Consumer Safety Inspector

About the Role

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) responsible for protecting the public's health by ensuring the safety of the Nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and processed egg products.

Responsibilities

• Apply 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).
• Develop written reports and/or report findings 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).
• Perform duties independently, including standard and recurrent assignments on a regular and recurring basis.
• Work with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts to inspect meat, poultry, and egg products.
• Apply basic SSOP (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) principles and practices to verify plant HACCP and SSOP responsibilities.
• Perform basic mathematics and use elementary statistical concepts and methods to perform testing and sampling procedures.
• Reach and interpret conclusions based on inspections and findings.
• Recommend refusal of exports and provide temporary coverage at locations outside of the official duty station (for GS-9 level).
• May be detailed to any shift at any plant in the Raleigh District.

Requirements

Qualifications

You 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

Specialized experience is experience that provided you with knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities or other products for human consumption. Your experience should be acquired working in positions such as consumer safety inspector, inspection aid, food inspector, public health inspector, quality inspection specialist, or other related positions.

GS-5 Level

• At least 52 weeks of qualifying experience that provided knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities and substances, such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or other food or beverages for human consumption, or other ingestible substances, such as pharmaceuticals.

GS-7 Level

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level.
• Performed standard and recurrent duties on an independent basis.
• At least 52 weeks of experience in independently carrying out routine, standard assignments on a regular and recurring basis.

GS-8 Level

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level.
• Experience working with the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts to inspect meat, poultry, and egg products.
• Experience with basic SSOP and HACCP principles and practices.
• Ability to perform basic mathematics and use elementary statistical concepts and methods for testing and sampling procedures.
• Experience in reaching and interpreting conclusions.

GS-9 Level

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-8 level.
• Experience 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.

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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

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.
• $1,000 Employee Referral Bonus Award: Paid to employees who refer applicants who are hired with FSIS.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.