Salary: $57,324.00 – $77,028.00 Annually
Location: Multiple Locations Statewide, WA
Job Type: Agency Internal – Permanent
Remote Employment: Remote Only
Department: Dept. of Agriculture
Job Number: 2023-03600
Closing: Continuous

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.

The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.

If you process, manufacture, store or handle any food or dairy products for wholesale distribution, or if your custom slaughter or custom cut meat, you need to contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture Food Safety Program for licensing and/or inspection information.

The Food Safety Program performs a variety of public health investigations in cooperation with county, state health and federal food agencies to protect the public health. Our dual mission is to protect and reduce the risk to public health by assuring the safety of the State’s food supply while facilitating the movement of Washington agricultural products in domestic and international markets. We do this by: 

• Inspecting and analyzing food products and food processing and handling; inspecting food storage establishments and practices.
• Inspecting dairy farms and plants. 
• inspecting eggs for quality and weight standards, set and enforce sanitary standards for egg graders. 
• Inspecting custom farm slaughterers, custom meat facilities. 
• Licensing dairy technicians. 
• Issuing Export Certificates of Sanitation and Free Sale for food products manufactured in Washington State.
• Issuing licensing for Direct Sellers.
• Issuing voluntary Hemp Extract Facility Certification.

Food businesses operating in the State of Washington that process and/or warehouse manufactured food products for distribution in commerce and resale by other food businesses must follow safe food handling and/or processing practices to protect the public from illness or injury caused by food consumed. Washington State laws, Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations adopted by WSDA, and WSDA regulations detail the specific food safety requirements. The vast majority of manufactured food firms licensed by WSDA successfully implement the required practices and maintain substantial compliance for operating in Washington State. Food Safety Compliance Specialists conduct food safety inspections of food facilities to verify the firm is operating in substantial compliance with the required laws and regulations.

The Food Safety Compliance Specialist 3 (FSCS 3) –  Inspection Standards Specialist performs inspections, investigations and collect samples to protect the public from unsafe or adulterated food by evaluating conformance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. This position conducts complex food safety inspections in facilities that process or hold food products including but not limited to; food processors, dairy farms, dairy plants, custom meat facilities and trucks, egg handling facilities, poultry processors, and food warehouses. The FSCS 3 performs independent inspections to evaluate the sanitary and personnel conditions found in each facility based on the appropriate state law and applicable federal regulation while assessing conditions that may lead to increased risk to public health. As the FSCS 3 Inspection Standards Specialist you will be responsible to review the work of the FSCS’ s for accuracy, consistency, and completeness, therefore a very high degree of familiarity with the Food Safety Program laws, rules and policies is required. This position is responsible for bringing problems noted upon review to the attention of the Region Manager and to assist them as requested to provide coaching of their co-workers to help them produce and submit high quality reports of their inspection observations.

Position and Salary Information
WSDA is recruiting for an internal full-time permanent Food Safety Compliance Specialist 3 (FSCS 3) – Inspection Standards Specialist position within the Food Safety Program in the Food Safety and Consumer Services Division. This position is approved for a home duty station and is a Washington Public Employees Association represented position.

The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary range for this position is: $57,324 Step A – $75,120 Step L annually. 

In addition to the salary listed above, incumbents with a home duty station in King County receive an additional 5% King County Location Pay stipend . If a position is designated as requiring dual language skills, incumbents will also receive a 5% Dual Language Requirement Pay stipend.

For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at www.agr.wa.gov.

Duties
Some of what you’ll do:  

• Conduct quality assurance review, contract endorsement, and data entry in eSAF and/or other data systems.
• Provide technical assistance and training to Food Safety and Food Safety Compliance Specialist inspection staff on FDA contract requirements.
• Provide ongoing quality assurance review (MFRPS desk audits), regarding written inspection reports prepared by other FSCS staff.
• Assist the Region Managers, Program Manager, and MFRPS and FDA Contracts Coordinator with improvement of current reporting standards and development of future reporting standards.
• Report and organize areas of significant non-compliance with program standards to the Region Manager for further action.
• Review the written FDA contract reports and provide official endorsement and subsequent data entry into eSAF and/or other data systems and spreadsheets.
• Help develop training materials and participate in presentations related to inspection documentation standards.
• Evaluate firm’s control of public health risks by performing independent inspections of conditions in facilities that hold, pack, transfer or produce food.
• Base inspection on the appropriate state and/or federal regulation and program policy.
• Conduct federally mandated Grade ‘A’ Dairy testing of pasteurization equipment and evaluations of bulk milk haulers and samplers by written and practical examination.
• Discern between critical and minor violations and provides technical assistance to industry whenever possible.
• Provide clear and concise oral and written reports of inspection and investigation findings.
• Prepare written reports that serve as the foundation for initiation of enforcement actions including on-the-spot product diversions (voluntary option to avoid embargo), embargo or stop sale actions.
• Provide technical assistance and education to all industries and the public regarding food safety regulation, compliance and enforcement.
• Routinely sample food items for scheduled surveillance testing.
• Investigate and sample when inspection observations indicate a potential for adulteration of food products. Sampling activities may include focused aseptic environmental and product sampling to determine the extent or source of a particular problem of public health concern.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications: 

• A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in business, microbiology, food science, food technology, biochemistry, dairy science, or a natural science in a closely allied field.

• Three years of experience as a Washington State Food Safety Compliance Specialist.
• Two years of the experience above can be substituted by any of the following:
  • Two years of experience as a food or dairy inspector or
  • Two years of equivalent public health regulatory-related experience or
  • Three years of quality control experience in a food or dairy processing plant.

A Master’s degree involving major study in one of the above education fields will substitute for one year of the experience but not for the one year of experience as a Washington State Food Safety Compliance Specialist.

• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license. 
• Must be able to provide their own functional home internet connection and sufficient workspace as this position is an assigned home office workstation.
• Must have the ability to qualify for and obtain FDA Commissioning as required. 

• Meets qualifications for FSCS position duties.
• Citizen of US.
• No felonies/misdemeanors (excluding minor traffic offenses) or pending trials/investigations for such.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience in food processing, dairy processing, or of serving as an individual charged with enforcing laws or statutes.

How to apply 
You must complete your careers.wa.gov profile and answer the supplemental questions. In addition to completing the online application, and supplemental questions applicants must attach the following documents to their profile to be considered for this position:

· Current resume detailing experience and education.

· A cover letter describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3949684/food-safety-compliance-specialist-3-inspection-standards-specialist

By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.
 
Applications with comments “see attachments” will be considered incomplete.
 
If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of your application and the materials submitted. All information may be verified, and documentation may be required. Applications received via e-mail will not be accepted in lieu of applying through the state’s on-line recruitment system.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

Contact Us
Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact the Human Resource Office at Recruitment@agr.wa.gov.
 
Prior to a new appointment into the Department of Agriculture, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
   
The Human Resources Division may use referrals from this recruitment to help fill future similar vacancies for up to six months.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Exemption may be granted for religious or medical purposes and should be requested a minimum of (7) seven days prior to the first day of employment. Accommodations will be subject to approval based on the essential functions required of the position.

Veteran’s Preference: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran’s Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, or other verification of military service. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For additional information on Veteran’s Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here. 

Persons with a disability, who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3949684/food-safety-compliance-specialist-3-inspection-standards-specialist