Consumer Safety Inspector

Duties Summary

Shifts and species will vary based on assignment. Employees may be detailed to any shift at any plant in the Chicago District. For additional information call Walter Harris at 630‑317‑1113.

Requirements and Qualifications

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

• Specialized experience: Experience that provided knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities or other products for human consumption. This may have been acquired in roles such as consumer safety inspector, inspection aide, food inspector, public health inspector, quality inspection specialist, or similar positions with responsibility for sampling, quality control, and sanitation in a food manufacturing or production environment.

GS‑05 Level

• At least 52 weeks of qualifying experience with knowledge of regulated food commodities (e.g., meat, poultry, fish, eggs, other foods or beverages, pharmaceuticals).
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • Apply proper techniques for collecting samples and performing field tests.
  • Identify abnormalities in products or production environments and recommend corrective actions.
  • Develop written reports and orally communicate findings.
  • Maintain effective contacts with internal and external stakeholders regarding food‑safety standards.

GS‑07 Level

• All GS‑05 qualifications plus at least one additional year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS‑05 level).
• Independent performance of standard and recurrent duties on a regular basis.

GS‑08 Level

• All GS‑07 qualifications plus at least one additional year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS‑07 level).
• Experience must include:
  • Working with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts.
  • Applying basic SSOP and HACCP principles to verify plant responsibilities.
  • Performing basic mathematics and elementary statistical methods for testing and sampling.
  • Reaching and interpreting conclusions from inspection data.

GS‑09 Level

• All GS‑08 qualifications plus at least one additional year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS‑08 level).
• Demonstrated ability to work more independently, including duties such as recommending refusal of exports and providing temporary coverage at locations outside the official duty station.

Experience may include paid, unpaid, or volunteer work (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) that builds relevant competencies. All qualifying experience will be credited.

Incentives

• $5,000 sign‑on bonus (newly appointed only).
• Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA) to determine annual leave rate.
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
• Accelerated Promotion Program (available at Huntingburg, IN; Northwood, OH; and Plainwell, MI).
• $1,000 employee referral bonus award for successful hires.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. Government provides a comprehensive benefits package designed to make a federal career rewarding for employees and their families. Federal employees have access to health insurance, retirement plans, paid leave, and other benefits administered through the standard federal benefits system.