Consumer Safety Inspector

Shifts and species will vary based on assignment. Employee may be detailed to any shift at any plant in the Des Moines District.

Responsibilities

• Apply proper techniques for collecting samples and performing field tests and examinations (e.g., identifying abnormalities in the product or production environment and recommending corrective actions).
• Develop written reports and/or report findings of results orally (e.g., documenting abnormalities in the product or production environment and communicating those findings to others).
• Maintain 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).
• Make determinations on products for human consumption or the production environment (e.g., ensuring conformance with established standards).
• Perform standard and recurrent duties independently on a regular and recurring basis for GS-07 level and above.
• Work with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts to inspect meat, poultry, and egg products (GS-08 level and above).
• Apply basic SSOP and HACCP principles and practices to verify plant HACCP and SSOP responsibilities (GS-08 level and above).
• Perform basic mathematics and use elementary statistical concepts and methods to perform testing and sampling procedures (GS-08 level and above).
• Reach and interpret conclusions based on inspection findings (GS-08 level and above).
• Recommend refusal of exports and provide temporary coverage at locations outside of the official duty station (GS-09 level and above).

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

Requirements

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

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 work 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

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level.
• Experience independently carrying out routine, standard assignments on a regular and recurring basis.

GS-08 Level

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level.
• Experience working with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts.
• Experience with basic SSOP and HACCP principles and practices.
• Ability to perform basic mathematics and use elementary statistical concepts for testing and sampling.
• Experience in reaching and interpreting conclusions.

GS-09 Level

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 level.
• 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

• $5,000 Sign-on Bonus: Available for 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 PSLF Program.
• Accelerated Promotion Program.
• $1,000 Employee Referral Bonus Award: Paid to employees who refer applicants hired by FSIS.

As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a comprehensive benefits package. Learn more about federal benefits.