Description

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.

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) - Auditor 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. In addition, the FSCS 3 Auditor is responsible to evaluate the field inspection work of the FSCS' s for accuracy, consistency, and completeness. To serve this role a very high degree of familiarity with the Food Safety Program laws, rules and policies is required.

Position and Salary Information

WSDA is recruiting for an internal full-time permanent Food Safety Compliance Specialist 3 (FSCS 3) - Auditor 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/hourly.

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.

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.

Duties

Some of what you'll do:

• 
  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.
• Serve as a technical expert to the Food Safety Program by conducting basic and advanced audits of FDA contract inspections.
• Prepare for and conduct on-site audits of FSCS’s conducting facility inspections.
• Prepare audit paperwork and submit it to the FDA and WSDA management and determine if the contract inspection is in substantial compliance.
• Obtain certification by FDA through a successful certification and training audit by the FDA or delegate.
• Help conduct desk audits of WSDA inspection reports and sample reports.
• Provide feedback and technical assistance to FSCS’s for conforming to inspection standards
• 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.
• Provide license applicants with assistance to achieve licensing status including the review of construction and remodel plans for compliance.
• Participate in authoring technical brochures, printed matter and media presentations to provide technical assistance and education.
• Present training and seminars to stakeholders, peers and other regulatory officials.

Qualifications

Who should apply?
Professionals with:

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.

Supplemental Information

• 
  Current resume detailing experience and education
• A cover letter describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this 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.