Produce Safety Field Inspector

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 approximately 780 employees 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.



The WSDA Produce Safety Program within the Food Safety & Consumer Services Division encourages the safe production of fruits and vegetables, thereby reducing the public health risks for consumers of Washington produce. Through education and enforcement, the program promotes understanding of and compliance with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.

The Produce Safety Field Inspector will conduct field inspections and investigations, provide technical assistance, and participate in training events throughout Washington State. This position will work in collaboration with a wide variety of organizations such as produce growers, local health departments, and federal agencies, as well as commodity commissions and associations to achieve program objectives. This position is approved for a home duty station but will need to reside in Chelan, Douglas, or Okanogan county. 

• Develop and maintain positive, productive, respectful working relationships with clients and coworkers.
• Work with minimal guidance in pursuit of established program goals and objectives.
• Grasp ideas and concepts to create tangible results in the pursuit of established program goals.

Further, we encourage you to apply if you have excellent written and verbal communication skills; sound judgment in representing an agency or organization to a wide variety of stakeholders; and are able to discern between critical and routine items of concerns.

Position and Salary Information

WSDA is recruiting for a full-time non-permanent Produce Safety Field Inspector position within the Produce Safety Program. This position is located in Washington, and is non-represented.

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: $58,380Step A - $ 76,608 Step L annually. 

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Perform field inspections on assigned entities ensuring adherence to established program standards.
• Conduct thorough review of required sanitation and other required records.
• Perform a complete inspection of on-site physical structures and associated grounds for compliance with standards.
• Document and presents inspection and investigation findings.
• Maintain a fully trained status by completing all assigned training requirements to meet program expectations.
• Organize and participates in training events (e.g., PSA Grower Training, advanced workshops) with local farms, firms, local health agencies, and other entities as required, in-person and online.
• Fully support program-organized training events such as On-Farm Readiness Reviews, with various staff members.
• Provide technical assistance to farms.
• Aide in relevant document/electronic resource creation for achievement of program education and outreach objectives.
• Develop and maintain a tracking system of assigned entities to ensure inspection frequency standards are met.
• Work in conjunction with database manager to maintain database organization and a complete aggregate data set. 
• Input data and retrieve reports from FoodPro database on inspection results and assignments.

Who should apply?

Professionals with:

A Bachelor's degree involving major study in business, microbiology, food science, food technology, biochemistry, diary science, environmental health or a degree in a closely allied field. One year of professional experience in a public health regulatory or food manufacturing environment. 

In addition to the above qualifications, the following knowledge, skill and abilities will make a candidate highly desirable: 

• Experience with USDA GAP/GHP audits and standards.
• Prior experience with agricultural and food processing individuals and organizations and with a demonstrated history of positive interactions.

Special Requirements:

• Must hold and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Must have the ability to qualify for and obtain FDA Commissioning as required. FDA Commission qualifications (subject to change, discretion, and further inquiry by FDA):
  • Meets qualification for FSCS position duties.
  • Citizen of US
  • No felonies/misdemeanors (excluding minor traffic offenses) or pending trials/investigations for such.
• Must be able to provide their own functional home internet connection and sufficient workspace as this position is an assigned home office work station.

Employee Benefits

• A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, and teleworking.
• WSDA provides an excellent benefits package beyond traditional benefits. State employment offers Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave; click here for more information.
• 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals.
• All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.
• Commute Trip Reduction Program. 

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

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.

 

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.

 

Equity at WSDA  

The Department of Agriculture recognizes, appreciates, supports, embraces, and respects all cultural identities and backgrounds while we collaborate in authentic ways. We hire amazing people that share in the commitment to our Pro-Equity Anti-Racist (PEAR) strategic plan, our Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act implementation plan, and our unique needs and desires for belonging, respect, and inclusion. We value the growth and development of our team members by providing equitable access to resources and opportunities for continuous learning, improvement, and advancement.

 

We strive to hire, cultivate, and retain a productive and dedicated workforce that reflects the communities we serve while we are committed to a workplace that celebrates our differences and supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

 
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.

 

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.

Salary : $58,380 - $78,468