Inspections Sanitarian I

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•Harlingen, TX

1d•$3,793 - $5,921•Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Food & Drug Unit conducts work to ensure compliance with the Texas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Warehousing Practices, the FDA Food Code, Texas Food Establishment Rules, and other applicable laws and regulations. Most inspections will take place in Lower South Texas counties in the McAllen area. Under the supervision of the Manufactured and Retail Foods Branch Manager, the Sanitarian I performs moderately complex, journey-level environmental sanitation inspections. The role inspects food manufacturers and retailers, including low-acid canned food and acidified-food processors, pasteurized juice and aseptic-food operations, bottled-water facilities, seafood businesses, dietary-supplement businesses, bottling plants, bakeries, repackers, warehouses, salvage firms, public-school cafeterias, permitted and nonpermitted food-service facilities, retail food stores, mobile food units, temporary-event vendors, youth camps, swimming pools, public interactive water features, playgrounds, and private water supplies. The position also responds to complaints and disasters involving food products, collects samples and other evidence, and prepares detailed technical reports. The employee works under general supervision with moderate latitude to exercise initiative and independent judgment. Overnight travel may occur, and the employee may be on call or required to respond to emergencies. The position is full-time, regular, nonexempt, and assigned to a day shift. It is not eligible for telework and may require travel up to 70%. The position may require overtime, extended hours, or work outside the normal 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-through-Friday schedule, as well as emergency or disaster response duties. Sanitarian I classification requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university (or equivalent foreign education), at least 30 semester hours in basic or natural sciences, and two years of sanitation experience. A Texas Professional Registered Sanitarian license is required to be considered for the Sanitarian I position; the posting also lists it as preferred. Applicants who do not meet Sanitarian I criteria may be considered for Environmental Protection Specialist I/Sanitarian-In-Training if they meet that classification's education criteria and have less than two years of sanitation experience. TDLR determines educational eligibility and relevant work-experience credit. A valid Texas driver's license or equivalent out-of-state license is required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or equivalent foreign education, with at least 30 semester hours in basic science or natural science.
For Sanitarian I classification: two years of experience in the field of sanitation.
A valid Texas driver's license or equivalent license from another state.
A Texas Professional Registered Sanitarian (RS) license is required to be considered for the Sanitarian I position; the posting also describes it as preferred.
Knowledge of scientific disciplines and their applications, including microbiology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, epidemiology, statistics, thermodynamics, nutrition, and food toxicology.
Knowledge of investigative methods and negotiation techniques; state and federal food, youth-camp, and public-sanitation laws and regulations; and technical inspection practices for food manufacturing, distribution, salvaging, retail food establishments, and youth camps.
Skill in professional verbal and written communication, writing detailed technical reports, word processing, and using computers and applicable inspection software.
Skill in making field decisions, planning investigations in difficult or sensitive situations, and selecting and applying investigative methods and negotiation techniques.
Skill in using photographic, laboratory, and field-testing equipment for health and safety inspections and tracking multiple program and compliance activities.
Ability to provide own transportation for inspections, training, emergency response, and other job duties.
Ability to perform work that may involve using 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 work occasionally outside normal duty hours and be available for emergency or disaster response, including 24-hour on-call availability.
Ability to prepare concise technical reports, correlate scientific data with field conditions to assess public-health risks, and communicate effectively and tactfully with industry, the public, coworkers, and managers.
Applicants must demonstrate in their application how they meet the initial selection criteria.
Selected applicants may be required to pass background and other due-diligence checks.

Nice To Haves

A Texas Professional Registered Sanitarian (RS) license is identified as preferred in the registration and licensure section.

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 with photographs, samples, and other exhibits.
Inspect and investigate permitted and nonpermitted food establishments, including public-school cafeterias, retail food-service establishments, retail food stores, mobile food establishments, and other food facilities, for compliance with sanitary requirements.
Conduct environmental sanitation inspections for youth camps, mass gatherings, and field sanitation; submit inspection and survey reports to the appropriate Operations Branch.
Prepare detailed findings using assigned inspection software and take digital photographs in accordance with 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 on food-related subjects to citizens, regulated industry, and local, state, and federal agencies.
Prepare technical presentations and participate in training offered by the Department, FDA, and external partners.
Complete electronic travel reports, monthly activity reports, timesheets, and other required Division and Department reports.
Present technical inspection information and provide testimony at hearings and court trials; prepare reports, summaries, and exhibits for counsel.
Participate in or support disaster response, recovery, and Continuity of Operations activities, which may involve alternate shifts or work locations.
Use own transportation to conduct inspections, attend training, respond to emergencies, and perform other job duties.