts protein and mycotoxin testing on grains and commodities.
• Operates specialized grain inspection equipment to determine protein, mycotoxins, falling numbers, dockage, moisture, test weight per bushel, or other mechanical determinations as required using specially approved testing equipment, computers and procedures.
• Performs Stowage examinations.
• Drives an agency vehicle to perform stowage examinations on containers, vessels and other conveyances for fitness to load grains and commodities.
• Checks ship holds, containers and/or other conveyances to determine fitness for grain cargo and other commodities; issues ship sanitation certificates in compliance with state and federal regulations, performs observations of fumigation.

Benefits

• Dependent Care Assistance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Tuition Waiver
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Recognition Leave
• 12 paid Holidays
• Vacation and Leave Accruals
• All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.

What This Job Offers

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