Sanitarian III

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•Austin, TX

8d•$4,801 - $7,762•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sanitarian III serves as a Manufactured Foods Operations Branch compliance officer, independently reviewing inspection and investigation reports, evaluating evidence, composing warning and detention letters, and recommending, preparing, and presenting escalated enforcement cases. The position interprets state and federal food and drug laws and regulations, evaluates laboratory results and risk assessments, monitors regulated firms’ corrective actions, and coordinates enforcement follow-up. The employee may testify as an expert witness and may conduct independent or joint inspections and investigations. The role also provides technical supervision and guidance to field investigators working with more than 40 types of regulated facilities. Additional duties include receiving and routing food complaints; assisting with open-records requests, complaint and detention tracking, and program website updates; supporting emergency response and continuity-of-operations activities; and preparing activity summaries. The position develops and presents training, provides regulatory consultation to license holders and other stakeholders, assists with rulemaking, and may coordinate food recalls. It works under the limited direction of the Manufactured Foods Operations Branch Manager and requires extensive initiative and independent judgment. The position is currently hybrid and must be filled in the greater Austin area. Travel may be required in and out of state, and the employee must provide transportation. DSHS provides a laptop, related equipment, and basic office supplies; the employee provides office furniture and high-speed internet. Emergency response or COOP duties may require alternate shifts or locations.

Requirements

Current State of Texas sanitarian registration is required.
Experience regulating facilities at the federal, state, or local level under FDA, USDA, related state or local laws, or applicable federal model codes and ordinances is required.
Knowledge of food safety concepts, including food microbiology, foodborne illness, and hazard analysis critical control points.
Knowledge of state and federal food safety and labeling laws and regulations, with professional competence in inspecting food manufacturers, retailers, and wholesale food distributors.
Knowledge of evidence development and general legal proceedings.
Skill in using and caring for inspection equipment, including black lights, digital and stem thermometers, thermocouples, chemical test strips, laptop computers, and digital cameras.
Technical writing, oral communication, and computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, and database management.
Ability to communicate technical information to audiences with different levels of understanding and to interact tactfully with professionals in government and industry.
Ability to conduct inspections, determine licensee compliance, interpret policies and procedures, and respond to stakeholder inquiries.
Ability to exercise independent judgment, prioritize workloads with minimal supervision, and coordinate or supervise program activities.
Ability to travel in and out of state as necessary for training, inspections, and field staff training and evaluations.
Ability to climb, move up to 50 pounds, identify rodent and insect filth, and read labels printed in 1/32-inch type during inspections.

Nice To Haves

An undergraduate or advanced degree in food science, public health, agricultural sciences, dairy science, or a natural, basic, environmental, or other science discipline from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a foreign degree deemed equivalent by an acceptable evaluator.
Five or more years of inspection or compliance experience within a manufactured foods program.

Responsibilities

Independently review inspection reports for compliance with applicable state and federal food and drug standards, including evaluating evidence, documentation, inspection findings, laboratory results, and product or process risks.
Compose warning and detention letters, oversee required follow-up and re-inspections, track firm responses, and determine whether corrective and preventive action commitments are sufficient.
Evaluate and prepare FDA endorsement summaries for the FDA FACTS system.
Consult with program staff and managers to promote consistent statewide regulatory compliance.
Refer unresolved compliance actions to the Compliance Review Committee; recommend or initiate escalated enforcement and prepare and present case summaries.
Coordinate enforcement-case resolution, provide legal and regulatory interpretations to the Texas Attorney General’s Office and compliance staff, participate in enforcement conferences, and coordinate follow-up inspections.
Provide technical supervision and consultation to inspectors on regulated facilities, inspection procedures, documentation, samples, and records; conduct solo or joint inspections for special assignments and escalated cases.
Provide expert testimony in legal cases when called upon.
Receive and route food complaints; help maintain complaint records and monitor investigation completion.
Assist with processing and tracking Open Records Requests and updating program website information.
Serve as a liaison or point of contact on licensing matters, foodborne illness cases, outbreaks, and natural or man-made disasters, as assigned.
Complete relevant ICS training and participate in emergency response activities; prepare incident activity summaries and report progress to program management.
Assist with detention and destruction program administration, including intake, database entry, tracking, and timely resolution of detentions.
Prepare and present classes, seminars, and training materials for internal and external stakeholders.
Provide regulatory consultation and interpretation to license holders, agency staff, the public, and government or private agencies.
Make recommendations and assist with rulemaking; coordinate or review food recalls as assigned.
Perform other assigned duties, including disaster response, COOP activities, and potentially acting as branch program manager in the manager’s absence.