[Hiring] Food Safety Compliance Specialist @State of Washington

Role Description

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is recruiting for a full-time permanent Food Safety Compliance Specialist 2 position within the Food Safety & Consumer Services Division. The position is approved for a home duty station in Chelan or Okanogan County, WA but needs to be willing and able to travel statewide for inspections. Some workdays may be outside a typical 8-hour schedule and occasional weekend work may be necessary.

The purpose of the Compliance Specialist is to perform 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
• Produce farms
• Custom meat facilities
• Trucks
• Egg handling facilities
• Poultry processors
• Food warehouses
• Cottage food permits
• Cannabis infused edible processors

This position issues embargoes and diversions as needed to protect public health and compiles evidence, photo documentation, written reports, and provides expert witness testimony in support of legal actions.

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.
• Experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• One (1) year of professional experience in a public health regulatory food manufacturing environment.
• Must have the ability to qualify for and obtain FDA Commissioning as required.
• Two (2) years of equivalent public health regulatory related experience and/or three (3) years of quality control experience in a food or dairy processing plant.

Requirements

• Citizen of the US.
• No felonies/misdemeanors (excluding minor traffic offenses) or pending trials/investigations for such.

Benefits

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