Animal Food Field Inspector (3 Positions) - Washington State Department of Agriculture

Description:

About the Positions: The WSDA wants you to join the Animal Feed Program (AFP) to help us ensure the safety and integrity of animal food by becoming a field inspector! We are hiring to fill 3 Animal Food Field Inspector vacancies in different territories (Eastern, Central and Northwest Washington) they are classified as a Food Safety Compliance Specialist 2 (FSCS 2), and reports directly to the Animal Food Field Supervisor/Preventive Controls Specialist (FSCS 3). The preferred counties for each territory are outlined in bold below. These positions are full time field based with regular car travel within assigned territory and occasional out of state travel. 

These positions serve the Animal Feed Program in carrying out objectives and tasks in its strategic action plan by performing field activities such as inspections, investigations, sample collections, technical assistance, recall activities and compliance/enforcement actions at any applicable facility within the state to protect animals and humans from misbranded or adulterated/contaminated animal food or ingredients. These positions are expected to demonstrate a strong working knowledge of the applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations related to animal feed. These positions are expected to perform field activities independently while prescribing to set procedures, policies or directives. They need to discern between major and minor violations and one-time, isolated events vs. pattern or history of violations while documenting observations in an articulate and well-organized manner. 

Home office in one of the following counties or may be negotiable for each position:

Eastern Washington- Spokane County, Whitman County, Lincoln County, Adams County, or Franklin County.

Central Washington- Kittitas County , Yakima County, Douglas County, Grant County, Benton County.

Northwest Washington- Snohomish County, Skagit County, Whatcom County, King County.

Duties

Conduct inspections and investigations related to animal feed

• Perform independent or joint inspections and investigations at animal feed manufacturing facilities, distributors, transloader locations, warehouses, retail locations and other feed-related establishments under the authority of the Washington State and under contract with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Interpret, apply and ensure compliance with federal, state, and departmental laws, requirements, regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to Animal Feed Program and WSDA.
• Ability to discern between critical and significant observations as well as one-time, isolated events vs. violations that exhibit pattern or history of incompliance and risk during inspectional/investigational activities.
• Document inspectional and investigational findings in a concise, well-formatted, and timely manner as prescribed by the Animal Feed Program and/or federal partners.
• Identify adulterated, contaminated, or misbranded products, unregistered products, or unlicensed firms in the field and report findings in a timely manner to appropriate Animal Feed staff. Conduct appropriate or assigned compliance/enforcement actions.
• Conduct Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Reviews and complete reports in a timely manner.
• Provide testimony during legal and/or compliance/enforcement proceedings related to field activities as needed.
• Deploy as a member of the Washington Rapid Response Team (RRT) during events related to food and/or feed and function under the Incident Command System (ICS).
• Assist with new staff training through trainees observing field activities.

Conduct sampling activities of animal feed and animal feed ingredients

• Collect samples of animal feed and animal feed ingredients under Washington State authority or under contract with the FDA while employing appropriate sampling techniques.
• Collect samples in response to consumer complaints or compliance/enforcement follow-up activities.
• Prepare, document, and ship samples in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Assist with recall activities such as conducting recall effectiveness checks, witnessing recalled product disposition, collecting distribution information, etc.
• Assist with new staff training through trainees observing field sampling activities.

Provide exceptional technical assistance and effectively communicate with stakeholders

• Effectively and proactively communicate with licensees, registrants, agency representatives, and stakeholders to provide technical assistance in a professional and articulate manner.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of the current animal food-related laws, regulations, policies, guidance documents, etc. in order to effectively assist industry partners and other stakeholders.
• Effectively communicate with co-workers to troubleshoot and resolve challenges related to Program work in a positive manner.
• Provide outreach at various events when requested or invited. Provide suggestions of opportunities for outreach to be conducted to Animal Feed Program Management.
• If assigned, specialize in a specific subject area such as but not limited to consumer complaints, recalls or outreach. Coordinate those particular areas/events when/if they arise.

Actively participate in the maintenance of the Animal Food Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS) and preventive controls (PC) implementation

• Serve as a workgroup participant, as assigned and work with Program staff to gather data, create recommendations, report out on assigned topics and/or draft improvements.
• Provide suggestions to Animal Feed Program Management related to field-based activities.

Participate in trainings, meetings, and workshops related to animal feed, AFRPS, and similar topics and perform other duties as required

• Follow assigned training plan and continuing education, concurrently track and provide completion documentation.
• Attend workshops, meetings, trainings, exercises, etc., related to AFRPS, Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF), Washington RRT, etc., as requested.
• Attend various stakeholder meetings or outreach events related to animal feed/rapid response, as requested.

Required Qualifications:

• Any option combination* of minimum six (6) years of education and/or professional experience

Option 1: A master’s degree from an accredited institution involving major study in agriculture, animal science/nutrition, public or environmental health, food science or technology, biochemistry, or similar field AND at least zero (0) years of experience in equivalent public health regulation or animal or human food, agriculture, or other related field/industry manufacturing or quality assurance/control.

Option 2: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution involving major study in the above referenced areas of major study AND at least two (2) years of experience in the above referenced fields. 

Option 3: A associate’s degree from an accredited institution involving major study in the above referenced areas of major study AND at least four (4) years of experience in the above referenced fields.

Option 4: High School Diploma or G.E.D. AND at least six (6) years of experience in the above referenced fields.

*Note: An unrelated degree from an accredited institution can be substituted for the next option below and still has to meet the experience level in that option; for instance: an unrelated master’s degree from an accredited institution will be substituted for Option 2; an unrelated bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution will be substituted for Option 3; an unrelated associate’s degree from an accredited institution will be substituted for Option 4.

• Must hold 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. 

Special Requirement: Must be able to provide their own functional home internet connection and sufficient workspace, which includes office furniture, as this position is an assigned home office work station.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience conducting inspections or audits emphasizing preventive controls for animal food (PCAF) or human food; current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) for medicated feed, animal food or human food; Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) and Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE) control and prevention.
• Experience and proficiency with technology such as Microsoft and Adobe, and inspection/audit database, etc. and understand basic cyber security protection.
• Demonstrated history of fostering teamwork, maintaining confidentiality, self-motivation, excellent customer service, problem resolution, producing high-quality work, accepting accountability and responsibility for work product and making sound judgment for decisions which affect clients, coworkers, or other stakeholders.
• ExcellenHow to Apply:

  Apply Online!

  You will need:

  • A letter of interest to describe why you are the best candidate and how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
  • Current resume detailing experience and education
  • Please include 3 professional references in the application or as an attachment