Meat Inspector - Washington Co

State of Iowa • Washington - 52353 - Washington County, IA

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Meat & Poultry Inspection Bureau is seeking a full-time Meat Inspector to join our team in the Washington County region of southeast Iowa. In this role, you will inspect locker plants, small packing plants, and other meat processing facilities to ensure compliance with food safety and humane animal handling standards under the Iowa Meat and Poultry Inspection Act. Your work will help keep Iowa's food supply safe while supporting one of the state's most important industries.

Requirements

• Must maintain a valid driver's license for statewide travel to conduct inspections.
• Must successfully complete the USDA-FSIS Food Inspector Livestock and Inspection Methods courses within six months of hire.
• Meat inspection work frequently exposes inspectors to hot, cold, wet, or slippery conditions.
• Inspectors must be able to handle knives and other tools effectively, and must have full use of their senses, including sight, hearing, touch, and smell.
• Inspectors are also subject to a background check required for access to federal computer systems.
• Graduation from high school, GED, or equivalency and experience equal to two years of full-time work in livestock or poultry slaughter, processing, or marketing; meat and poultry inspection; or other food-related industry or regulatory work.
• Thirty semester hours of education from an accredited college or university with a minimum of six semester hours in any of the following major areas: veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, animal science, agricultural business, livestock management, zoology, biology or a closely related major.
• USDA or approved equivalent courses in livestock slaughter and inspection methods.
• An introductory HACCP course approved by the International HACCP Alliance.
• The USDA poultry course or equivalent for inspectors with poultry inspection duties.

Nice To Haves

• A background in the meat industry, food industry, regulatory work or agriculture, with relevant experience and/or education in food safety, animal health, agriculture, or related areas.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and establish strong professional relationships with industry representatives and colleagues alike.

Responsibilities

• Conducts antemortem and postmortem inspections of livestock and poultry, using senses and required hand tools to examine animals for disease.
• Travels to and conducts walk-through inspections of regulated facilities, ensuring compliance with sanitation standards.
• Conducts examinations of finished and in-process products to ensure wholesomeness and compliance with product labeling standards.
• Reviews records generated by inspected facilities to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and facility programs.
• Enters inspection results daily into designated computer system and prepares non-compliance reports and memoranda as needed to communicate findings.
• Communicates with regulated facilities regarding inspection results, regulatory requirements and changes to policies; conducts outreach to new facilities to aid compliance with regulatory requirements.

Benefits

• Affordable, high-quality health insurance with low monthly premiums.
• Dental insurance at no cost for single coverage.
• Employer-paid basic life insurance and long-term disability insurance, with optional supplemental life insurance available.
• Membership in the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS), a defined-benefit pension plan.
• Optional deferred compensation plan with a State match of up to $75 per month.
• Generous paid time off, including holidays, vacation, sick leave, military leave, and jury duty leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED