SANITATION AND SAFETY SPECIALIST - 42000853

State of Florida • Venice, FL

12d • $41,000 - $47,150 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Food Safety, Bureau of Retail Foods is seeking a Sanitation and Safety Specialist (Food Safety Inspector). This position has regulatory responsibilities and involves conducting inspections of food establishments to ensure compliance with regulatory, sanitation, and consumer protection requirements. The role utilizes a risk-based approach to evaluate various aspects of food production and preparation to ensure food safety. Occasional travel is required, and some tasks may involve evening, weekend, or holiday activity, including overnight and extended travel. The headquarters for this position is negotiable within Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties.

Requirements

• A high school diploma and one (1) year of professional work experience.
• A bachelor's degree (4 years) or higher from an accredited college or university can substitute for the one (1) year of professional work experience.
• Possession of a valid Class E driver license.
• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.
• Must reside in required areas as specified in Division Policy A-10.
• Employees appointed to positions involved in food establishment inspections under authority of Chapter 500, Florida Statutes, must pass and maintain the training and certification required by Rule 5K-4.021, Florida Administrative Code, within 12 months of appointment.
• Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.
• Theory and applied knowledge in biological, chemical, physical and environmental factors affecting food safety and related control measures.
• Ability to evaluate food establishment structures, environment, equipment, methods and controls for compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Working knowledge and ability to understand specialized food processing which may include reduced oxygen packaging, low acid foods, acidified foods, major classifications of pathogenic micro organisms commonly associated with food-borne illness, aerobic or anaerobic, temperature and pH reproductive requirements, typical food substrates, related control measures and the application of such factors into food safety Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, or other processes not previously specified which may occur in food establishments.
• Working knowledge and ability to understand food additives, preservatives, coloring agents and chemicals used in conjunction with or incidental to food processing storage.
• Ability to document sanitation and regulatory discrepancies and advise management of corrective action.
• Ability to test foods for compliance including test kit and/or equipment usage.
• Working knowledge of statutes and rules establishing food requirements.
• Ability to exercise professional judgment and manner while conducting inspections and in instituting appropriate enforcement actions.
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.
• Knowledge of personal computer hardware and software resources.
• Skill in the use of personal computers.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve basic personal computer hardware/software operation problems.
• Ability to train and instruct others utilizing sound communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Graduates utilizing education attained in the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position will not be appointed until verification of the applicable degree has been obtained.
• Foreign trained graduates utilizing a degree attained outside of the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position must be prepared to provide a copy of a credential evaluation conducted by an Approved Credential Evaluation Agency.

Responsibilities

• Conducting regulatory inspections of food establishments for compliance with regulatory, sanitation, and consumer protection requirements.
• Utilizing a risk-based approach to evaluate processing methods, production controls, equipment design, structural design and maintenance, and personnel practices to assure that foods for human consumption are safe and prepared, packed, distributed, and stored under sanitary conditions.
• Performing inspections/reviews for contract or cooperative agreement programs with federal partners.
• Performing opening inspections on food establishments, evaluating and assessing food processes and activities to determine specific business requirements.
• Utilizing science-based knowledge to determine compliance with environmental and sanitation regulations for specialized food processing.
• Preparing reports to document regulatory deficiencies, interpreting and explaining public health laws, rules, and sanitation and safety standards to food establishment personnel, and advising management on necessary corrective actions.
• Initiating stop sale orders, stop use orders, destruction reports, release notices, and movement of goods under stop sale orders when indicated by inspection findings.
• Assisting as needed in other areas of the state.
• Conducting other inspection functions including investigation of consumer complaints, follow-up reporting, food-borne illness investigations, information requests from consumers, opening inspections for new businesses, special inspections of fire or flood damaged food establishments, inspection of foods in vehicles involved in accidents, and multi-agency investigations/inspections or special projects.
• Responding to disaster or emergency situations and operating under an incident command structure when required.
• Periodically handling emergency or request calls.
• Independently exercising professional judgment and instituting appropriate enforcement actions.
• Inspecting and testing foods for compliance with consumer protection standards using various test procedures and methods.
• Reviewing food labels for misrepresentation and inclusion of mandatory consumer information.
• Evaluating advertising matter for possible product misrepresentation.
• Operating, calibrating, and maintaining inspection test equipment.
• Preparing and timely submitting accurate and complete inspection reports, sample collection reports, food permit applications, consumer complaint reports, daily activity reports, travel vouchers, expense vouchers, supply requisitions, and other required documents.
• Attending training sessions and courses as designated.
• Following department policies and procedures and conducting official duties in a professional manner as a representative of FDACS.
• Performing other related duties as may be assigned.

Benefits

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED