Inspections Sanitarian I

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•Midland, TX

1d•$3,793 - $5,921•Onsite

About The Position

The Unit ensures compliance with the Texas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and applicable Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Warehousing Practices, FDA Food Code, Texas Food Establishment Rules, and other Texas health and safety regulations. Most inspections take place in Midland, Kerrville, and El Paso counties and surrounding areas. Under the supervision of the Manufactured and Retail Foods Branch Manager, the Sanitarian I performs moderately complex, journey-level environmental sanitation inspection work. The role inspects food manufacturers and retailers, including low-acid canned food and acidified food processors, pasteurized juice and aseptic food operations, bottled water facilities, seafood businesses, dietary supplement and bottling plants, bakeries, re-packers, warehouses, salvage firms, school cafeterias, food-service facilities, retail food stores, mobile food units, temporary-event vendors, youth camps, swimming pools, public interactive water features, playgrounds, and private water supplies. The position also responds to complaints and disasters involving food products, collects samples and other evidence, and prepares technical written reports documenting inspection findings. The position works under general supervision, with moderate latitude to use initiative and independent judgment. It may involve overnight travel, on-call availability for emergencies, overtime, and work outside normal business hours. The employee may also be assigned an alternate shift or location in support of disaster response, recovery, or continuity-of-operations activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a US-accredited college or university, or equivalent foreign education, with at least 30 semester hours in basic science or natural science, or a combination of those subjects.
Valid Texas driver’s license or equivalent license from another state.
Ability to provide personal transportation for inspections, training, emergency response, and other job duties.
Ability to perform inspection work that may require using ladders or catwalks, lifting or carrying up to 50 pounds, pushing or pulling up to 100 pounds, standing for extended periods, identifying rodent and insect filth, and reading labels with 1/32-inch type.
Ability to occasionally work outside normal duty hours and be available for emergency or disaster response, including 24-hour on-call availability.
Knowledge of scientific disciplines and their practical applications, including microbiology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, epidemiology, statistics, thermodynamics, nutrition, and food toxicology.
Knowledge of investigative methods, negotiating techniques, state and federal food, youth camp, and public sanitation laws and regulations, and technical inspection practices for food operations and youth camps.
Skill in professional verbal and written communication, technical report writing, word processing, computers, and applicable inspection software.
Skill in making field decisions; planning investigations in difficult and sensitive situations; selecting and applying investigative and negotiation methods; using photographic, laboratory, and field-testing equipment; and tracking multiple program and compliance activities.
Ability to prepare concise technical reports, correlate scientific data with field conditions to assess public health risks, and communicate tactfully with industry, the public, coworkers, and managers.
The initial screening criteria specify no experience or less than two years of sanitation-field experience for the Environmental Protection Specialist/Sanitarian-In-Training classification.

Nice To Haves

Professional Registered Sanitarian license, State of Texas. The posting lists this as preferred and also states that the license is required for a Sanitarian I position.

Responsibilities

Inspect and investigate food manufacturers, wholesalers, warehouses, salvage establishments, and brokers; complete detentions and destructions in accordance with Division policy.
Issue written notices of inspectional observations and prepare technical inspection reports, using photographs, samples, and other exhibits to document findings.
Inspect and investigate permitted and non-permitted food establishments, including school cafeterias, food-service establishments, retail food stores, and mobile food establishments, for compliance with sanitary requirements.
Conduct environmental sanitation inspections at youth camps, mass gatherings, and field sanitation sites; submit inspection and survey reports to the appropriate Operations Branch.
Prepare detailed reports of findings using assigned inspection software and take digital photographs in accordance with agency protocols.
Investigate complaints and foodborne outbreaks; conduct special investigations and assignments as directed.
Provide training, including joint field inspections and preparation of reports.
Provide information and assistance on food-related subjects to citizens, regulated industry, and local, state, and federal agencies.
Prepare technical presentations and participate in training offered by the Department, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and external partners.
Complete electronic travel reports, monthly activity reports, timesheets, and other required Division and Department reports.
Present technical inspection information and provide testimony during hearings and court trials; prepare reports, summaries, and exhibits for counsel.
Participate in or support agency disaster response, recovery, and Continuity of Operations activities, which may require a different shift pattern or work location.