Inspections Sanitarian II

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Lubbock, TX

2d • $4,263 - $6,779 • Onsite

About The Position

The Unit ensures compliance with the Texas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Warehousing Practices, 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 El Paso area and counties east to Gillespie County.

Under the supervision of the Manufactured and Retail Foods Branch Manager, the Sanitarian II performs advanced environmental sanitation work with limited supervision and considerable latitude to use initiative and independent judgment. The position inspects a wide range of food manufacturers, retailers, distributors, warehouses, salvage firms, food-service facilities, schools, mobile food units, temporary-event vendors, youth camps, swimming pools, public interactive water features, playgrounds, and private water supplies. The role responds to complaints, foodborne outbreaks, disasters, and other emergencies; collects samples and supporting evidence; and prepares technical reports documenting inspection findings. It also supports work planning, inspection assignments, and report review, and may provide training and serve as a subject-matter resource. Overnight travel, on-call availability, overtime, extended hours, and work outside normal business hours may be required.

Requirements

• Registration as a professional sanitarian by the State of Texas.
• At least two years of combined experience conducting manufactured-food, retail-food, youth-camp, or public-sanitation inspections.
• 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.
• Knowledge of scientific disciplines and their applications, including microbiology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, epidemiology, statistics, thermodynamics, nutrition, and food toxicology.
• Knowledge of investigative methods and negotiating techniques; state and federal food, youth-camp, and public-sanitation laws and regulations; and technical inspection practices for food manufacturing, distribution, salvage, retail food establishments, and youth camps.
• Skill in professional verbal and written communication, detailed technical report writing, computers and inspection software, field decision-making, investigative methods, negotiating, and conducting complete inspections and investigations.
• Skill in using photographic, laboratory, and field-testing equipment; tracking multiple program and compliance activities; proactive problem-solving and organization; work planning; and inspection-report review.
• Ability to perform inspections that may involve 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 work outside normal duty hours when needed and remain available for emergency or disaster response, including 24-hour on-call availability.
• Ability to prepare concise technical reports, interpret scientific data alongside field conditions to assess public-health risks, and communicate effectively and tactfully with regulated industry, the public, coworkers, and managers.
• Ability to manage time across job duties and regulatory requirements and assist managers with administrative assignments.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Registered Sanitarian license in the State of Texas is preferred; the posting also states that this license is required for consideration for the Sanitarian II position.

Responsibilities

• Inspect and investigate food manufacturers, wholesalers, warehouses, salvage establishments, and brokers; investigate complaints and foodborne outbreaks; and complete detentions and destructions according to Division policy.
• Provide facilities with written notices of inspectional observations before completing inspections, and prepare technical inspection reports supported by photographs, samples, and other exhibits.
• Inspect permitted and non-permitted food establishments, including public-school cafeterias, retail food-service establishments, retail food stores, mobile food establishments, and other food establishments for compliance with sanitary requirements.
• Conduct environmental sanitation inspections at youth camps, mass gatherings, and field sanitation sites; prepare and submit inspection and survey reports using assigned software and agency photo protocols.
• Assist management with scheduling, data tracking, reporting, work-group reports, work planning, and review of inspection reports.
• Plan and carry out high-priority assignments, manage competing inspection and desk-work demands, and serve as a subject-matter resource for inspection staff.
• Conduct special investigations and assignments, provide training including joint field inspections, and assist with work planning and inspection-report review.
• Provide food-related information and assistance to citizens, regulated industry, and local, state, and federal agencies.
• Prepare technical presentations and participate in Department, FDA, and external-partner educational programs and training, including training that may take place out of state.
• Present technical inspection information and testify at hearings and court trials; prepare reports, summaries, and exhibits for counsel.
• Complete electronic travel reports, monthly activity reports, timesheets, and other required Division and Department reports.
• Participate in or support disaster response, recovery, and Continuity of Operations activities, which may involve a different shift pattern or work location.

Benefits

• Insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas.

What This Job Offers

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