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 with regulatory requirements, 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; document non-compliance in detail (Non-Compliance Records).
• Determine when regulatory control action is necessary, assess corrective/preventative actions, identify trends in non-compliance, and recommend 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 collaborate on plans to address 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 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 meat and poultry imports; authorize or refuse entry based on compliance.
• 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.
• Must successfully complete a one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Must pass a pre-employment medical examination.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must successfully 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 to determine suitability.
• False statements on a resume or application may result in disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
• Must be able to read, speak, write, and communicate effectively in English.
• Must meet pre-employment physical requirements:
  • Full range of motion to perform rapid repetitive twisting and working with arms above shoulder level.
  • Able to stand and walk on slippery and uneven floors, catwalks, and climb stairs and ladders.
  • Able 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 (more than 25% error rate on approved color plate test) 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. Such experience may include roles such as consumer safety inspector, food inspector, public health inspector, quality inspection specialist, or similar positions with responsibilities for sampling, quality control, and sanitation in food manufacturing or production environments.

• 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 (e.g., identifying product or environmental abnormalities and recommending corrective actions).
  • Developing written reports or communicating findings orally (e.g., documenting abnormalities and discussing them with stakeholders).
  • Maintaining effective contacts with individuals to discuss food safety standards (e.g., explaining findings to internal or external parties).
  • Making determinations on products or production environments to ensure compliance with established standards.
• 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. Experience must include routine assignments demonstrating knowledge of 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 to inspect products.
  • SSOP and HACCP principles to verify plant responsibilities.
  • Basic mathematics and elementary statistical concepts for testing and sampling.
  • Interpreting conclusions based on findings.
• 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.
  • Providing temporary coverage at locations outside the official duty station.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training.

Education

Education may substitute for 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.
  • Specialized government or military training directly related to the position may be creditable.
  • A combination of education (in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a bachelor’s degree with related coursework) 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 directly related master’s degree.
  • A combination of graduate education (in excess of the first 18 semester hours) and specialized experience may qualify.