SANITATION AND SAFETY SPECIALIST - 42003257

State of Florida • Tallahassee, FL

12d • $43,814 - $52,598 • Onsite

About The Position

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Food Safety, Bureau of Retail Foods, is hiring a Sanitation and Safety Specialist (Food Safety Inspector). The headquarters location is negotiable within Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla Counties. The position conducts regulatory inspections of food establishments under FDACS jurisdiction to assess compliance with food safety, sanitation, and consumer protection requirements. Inspections use a risk-based approach to evaluate food processing and production controls, equipment and facility design and maintenance, and personnel practices. The inspector may also conduct inspections and reviews under cooperative programs with federal partners, including the FDA and USDA.

The role evaluates food processes at new establishments and assesses specialized operations such as reduced oxygen packaging, low-acid food processing, seafood processing, and acidified foods. It documents deficiencies, explains relevant laws and standards, advises management on corrective action, and initiates enforcement measures when warranted. Other duties include investigating complaints and food-borne illness, conducting special inspections and emergency response work, testing and inspecting foods, reviewing labels and advertising, and operating, calibrating, and maintaining inspection equipment.

The position also requires preparing accurate inspection, sampling, complaint, activity, travel, and other administrative reports; attending designated training; and following department policies while representing FDACS professionally. Occasional travel is required, and some duties may involve evenings, weekends, holidays, overnight travel, or extended travel. Employees must pass and maintain required food-inspection training and certification within 12 months of appointment. A background screening, including fingerprinting, is required.

Requirements

• High school diploma and one year of professional work experience, or a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in place of the one year of professional work experience.
• Valid Class E driver license.
• Pass and maintain the training and certification required by Rule 5K-4.021, Florida Administrative Code, within 12 months of appointment.
• Pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.
• Reside in required areas as specified in Division Policy A-10.
• Knowledge of biological, chemical, physical, and environmental factors affecting food safety and related control measures.
• Ability to evaluate food establishment structures, environments, equipment, methods, and controls for regulatory compliance.
• Working knowledge of specialized food processing, pathogens associated with food-borne illness, relevant growth conditions and controls, and their application to HACCP plans or other food establishment processes.
• Working knowledge of food additives, preservatives, coloring agents, and chemicals used in or incidental to food processing and storage.
• Ability to document sanitation and regulatory discrepancies and advise management about corrective action.
• Ability to test foods for compliance and use test kits or equipment.
• Working knowledge of statutes and rules establishing food requirements.
• Ability to exercise professional judgment and conduct inspections and enforcement actions appropriately.
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.
• Knowledge of personal computer hardware and software resources; skill in using personal computers; and ability to troubleshoot basic hardware and software operation problems.
• Ability to train and instruct others using sound communication skills.
• Occasional travel is required; some tasks involve evening, weekend, or holiday activity, including overnight or extended travel.

Responsibilities

• Conduct regulatory inspections of food establishments for compliance with food safety, sanitation, consumer protection, and related requirements.
• Evaluate food processing methods, production controls, equipment and structural design and maintenance, and personnel practices using a risk-based approach.
• Perform inspections or reviews under contract or cooperative programs with federal partners, including the FDA and USDA.
• Conduct opening inspections and assess food processes and activities to determine applicable requirements.
• Evaluate specialized food processes, including reduced oxygen packaging, low-acid food processing, seafood processing, acidified foods, and potentially hazardous foods.
• Document regulatory deficiencies, explain applicable public health laws and standards, and advise establishment management on corrective actions.
• Initiate stop-sale orders, stop-use orders, destruction reports, release notices, and movements of goods under stop-sale orders when indicated by inspection findings.
• Investigate consumer complaints and food-borne illness; conduct follow-up reporting, information requests, opening inspections, special inspections, and other assigned inspection functions.
• Respond to disaster or emergency situations, operate under incident command when required, and periodically handle emergency or request calls.
• Exercise professional judgment and institute appropriate enforcement actions.
• Inspect and test foods for compliance with consumer protection standards using required procedures and statistically valid sampling methods.
• Review food labels for misrepresentation and mandatory consumer information, and evaluate advertising for possible product misrepresentation.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain inspection test equipment, including thermometers, sanitizer test kits, pH meters, and associated equipment and reagents.
• Prepare and submit accurate, timely inspection reports, sample collection reports, permit applications, complaint reports, daily activity reports, travel and expense vouchers, supply requisitions, and other required documents.
• Attend designated training sessions and courses and follow department policies and procedures while conducting official duties professionally.
• Assist in other areas of the state as needed and perform other related duties as 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 supplemental insurance
• 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