Food Safety Inspector Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of a one-year probationary period unless previously served.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment medical examination and ability to meet the position’s physical and medical requirements.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Successful completion of the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Ability to read, speak, write, and communicate effectively in English.
• Completion of required training: begin within 90 days of the effective selection date and successfully complete within 12 months.
• Qualifications may be met through specialized experience, qualifying education, or a combination, depending on grade level.
• GS-05: At least 52 weeks of qualifying experience involving knowledge of regulated food commodities or other ingestible substances, or qualifying education: a four-year bachelor’s degree with a major or at least 24 semester credits in specified related fields, or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
• GS-07: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05, including independently carrying out routine, standard assignments, or one full year of directly related graduate education or a qualifying combination.
• GS-08: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, including experience with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts; basic SSOP and HACCP principles; basic mathematics and elementary statistical concepts for testing and sampling; and interpreting conclusions.
• GS-09: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-08, including work at a more independent level, potentially recommending refusal of exports or providing temporary coverage outside the official duty station; alternatively, two full years of directly related graduate education, a directly related master’s degree, or a qualifying combination.
• Qualifying experience may include sampling, field testing and examinations, identifying abnormalities and recommending corrective actions, preparing written reports or communicating findings orally, maintaining effective contacts, and making determinations against established standards.
• Must be physically and medically able to perform essential job functions without posing a direct threat to self or others.
• Must have full range of motion for rapid repetitive twisting and working with arms above shoulder level; be able to stand and walk on slippery or uneven floors and catwalks and climb stairs and ladders.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 30 pounds, with occasional lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Must have upper-body manual dexterity and a normal sense of touch in both hands.
• Must have good near and distance vision, be free of chronic eye disease, and have correctable vision of at least 20/40 in one eye; must be able to distinguish shades of color.
• Significant color blindness may be disqualifying; hearing loss or use of hearing amplification is assessed case by case.
• Federal employees must receive payments by direct deposit; a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) may be required before appointment.

Responsibilities

• Inspect regulated establishments to ensure they produce safe products, using appropriate inspection methods.
• Determine and document regulatory noncompliance and initiate enforcement action when warranted.
• Verify that meat and poultry establishments’ SSOPs and HACCP plans meet regulatory requirements and are effectively implemented.
• Review records, observe plant operations, and conduct hands-on verification of compliance.
• Prepare detailed Non-Compliance Records and assess corrective or preventive actions, trends, and the need for enforcement.
• Conduct regulatory oversight concerning consumer protections, including economic adulteration and misbranding.
• Explain legal and regulatory requirements and discuss plant SSOPs, HACCP plans, and other food-safety programs with plant personnel.
• Communicate and defend noncompliance determinations and work with others to resolve problems or clarify regulatory interpretations.
• Advise agency inspectors, supervisors, and officers on inspection and enforcement matters.
• Conduct sampling, surveys, and tests, including testing for microbes, residues, or contaminants.
• Ensure imported meat and poultry products comply with federal regulations; authorize entry of compliant products or refuse entry of noncompliant products.
• Coordinate with other federal agencies regarding animal-health restrictions and refused-entry lots.

Benefits

• $5,000 sign-on bonus, subject to a signed two-year service agreement, satisfactory performance and conduct, and applicable conditions.
• Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA) may be available.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program information is provided.
• Referral bonus awards of $1,000 may be available, subject to eligibility and conditions.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type.