Consumer Safety Inspector.

Responsibilities

• Ensure regulated establishments produce safe products by executing appropriate inspection methods, determining non-compliance with regulatory requirements, documenting noncompliance, and initiating enforcement actions where warranted.
• Verify that meat and poultry slaughter and/or processing establishments' Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Plans meet regulatory requirements.
• Verify execution of SSOP and HACCP Plans to prevent unsanitary conditions and adulteration of product.
• Review records, observe plant operations, and conduct hands-on verification to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements; prepare detailed documentation (Non-Compliance Records) of non-compliance.
• Determine when regulatory control action is necessary, assess corrective or preventative actions, identify trends in noncompliance, and decide if enforcement action is warranted.
• Conduct regulatory oversight activities related to consumer protections such as economic adulteration and misbranding.
• Communicate with plant managers, owners, and others to explain legal and regulatory requirements, discuss SSOP, HACCP plans, and other food safety programs.
• Defend determinations on non-compliance issues and discuss plans for addressing non-compliance.
• Resolve problems and clarify differences of interpretation concerning HACCP and other food safety or consumer protection requirements.
• Advise other Agency inspectors, supervisors, and officers on inspection and enforcement matters.
• Conduct samplings, surveys, and tests to obtain data on potential problem areas, industry trends, or other issues of interest to the Agency.
• Perform health and safety verification sampling and tests for detection of specific microbes (e.g., salmonella, listeria), residues, or contaminants.
• Assure that imported products comply with all applicable Federal regulations governing the importation of meat and poultry products.
• Authorize or refuse entry of meat or poultry products based on compliance with Federal regulations.
• Coordinate with other Federal agencies (e.g., Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection) on matters such as animal health restrictions and refused entry lots.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of a one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct deposit of federal payments is required.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be able to read, speak, write, and effectively communicate in English.
• False statements on a resume or application may result in disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
• May need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine suitability for Federal employment and authorize a background investigation.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment medical examination.
• Training as a condition of employment (TCOE) is required; must begin within 90 days and complete within 12 months of selection.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience, and/or education.

Time-In-Grade

Applicants must meet requirements for one year at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g., one year at the GS-07 grade level for consideration for the GS-08 grade level).

Specialized Experience

Specialized experience is experience that provided knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities or other products for human consumption. Such experience may have been acquired in roles such as consumer safety inspector, food inspector, public health inspector, or quality inspection specialist.

• GS-05 Level: At least 52 weeks of qualifying experience applying proper techniques for collecting samples, performing field tests, developing written reports, maintaining effective personal contacts, or ensuring conformance with food safety standards.
• GS-07 Level: In addition to GS-05 qualifications, at least one year of specialized experience (equivalent to GS-05) independently carrying out routine assignments related to regulated food commodities.
• GS-08 Level: At least one year of specialized experience (equivalent to GS-07) working with Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts, SSOP and HACCP principles, basic mathematics, and elementary statistical concepts.
• GS-09 Level: At least one year of specialized experience (equivalent to GS-08) working at a more independent level, including duties such as recommending refusal of exports and providing temporary coverage at other locations.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations.

Education

Education may be used to qualify in lieu of specialized experience as follows:

• GS-05 Level: Successful completion of a full 4-year bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in agricultural, biological, or physical sciences, food technology, epidemiology, home economics, pharmacy, engineering, or nutrition. A combination of education and specialized experience may also qualify.
• GS-07 Level: One full year of directly related graduate education or a combination of education and specialized experience.
• GS-09 Level: Two full years of directly related graduate education or a master's degree, or a combination of education and specialized experience.

Additional Information

This position requires a pre-employment physical. Applicants must:

• Be physically and medically able to efficiently perform essential job functions without being a direct threat to themselves or others.
• Have full range of motion to perform rapid repetitive twisting and working with arms above shoulder level.
• Be able to stand and walk on slippery and uneven floors and catwalks, and climb stairs and ladders.
• Be able to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 30 pounds, with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
• Have manual dexterity of the upper body, including arms, hands, and fingers, with a normal sense of touch in both hands.
• Have good near and distance vision, be free of chronic eye disease, and have correctable vision of at least 20/40 in one eye.