Meat & Poultry Inspector Trainee - Circuit 3-2 (Mclean Co)

State of Illinois•Springfield, MO

About The Position

The Meat & Poultry Inspector Trainee serves in a regional capacity and participates in an agency-sponsored training program lasting six to twelve months. The trainee receives orientation, classroom instruction, and supervised on-the-job training in animal and poultry slaughter and meat and poultry processing. Under close supervision, the trainee learns inspection techniques and procedures used to maintain state and federal standards and performs controlled assignments with veterinary and supervisory personnel. The role includes traveling to worksites to inspect animals and poultry before slaughter for conditions that may indicate abnormalities or disease. The trainee completes the Employee Development Guide for basic meat inspection and the Illinois Department of Agriculture's slaughter and processing training courses, and attends relevant workshops, meetings, institutes, and other learning activities. The position requires residency in McLean, Woodford, Tazewell, DeWitt, Piatt, or Logan County, with the employee's home location serving as the base of daily operational headquarters. The position is union-represented, and the applicable collective bargaining agreement applies.

Requirements

Knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to high school; courses in algebra, biology, or chemistry are preferred.
Complete a name-based background screening and self-disclose criminal history.
Successfully pass a preemployment physical.
Ability to travel in the performance of duties.
Possess an appropriate, valid driver's license.
Ability to work overtime, including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime; this may require evening and weekend work.
Ability to perform medium work, including lifting up to 50 pounds at a time and frequently lifting or carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
Ability to tolerate unpleasant odors in slaughterhouses and meat preparation areas, extreme cold in meat lockers, and heat in processing areas.
Ability to use safety practices around dangerous meat-cutting and processing machinery.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, to explain regulations and inspection results and prepare inspection reports and records.
Must reside in McLean, Woodford, Tazewell, DeWitt, Piatt, or Logan County.

Nice To Haves

Education beyond high school, preferably an associate degree, bachelor's degree, or advanced degree.
Bachelor's or advanced degree in science or agriculture.
Experience butchering, slaughtering, and/or processing animals for food.
Experience observing postmortem examinations of animals.
Working knowledge of Hazard Analysis – Critical Control Point Plans (HACCP).
Experience completing HACCP records.
Working knowledge of sanitation and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP).
Elementary knowledge of diseases or abnormal conditions in animals, poultry, carcasses, or meat and poultry products.
Elementary knowledge of identifying adulterated products.

Responsibilities

Participate in a six-to-twelve-month agency-sponsored training program, including orientation, classroom instruction, and supervised on-the-job training.
Learn techniques and procedures used in meat and poultry inspection to maintain state and federal standards.
Perform controlled assignments under close supervision of veterinary and supervisory personnel.
Travel to sites to perform inspections.
Under close supervision, inspect live animals and/or poultry before slaughter for conditions indicating abnormalities or disease.
Complete the Employee Development Guide for basic meat inspection and the Department of Agriculture's slaughter and processing training courses.
Attend and participate in workshops, meetings, institutes, and other activities that provide relevant learning experiences.
Perform other duties as required or assigned that are reasonably within the scope of the position.