Food Specialist or Food Advisor – Agricultural Specialist or Agricultural Advisor

About the role

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well‑being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State is committed to equity and inclusion and invests in employees through benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

The Agricultural Specialist is an entry‑level position in the Food and Feed Safety Division that establishes and carries out a detailed work plan to (1) perform inspections, compliance, and enforcement activities in food establishments for assurance and general enforcement of state food safety laws and regulations; (2) under general supervisory direction, perform licensing, investigations, and response activities; and (3) provide information and technical assistance to clientele on retail food safety issues or compliance with state retail food safety laws and regulations.

The Agricultural Advisor is an advanced‑level position in the same division that establishes and carries out a detailed work plan to (1) conduct inspections, licensing, investigations, response, compliance, and enforcement activities in food establishments for assurance and general enforcement of state food safety laws and regulations; (2) provide information and technical assistance to clientele on retail food safety issues or compliance with state retail food safety laws and regulations; and (3) provide training and assessment on inspection, sampling, compliance, licensing, investigation, and response activities for State Agricultural Specialists and local retail food regulatory staff.

This is a remote‑worker position; the employee’s home or alternative location is the assigned work location, they work permanently from that location, and they do not have an agency permanent/principal work location. Remote work locations must be within the State of Minnesota. The position primarily serves portions of Wabasha, Olmsted, Winona, Fillmore, and Houston counties, but assignments may be made throughout the state as needed. Candidates must live in or relocate to within 35 miles of the inspection territory within six months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Perform inspections, compliance, and enforcement activities in food establishments to assure and enforce state food safety laws and regulations.
• Conduct licensing, investigations, and response activities under general supervisory direction.
• Provide information and technical assistance to clientele regarding retail food safety issues or compliance with state retail food safety laws and regulations.
• Establish and carry out a detailed work plan to achieve program goals.
• (Agricultural Advisor) Provide training and assessment on inspection, sampling, compliance, licensing, investigation, and response activities for State Agricultural Specialists and local retail food regulatory staff.

Requirements

• Agricultural Specialist – Minimum Qualifications:
  • One (1) year of experience conducting environmental health or food safety regulatory work (inspection, investigation, HACCP/Food Safety Plan review); or equivalent experience performing technical food safety, sanitation, or quality‑controlled work in food production, processing, or environmental health settings.
  • OR an associate’s degree in general science, natural science, agricultural or animal science, food science, environmental science, or a closely related field PLUS six (6) months of the experience described above.
  • OR a bachelor’s degree in general science, natural science, agricultural or animal science, food science, environmental science, or a closely related field.
• Agricultural Advisor – Minimum Qualifications:
  • Two (2) years of experience conducting food safety regulatory work (inspection, investigation, HACCP or specialized process review); or equivalent experience performing advanced food safety, quality assurance, or compliance work in food manufacturing or regulatory environments, including responsibility for identifying violations, recommending corrective actions, or conducting technical reviews.
  • OR an associate’s degree in general science, natural science, agricultural or animal science, food science, environmental science, or a directly related field PLUS 18 months of the experience described above.
  • OR a bachelor’s degree in one of the fields listed above PLUS one (1) year of the experience described above.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills (Specialist) / Excellent verbal and written communication skills (Advisor).
• Must currently possess and maintain an active/valid driver’s license with an acceptable motor vehicle record subject to review.
• Ability to celebrate diversity and a strong commitment to a respectful and inclusive work environment.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of applicable Minnesota food safety laws and regulations (Advisor).
• The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will not sponsor applicants for work visas, including STEM OPT extensions; all applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
• A job offer is contingent upon successfully passing a background check, which may include SEMA4 records check (for current/former state employees), employment reference check, driver’s license check, conflict of interest review, and criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Agricultural Specialist:
  • A bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field from an accredited institution.
  • Certification as a Registered Sanitarian/Registered Environmental Health Specialist (RS/REHS) with the State of Minnesota or the National Environmental Health Association.
  • Retail Foods Regulator Certification (RFRC) from the Association of Food and Drug Officials.
  • More than one (1) year of experience with public health regulatory work (inspection, compliance, enforcement, retail HACCP verification) in retail food establishments.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of applicable Minnesota food safety laws and regulations.
  • Experience collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Agricultural Advisor:
  • A bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field from an accredited institution.
  • Certification as a Registered Sanitarian/Environmental Health Specialist (RS/REHS) with the State of Minnesota and/or the National Environmental Health Association.
  • Retail Foods Regulator Certification (FSRC) from the Association of Food and Drug Officials.
  • More than two (2) years of experience with regulatory work (inspection, investigation, plan review, response, retail HACCP) in retail food establishments.
  • Experience training and/or assessing risk‑based inspections of regulatory staff.
  • Experience collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Experience, skill, and comfort with public speaking.

Pay

Salary range: $26.12 – $37.91 per hour; $54,538 – $79,156 per year.

Schedule

• Work shift: Day shift.
• Days of work: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Travel required: Yes.