Retail Food Compliance Specialist 1-Metro District

Georgia Department of Revenue•Adairsville, GA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Retail Food Compliance Specialist 1 works in the Retail Food Program within the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Division. The program enforces state laws, rules, and regulations through sanitation inspections of licensed retail food establishments, including grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, seafood operations, salvage food operations, mobile meat trucks, and rolling stores. The specialist conducts random and unannounced inspections to verify Good Retail Practices and maintain food wholesomeness. Each specialist is assigned a territory and is required to reside within it; this position’s territory includes Gordon, Bartow, Pickens, and Cherokee counties. Retail standardization must be completed. The role involves inspections and investigations, sample collection and delivery for laboratory analysis, checking scales and refrigeration equipment, assessing packaging and labeling, observing facilities and employees, and verifying appropriate cleaning and chemical-handling practices. The specialist also investigates food wholesomeness after disasters, manages territory and program activities, reports findings, maintains industry and agency relationships, completes required forms, performs USDA Country of Origin Labeling contract work as directed, and properly maintains State-issued equipment. The position includes constant standing and walking, climbing stairs, water exposure, exposure to varying temperatures, and long travel days.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, animal science, biology, chemistry, or a related area from an accredited college or university, or certification as a Registered Sanitarian or Environmental Health Specialist.
Reside within the assigned territory: Gordon, Bartow, Pickens, or Cherokee county.
Complete retail standardization.
Satisfactory employment verification, background and criminal records investigations, and motor vehicle reports are required for hiring.

Nice To Haves

Two years of professional experience conducting inspections and investigations for compliance with established state and federal health and food and/or milk sanitation laws, rules, and regulations.
Working knowledge of the Windows computer operating system and applications.

Responsibilities

Inspect and investigate retail food establishments for compliance with applicable health and sanitation laws and regulations.
Perform duties in a manner that ensures compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
Collect food samples, water samples, and/or environmental swabs for laboratory analysis.
Transport samples to laboratories within prescribed methods and timeframes.
Maintain working knowledge of current policies, laws, regulations, and guidance documents.
Attend training sessions, meetings, and conferences.
Verify the accuracy of scales.
Check refrigeration equipment for proper operation.
Check product packaging and labeling.
Observe food facilities and employees.
Ensure proper equipment-cleaning procedures and proper handling of insecticides and sanitizing chemicals.
Investigate food wholesomeness after disasters, including fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and transportation accidents.
Plan, organize, and manage assigned territory, training, and program activities.
Report compliance findings through the appropriate chain.
Serve as a technical expert within the assigned program.
Maintain working relationships with the food industry and related federal, state, and local entities.
Prepare and complete agency, state, and federal forms as required.
Perform USDA Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) contract work as directed.
Maintain State-issued equipment properly.
Complete retail standardization.
Perform other duties as assigned.