Consumer Safety Inspector

Shifts and species will vary based on assignment. For additional information about Willmar, call Dr. Katrina Nguyen at (320) 874-1722, or Melrose, call Dr. Nicole Hjelle at 320-250-3708. Employees may be detailed to any shift at any plant in the Des Moines District.

Responsibilities

The duties of a Consumer Safety Inspector are performed in a hazardous working environment. Responsibilities include:

• Applying proper techniques for collecting samples and/or performing field tests and examinations (e.g., identifying abnormalities in the product or production environment and recommending corrective actions).
• Developing written reports and/or reporting findings of results orally (e.g., documenting abnormalities in the product or production environment and communicating those findings to others).
• Skill in maintaining effective personal contacts with a variety of individuals (e.g., discussing findings with internal or external contacts regarding food safety standards established in the production environment).
• Making determinations on products for human consumption or the production environment (e.g., ensuring conformance with established standards).
• For GS-07 level and above: Independently carrying out routine, standard assignments on a regular and recurring basis.
• For GS-08 level: Working with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts to inspect meat, poultry, and egg products; working with basic SSOP and HACCP principles and practices to verify plant HACCP and SSOP responsibilities; performing basic mathematics and elementary statistical concepts and methods to perform testing and sampling procedures; reaching and interpreting conclusions.
• For GS-09 level: Working at a more independent level, including duties such as recommending refusal of exports and providing temporary coverage at locations outside of the official duty station.

Requirements

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

Qualifications

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, inspection aide, food inspector, public health inspector, quality inspection specialist, or similar positions.

• GS-05 Level: At least 52 weeks of qualifying experience that provided knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities (e.g., meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or other food/beverages for human consumption, or other ingestible substances like pharmaceuticals).
• 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.
• GS-08 Level: In addition to GS-07 qualifications, experience must include:
  • Working with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts to inspect products.
  • Applying SSOP and HACCP principles and practices.
  • Performing basic mathematics and elementary statistical concepts for testing and sampling.
  • Reaching and interpreting conclusions.
• GS-09 Level: In addition to GS-08 qualifications, experience working at a more independent level, including duties such as recommending refusal of exports and providing temporary coverage at locations outside the official duty station.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social).

Benefits

As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• $5,000 Sign-On Bonus: Available to newly appointed employees.
• Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual: Calculated to determine the annual leave accrual rate.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: For more information, visit the PSLF Program.
• Accelerated Promotion Program.
• $1,000 Employee Referral Bonus Award: Paid to employees who refer applicants hired by FSIS.