Inspections Sanitarian I
About The Position
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Food & Drug unit ensures compliance with the Texas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; Good Manufacturing Practices and Good Warehousing Practices regulations; the FDA Food Code; Texas Food Establishment Rules; and other applicable Texas health and safety laws and regulations. Most inspections will be conducted in the East and South of the Houston area, from Brazos County to Calhoun County. Under the supervision of the Manufactured and Retail Foods Branch Manager, the Sanitarian I performs moderately complex 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 facilities, bottled water operations, seafood businesses, dietary supplement manufacturers, bottling plants, bakeries, repackers, 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 responds to food-product complaints and disasters; collects samples, photographs, and exhibits; and prepares technical written reports documenting findings. It works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for initiative and independent judgment. Overnight travel may occur, and the employee may be on call or available for emergencies. The position may require overtime, extended hours, or work outside the normal 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-through-Friday schedule. It includes occasional out-of-state training and may involve an alternate shift or location for disaster response or continuity-of-operations work.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a U.S.-accredited college or university, or equivalent foreign education, with at least 30 semester hours in basic science or natural science, or a combination of the two.
- Valid Texas driver’s license or equivalent license from another state.
- Knowledge of scientific disciplines including microbiology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, epidemiology, statistics, thermodynamics, nutrition, and food toxicology.
- Knowledge of investigative methods, negotiating techniques, applicable state and federal food, youth camp, and public sanitation laws and regulations, and technical inspection aspects of food manufacturing, distribution, salvaging, retail establishments, and youth camps.
- Effective professional verbal and written communication, technical report writing, word processing, and use of computers and applicable inspection software.
- Ability to make appropriate field decisions; plan investigations in difficult and sensitive situations; select, adapt, and apply investigative methods and negotiating techniques; use photographic, laboratory, and field-testing equipment; and track multiple program and compliance activities.
- Ability to provide own transportation for inspections, training, emergency response, and other duties.
- Ability to perform work that may involve ladders or catwalks, carrying or lifting up to 50 pounds, pushing or pulling up to 100 pounds, prolonged standing, identifying rodent and insect filth, and reading labels with 1/32-inch type during inspections.
- Ability to occasionally work outside normal duty hours and be available for emergency or disaster response, including 24-hour on-call availability.
- Ability to prepare concise technical reports, correlate scientific data with field conditions to determine public health risks, and communicate tactfully with industry, the public, coworkers, and managers.
Nice To Haves
- Professional Registered Sanitarian license in the State of Texas; if not already held, it must be obtained within six months of employment.
Responsibilities
- Inspect and investigate food manufacturers, wholesalers, warehouses, salvage establishments, and brokers; complete detentions and destructions according to Division policy.
- Issue written notices of inspectional observations before completing inspections and prepare technical inspection reports with photographs, samples, and other exhibits documenting findings.
- Inspect and investigate permitted and non-permitted food establishments, including school cafeterias, retail food service establishments and stores, mobile food establishments, and other food facilities.
- Conduct environmental sanitation inspections for youth camps, mass gatherings, and field sanitation; submit inspection and survey reports to the appropriate Operations Branch.
- Prepare detailed findings in assigned inspection software and take digital photographs in accordance with agency protocols.
- Investigate complaints and foodborne outbreaks, conduct special investigations and assignments, and provide training through joint field inspections and 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 FDA, and external partners.
- Complete electronic travel reports, monthly activity reports, timesheets, and other required reports.
- Present technical inspection information and testimony at hearings and court trials; prepare reports, summaries, and exhibits for counsel.
- Participate in disaster response, recovery, or continuity-of-operations activities, potentially with an alternate shift pattern or work location.
Benefits
- Insurance coverage and other benefits through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
