Consumer Safety Inspector.

About the Role

As a Consumer Safety Inspector, you will ensure regulated establishments produce safe food products by executing inspection methods, identifying non-compliance, documenting findings, and initiating enforcement actions when necessary.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Ensure execution of SSOP and HACCP Plans effectively prevents unsanitary conditions and product adulteration.
• Review records, observe plant operations, and conduct hands-on verification to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements; prepare detailed documentation (Non-Compliance Records) for non-compliance.
• Determine when regulatory control action is necessary, assess corrective/preventative actions, identify trends in non-compliance, and initiate enforcement action when 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 gather 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 imported products comply with all applicable Federal regulations governing the importation of meat and poultry products.
• Authorize entry of compliant products or refuse entry of non-compliant products.
• 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

• Training as a condition of employment (TCOE) is required; must begin within 90 days and complete within 12 months of selection.
• 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.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment medical examination.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Direct deposit of federal payments is required.
• May need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to appointment.
• Must be able to read, speak, write, and effectively communicate in English.
• Must be physically and medically able to perform essential job functions without posing a direct threat to self or others, including:
  • Full range of motion for rapid repetitive twisting and working with arms above shoulder level.
  • Ability to stand and walk on slippery and uneven floors, catwalks, and climb stairs and ladders.
  • Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 30 pounds, with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
  • Manual dexterity of the upper body, including arms, hands, and fingers, with a normal sense of touch in both hands.
  • Good near and distance vision, free of chronic eye disease, with correctable vision of at least 20/40 in one eye.
  • Ability to distinguish shades of color; significant color blindness may be disqualifying.
  • Hearing ability sufficient for job requirements; significant hearing loss may require accommodation.

Qualifications

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

Specialized Experience

Specialized experience is defined as knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities or other products for human consumption, acquired through 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 demonstrating knowledge of regulated food commodities (e.g., meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or other ingestible substances). Examples include:
  • Collecting samples and performing field tests/examinations.
  • Developing written reports or communicating findings orally.
  • Maintaining effective contacts with individuals regarding food safety standards.
  • Making determinations on products or production environments for compliance.
• GS-07 Level: In addition to GS-05 qualifications, at least one year of specialized experience (equivalent to GS-05) performing standard and recurrent duties independently, such as:
  • Routine assignments involving regulated food commodities.
  • Applying knowledge of food safety standards in a production environment.
• GS-08 Level: At least one year of specialized experience (equivalent to GS-07), including:
  • Working with Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts.
  • Applying SSOP and HACCP principles to verify plant responsibilities.
  • Performing basic mathematics and elementary statistical concepts for testing and sampling.
  • Interpreting conclusions from inspection findings.
• GS-09 Level: At least one year of specialized experience (equivalent to GS-08), including:
  • Working at a more independent level, such as recommending refusal of exports or providing temporary coverage at other locations.
  • Experience refers to paid and unpaid work, including volunteer roles (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps).

Education

Education may substitute for specialized experience as follows:

• GS-05 Level:
  • A 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.
  • Specialized government or military training related to the position may be creditable.
  • A combination of education (in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a bachelor’s degree) and specialized experience may also qualify.
• GS-07 Level:
  • One full year of directly related graduate education.
  • A combination of graduate education and specialized experience may qualify.
• GS-09 Level:
  • Two full years of directly related graduate education or a master’s degree.
  • A combination of graduate education (in excess of the first 18 semester hours) and specialized experience may qualify.