Inspections Sanitarian I

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•Wichita Falls, TX

2d•$3,793 - $5,921•Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Food & Drug unit ensures compliance with the Texas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and applicable good manufacturing and warehousing practices, using the FDA Food Code, Texas Food Establishment Rules, and other relevant state laws and regulations. Most inspections will be conducted in the Dallas area. Under the supervision of the Manufactured and Retail Foods Branch Manager, the Sanitarian I performs moderately complex, journey-level environmental sanitation inspection work. The position inspects a broad range of food manufacturers, retailers, warehouses, salvage firms, food-service facilities, school cafeterias, youth camps, swimming pools, public interactive water features, playgrounds, and private water supplies. The work includes responding to complaints and disasters involving food products, collecting samples and other evidence, and preparing technical reports documenting findings. The employee works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for initiative and independent judgment. Overnight travel may occur, and the employee may be on call or required to respond to emergencies. The role may require overtime, extended hours, or work outside the normal 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-through-Friday schedule. It may also require alternate shifts or a change of work location during disaster response or continuity-of-operations activation. The position is not eligible for telework and may involve travel of up to 70%.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a U.S.-accredited college or university, or equivalent foreign education, with at least 30 semester hours in basic or natural sciences, or a combination of these subjects.
Valid Texas driver’s license or equivalent license from another state.
Knowledge of scientific disciplines and their practical applications, including microbiology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, epidemiology, statistics, thermodynamics, nutrition, and food toxicology.
Knowledge of investigative methods, negotiating techniques, state and federal food, youth camp, and public sanitation laws and regulations, and technical inspection aspects of food manufacturing, distribution, salvaging, retail food establishments, and youth camps.
Effective and professional verbal and written communication, detailed technical report writing, word processing, and use of computers and applicable inspection software.
Ability to make appropriate field decisions; plan investigations in difficult or sensitive situations; select and apply investigative and negotiating methods; use photographic, laboratory, and field-testing equipment; and track multiple program and compliance activities.
Ability to correlate scientific data with documented field conditions to determine public health risks and communicate effectively and tactfully with industry, the public, coworkers, and managers.
Ability to perform inspections that may require climbing 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 printed in 1/32-inch type.
Ability to prepare concise technical reports that accurately document inspection findings.

Nice To Haves

Professional Registered Sanitarian license in the State of Texas; if not held at hire, the license must be obtained within six months of employment.

Responsibilities

Inspect and investigate food manufacturers, wholesalers, warehouses, salvage establishments, and brokers; complete detentions and destructions according to Division policy.
Issue written notices of inspectional observations before completing inspections and prepare technical inspection reports, including 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 facilities.
Conduct environmental sanitation inspections of youth camps, mass gatherings, and field sanitation settings; submit inspection and survey reports to the appropriate Operations Branch.
Prepare detailed findings using assigned inspection software and take digital photographs according to agency protocols.
Investigate complaints and foodborne outbreaks, conduct special investigations and assignments, and provide training, including joint field inspections and reports.
Provide information and assistance about food-related subjects to the public, regulated industry, and local, state, and federal agencies.
Prepare technical presentations and participate in educational programs and training presented by DSHS, the FDA, and external partners.
Complete electronic travel reports, monthly activity reports, timesheets, and other required reports.
Present technical inspection information and provide testimony at hearings and court trials; prepare reports, summaries, and exhibits for counsel.
Participate in disaster response or recovery and Continuity of Operations activities, including possible alternate shifts or work locations.
Provide own transportation for inspections, training, emergency response, and other job duties.
Occasionally work outside normal duty hours and be available for emergency or disaster response, including 24-hour on-call availability.