AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY GRADER I *REPOST*

About the role

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is seeking a resident grader and relief grader to join the Food Quality Assurance Program. This position is emergency essential, on a rotating shift, and must have flexibility to work various day or night shifts.

Responsibilities

• Select, evaluate and document results for samples of poultry accurately, efficiently and in accordance with established standards.
• Evaluate safety hazards, document findings and take appropriate action in accordance with established standards and procedures as applicable.
• Retain product or prohibit processing of USDA shielded product based on safety hazards, labeling and/or sampling results and maintain control of retained product.
• Review documents, regulations, procedure updates, memos, specifications, etc. from Maryland Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture and other agencies, maintain files/handbooks, initiate action to implement as required.
• Complete and submit required documents (certificates, volume reports, time sheets, work assignment sheets, charge sheets, etc.) accurately and in accordance with established requirements.
• Effectively communicate with plant management, MDA supervisor and other MDA employees, industry personnel/management, wholesale, retail and food service management, federal supervisors, consumers, etc. concerning regulations, technical grading standards, procedures and non-compliances.
• Prompt and dependable coverage of assigned shifts and other duties as assigned in accordance with established procedures.
• Provide effective training and education concerning poultry standards & quality factors (in accordance with program goals and needs) to plant employees and other MDA employees to as requested by plant management, MDA supervisors or USDA supervisors in accordance with regulations, and to students and the general public at public fairs, seminars for industry, etc.
• Successfully completes available training to maintain professional standards in accordance with training plan.
• Oversee and coordinate grading activities at poultry processing plants to ensure specification requirements are met.

Requirements

• Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
• Experience: One year of successful progressively responsible technical experience in a phase of sampling, testing, marketing, grading or inspecting agricultural products.
• Candidates may substitute additional experience on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required education.
• Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience non-commissioned officer in quality assurance, inspection and grading classification or quality assurance, inspection and grading specialty codes in the agricultural commodity grading field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.
• Desired or Preferred Qualifications: Experience working on a farm or ranch, including internships and volunteer work. Experience interpreting and applying State and/or Federal agricultural or food safety regulations, such as National Organic Program regulations, Produce Safety Rule, and Good Agricultural Practices regulations.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required to obtain required USDA licensing.
• Licenses, Registrations and Certifications: Employees in this classification will be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland. Employees in this classification must obtain the appropriate commodity grader license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, after a period of training, and within three months of appointment.

Skills

• Accurate and impartial certification of poultry grades, weights, labeling and buyer specifications.
• Effective communication with plant management, MDA supervisor and other MDA employees, industry personnel/management, wholesale, retail and food service management, federal supervisors, consumers, etc.
• Ability to interpret and apply State and/or Federal agricultural or food safety regulations.
• Ability to oversee and coordinate grading activities at poultry processing plants.

Benefits

• Eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents.
• Eligible for dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance.

Pay

Salary range: $17.00 - $21.00 per hour.

Schedule

Rotating shift, typically Day Shift 7:00 am-5:00 pm and Night Shift 4:30 pm-3:30am.