Consumer Safety Inspector

Position Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) is seeking qualified individuals for the role of Consumer Safety Inspector, based in Hammond, LA. This position entails working in a challenging environment focused on safeguarding public health through ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and processed egg products. Assignments vary, including different shifts and species, with possible details to any plant within the Dallas District.

Duties

Responsibilities include performing inspections, sampling, testing, and evaluation of regulated food commodities to assess their safety and compliance with federal standards. Inspectors identify abnormalities within products or production environments, recommend corrective measures, document findings both orally and in written reports, and maintain effective communication with various stakeholders regarding food safety.

Qualifications

Candidates must meet eligibility requirements and possess relevant specialized experience by the announcement closing date. Specialized experience involves knowledge of the characteristics of regulated food items including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or other consumable substances such as pharmaceuticals. Experience can stem from roles such as consumer safety inspector, food or public health inspector, or quality control specialist in food production or similar environments.

Specific qualification levels are as follows:

• GS-05: At least 52 weeks of experience with knowledge of food commodities, sample collection, field testing, reporting, and interpersonal communication.
• GS-07: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 with demonstrated ability to perform standard duties independently.
• GS-08: One year of experience at the GS-07 level, knowledge of Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Acts, SSOP, HACCP principles, basic math and statistics related to sampling, and analytical conclusions.
• GS-09: One year at GS-08 level, with more independent responsibilities such as recommending export refusals and providing temporary coverage outside the primary work location.

Volunteer and unpaid experiences may be credited toward qualifications. This position involves working in hazardous environments.

Benefits and Incentives

• $5,000 Sign-on Bonus for newly appointed inspectors.
• Creditable service counting toward annual leave accrual rate.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility.
• $1,000 Referral Bonus for employees who recommend successful hires.

Federal employment offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees and their families.