Meat Poultry Relief Inspector- Billings

State of Montana•Miles City, MT

34d•Onsite

About The Position

The meat and poultry inspector is the first line of defense for meat and poultry food safety. The inspector performs duties to verify that a food safety system within officially inspected slaughter and/or processing establishments is operating in compliance with regulations and in a way that will result in safe food. The Meat & Poultry Inspection Bureau's function is to ensure that meat & poultry products processed in Montana meet state and federal requirements governing the wholesomeness and purity of meat and poultry products. This work is done in cooperation with other state and federal agencies. Meat and poultry Inspectors employed by the Department of Livestock inspect the slaughter and processing of food animals in privately-owned meat or poultry slaughter and processing plants. Site inspections involve the inspection of live animals, carcasses, facilities, slaughter and processing operations, and finished products. The inspector is also responsible for sampling products for laboratory testing, verifying plants’ records, and inspecting labels and packaging of products. There is a strong emphasis on interpreting both federal and state regulations and taking appropriate regulatory action. Inspectors record all findings and tasks in a federal database and must document daily activities in weekly reports. This is a relief inspector position with relief duties as a regular part of the incumbent’s duty assignment. The successful applicant will have regularly assigned establishments as well as state-wide relief duties. There will be times when the incumbent will be called on short notice to report to an establishment to conduct inspection services. The success of our program is dependent upon teamwork which will require overnight travel. Depending on the home location of the successful applicant, overnight travel may be required serval nights per week. The inspector conducts regulatory oversight activities inside plants in matters relating to Sanitation Performance Standards (SPS), Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP), pathogen reduction verification procedures, food security verification procedures, and other consumer protections (e.g., economic adulteration and misbranding). The Inspector performs work within the Agency’s automated Public Health Information system (PHIS) to include updating establishment profiles, selecting appropriate inspection tasks, entering information and reacting to data from PHIS. The incumbent serves as slaughter and/or processing inspector in a red meat and/or poultry plant or department requiring the exercise of judgment in the full range of slaughter or processing inspection functions and carries out all aspects of slaughter or processing inspection as assigned. The inspector is expected to perform in-plant inspection in a wide range of different types of slaughter and processing plants.

Requirements

Must live within the Eastern district and be within 30 miles of Billings, MT. Secondary location is within Miles City, MT at this time.
Knowledge of state and federal regulations regarding the handling and labeling of meat and poultry.
Knowledge of the characteristics and normal behavior of livestock.
Knowledge of livestock diseases and related symptoms.
Skill in observation and sampling methods and techniques.
Knowledge of state and federal facility and sanitation requirements.
Knowledge of proper use of chemicals, insect and rodent control, personal hygiene, and water supply requirements.
Knowledge of regulations regarding humane slaughter, additive formulas, authorized proportions of regulated substances.
Ability to discern injections sites and disease symptoms.
Ability to operate a motor vehicle and travel to remote locations.
Competently use computers, software and other technology.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to perform arithmetic calculations.
Ability to follow instructions.
Ability to read and interpret laws and regulations.
Ability to prepare reports.
Ability to discern and identify disease characteristics and the use of drugs, hormones, etc.
Ability to discern the breeds and sex of livestock.
Completion of high school or equivalent.
One year experience in the food safety or meat industries.
Ability to have and maintain a valid Montana Driver's license and the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle with an acceptable driving record.
Must attend and successfully pass federal workshops and seminars pertaining to application of USDA FSIS and Food & Drug Administration labeling criteria, and FSIS Training within first 6 months of hire.
Must attend a 30-day FSIS course titled Inspection Methods within one year of securing employment.
Must meet requirements to access the Public Health Information System.

Nice To Haves

Applicants living within 30 Miles City, MT may also be considered.
All other locations will be considered on a case by case basis.
Completion of workshops and seminars pertaining to the application of USDA FSIS and FDA inspection methods and regulations, and labeling criteria will be provided by the bureau trainer. Some of this training will include, Basic Livestock and Poultry Slaughter training, Processing Class, HACCP training, Food Safety Regulation Essentials, and other classroom training sessions.

Responsibilities

Perform duties to verify that a food safety system within officially inspected slaughter and/or processing establishments is operating in compliance with regulations and in a way that will result in safe food.
Inspect the slaughter and processing of food animals in privately-owned meat or poultry slaughter and processing plants.
Conduct site inspections involving live animals, carcasses, facilities, slaughter and processing operations, and finished products.
Sample products for laboratory testing.
Verify plants’ records.
Inspect labels and packaging of products.
Interpret federal and state regulations and take appropriate regulatory action.
Record all findings and tasks in a federal database and document daily activities in weekly reports.
Conduct regulatory oversight activities inside plants in matters relating to Sanitation Performance Standards (SPS), Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP), pathogen reduction verification procedures, food security verification procedures, and other consumer protections (e.g., economic adulteration and misbranding).
Perform work within the Agency’s automated Public Health Information system (PHIS) to include updating establishment profiles, selecting appropriate inspection tasks, entering information and reacting to data from PHIS.
Serve as slaughter and/or processing inspector in a red meat and/or poultry plant or department requiring the exercise of judgment in the full range of slaughter or processing inspection functions and carry out all aspects of slaughter or processing inspection as assigned.
Perform in-plant inspection in a wide range of different types of slaughter and processing plants.
Conduct inspection services at establishments on short notice.
Perform overnight travel as required for the program.