AGRICULTURAL INSPECTOR II

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50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. 

This position is emergency essential, on a rotating shift and statewide travel.

To protect and inform Maryland consumers and provide a level playing field for industry by conducting a broad range of Food Quality Assurance Program inspections and compliance audits to determine compliance with state and federal laws, regulations, and standards. This includes, conducting enforcement actions and educational activities related to shell eggs that effectively promote compliance with the Maryland’s requirements for quality, wholesomeness, weight, labeling, handling and invoicing in Central Maryland; conducting Country of Origin Labeling inspections at retail locations to ensure that covered produce seafood, and meat are labeled according to USDA requirements statewide; conducting inspections of poultry and rabbit processing/slaughter facilities to ensure compliance with food safety requirements; conducting inspections of organic operations to ensure compliance with the National Organic Program; relief coverage for resident shell egg plants and poultry plants to select and evaluate samples of shell eggs to certify compliance with established standards for grade, size, labeling, sanitation and buyer specifications statewide; sampling, grading, and certifying grain for export statewide; providing meat grading certification statewide.  Accurate and impartial certification and inspection provides a standard description that promotes the uniform marketing of shell eggs, meat, grain, and ensures these products meet buyer specifications and provide consumer protection.  This position is emergency essential, on a rotating shift and statewide travel.

Conducts relief grading at table egg packaging facilities by sampling product for quality and size; monitoring and evaluating facility sanitation, wash water temperature, and sanitizer requirements; evaluating safety hazards; evaluating sanitation of transport containers; monitoring holding temperatures.  Independently makes complex, controversial and/or borderline determinations of compliance with USDA standards, commercial specifications, and export specifications. Resolves differences of opinion with plant management, supervises technical aspects of plant employee’s performance, documents findings, issues official certification of compliance, retains product and/or stops processing depending on findings, and maintains control of retained product.  Quarterly onsite evaluation by technical supervisor.

Conducts routine inspections of certified organic crop, livestock, and on-farm processing producers to verify compliance with their submitted organic system plan and the USDA National Organic Program regulations that includes crop rotations; promoting biodiversity; use of approved soil amendments; use of approved pesticides; disease, insect, weed and rodent control; improving soil fertility; managing nutrients to protect the environment; preventing cross contamination of organic product; verifying origin of livestock; use of approved livestock inputs; verifying origins of feed; verifying origins of organic ingredients; use of approved labels, and records to document compliance.

Conducts official sampling and inspects containers of grain for export by interpreting and applying technical standards, follows USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service requirements for sampling and weighing, evaluates the sanitation of containers, and observes grain condition (odor, foreign matter, quality).  Prepares grain samples, and tests for moisture, weight, and mycotoxins. Inspects grain service points and equipment to ensure they meet federal standards.  Prepares routine reports on grain inspection operations.  Performs routine maintenance and performance test of grain inspection field and laboratory equipment.

Conducts routine poultry and rabbit processing food safety inspections, reviews records and labels and makes determination that can be sensitive or controversial to approve certification of compliance with standards.

Conducts beef grading at a slaughter facility to verify compliance with USDA customer specifications.  Quarterly review by a USDA technical supervisor to verify interpretation of subjective standards to ensure uniformity.

Conducts routine egg inspections and investigations and assists higher-level inspectors in conducting comprehensive and complex egg inspections and investigations.  Ensures compliance with the Federal Egg Products Inspection Act regulations which prohibit the sale of restricted and inedible eggs to consumers by reviewing records, labeling, holding temperatures and egg quality.

Evaluates invoices, labeling, handling conditions and registration documentation for compliance with the Maryland Egg Law and takes appropriate action at wholesale, retail, and food service locations.

Communicates effectively with plant management, MDA supervisors and other MDA employees, industry (meat, grain, egg) personnel and management, wholesale, retail and food service management, federal supervisors, consumers, etc. concerning regulations procedures, non-compliance, and complaints.

Successfully completes required training, evaluations, and correlations to maintain USDA licenses and professional standards in accordance with training plan.

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Two years of experience in one of the following: production, processing, marketing, grading or inspection of agricultural products or chemicals; assisting veterinarians in care and management of animals; animal disease control; care or management of livestock or inspecting veterinary hospitals, riding stables or livestock dealers; installation, inspection, repair, or testing of weighting, volumetric measuring or counting devices; inspecting labeling and packaging; pesticide sales, use, regulation, or application; production, maintenance or inspection of a tree plantation or nursery stock; pest or weed control; wildlife population censuring; or the production, sales, inspection or testing of seed or turf products.

Notes:

1. Applicants may substitute fifteen credit hours in agriculture; animal, biological, environmental, food or physical sciences; chemistry; mathematics; engineering, or law enforcement at an accredited college or university for each year of experience for up to two years of experience. 

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience non-commissioned officer in quality assurance, inspection and grading classification or quality assurance, inspection and grading specialty codes in the agricultural commodity grading field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.  

Preference will be given to applicants who possess any of the following preferred qualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your application regarding your qualifications.

Experience working on a farm or ranch, including internships and volunteer work.

Experience interpreting and applying State and/or Federal agricultural or food safety regulations, such as National Organic Program regulations, Produce Safety Rule, and Good Agricultural Practices regulations.

Experience reviewing system plans for compliance with agricultural regulations, i.e., organic system plans in compliance with the National Organic Program regulations, Food Safety Plan in compliance with Produce Safety and Good Agricultural Practices requirements.

Experience conducting audits, reviews, or inspections for compliance with State and/or Federal agricultural or food safety regulations.

Experience in agricultural related to inspections, commodity grading, food safety, resource conservation, or consulting.

Applicants who meet the minimum (and selective) qualifications will be included in further evaluation. The evaluation may be a rating of your application based on your education, training, and experience as they relate to the requirements of the position. Therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.  Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year.  The resulting certified eligible list for this recruitment may be used for similar positions in this or other State agencies.

Please report all related education, experience, dates, and hours of work. Clearly indicate your college degree and major on your application, if applicable. For education obtained outside the U.S., any job offer will be contingent on the candidate providing an evaluation for equivalency by a foreign credential evaluation service prior to starting employment (and may be requested prior to interview). 

Complete applications must be submitted by the closing date. Information submitted after this date will not be added.  Incorrect application forms will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. 

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all experience and education that is related to this position.

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STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application to: Maryland Department of Agriculture, Human Resource Office, Room 304, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD  21401. All paper applications must be received by 4:30 PM on the closing date, no exceptions.  (Postmarks not accepted.) Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the online or paper application.

If you are submitting additional information, such as diplomas or transcripts, the preferred method is to upload them online with your application.  If you are unable to upload, you may mail, hand-deliver or fax (HR Fax # 443-602-9831).

For questions concerning this recruitment, please contact: Stacey Summers 410-841-5840 or stacey.summers@maryland.gov.  TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.