Agriculture Compliance Specialist 1, 2, or 3 - Manufactured Food Specialist

We at the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) take our responsibilities to you very seriously and are committed to protecting and promoting Georgia's agriculture through superior service and leadership.

·         The mission of the GDA is to protect consumers, promote agriculture locally and globally, and assist our customers using education, technology, and a professional workforce.

·         The vision of the GDA is to continue to be a globally recognized leader in agricultural excellence through a commitment to safety, quality, growth, and innovation.

This position is assigned to the following counties:

Applicant must reside in one of these counties or be willing to relocate:

1.     Floyd

2.     Bartow

3.     Catoosa

4.     Chattooga

5.     Cherokee

6.     Dade

7.     Dawson

8.     Forsyth

9.     Gilmer

10.  Gordon

11.  Hall

12.  Murray

13.  Pickens

14.  Walker

15.  Whitfield

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Under supervision, learns to perform inspections and investigations in food, dairy, and processing plants to ensure compliance with established state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

·         Assists with the implementation of programs to detect specific diseases in cooperation with state, federal, and industry standards.

·         Learned to enforce laws, rules, and regulations about the processing, labeling, transporting, storing, distribution, and selling of products.

·         Learned to inspect and investigate for compliance with applicable health and sanitation laws and regulations.

·         Learns to investigate suspected violations and accidents by vehicles transporting products.

·         Learn to plan, organize, and manage activities of assigned staff and/or program.

·         Learns to report compliance findings to the FDA, USDA, and others; results determine the ability to move products.

·         Learned to serve as a technical expert within the program of assignment.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

• Inspects and investigates food manufacturing facilities.
• Performs duties in a manner to ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and Model Ordinance (MO) requirements.
• Collects samples of finished food products, processed products, environmental swabs, and water samples as necessary from all firms in assigned areas of responsibility and/or as directed according to established procedures.
• Transports samples to laboratories for analysis within the prescribed timeframe
• Provides knowledge, skills, and experience to assist and guide colleagues and management.
• Performs State/FDA Contract Inspections, HACCP Inspections, Shellfish Inspections, and other specialized inspections as assigned.
• Maintains a working knowledge of current policies, laws, regulations, and guidance documents.
• Attend training sessions, meetings, and conferences.
• Provides consultation, information sharing, technical assistance, and in-service training to food personnel, industry, and other personnel regarding health and food sanitation, rules and regulations, and their enforcement.
• Maintains working relationships with the food industry and related entities, including federal, state, and local agencies.
• Prepares and completes agency, state, and federal forms as required.

Other duties as assigned.

1.         All Agriculture Compliance specialists must complete advanced training in various specialized processing operations.

2.         Please be advised that the selected candidate can be hired at any level, depending on the candidate’s documented education and experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Agriculture Compliance Specialist 1 – $ 48,000.00 / Paygrade: F – Job Code: RCP040

Bachelor's degree in agronomy, animal science, biology, chemistry, or a job-related area from an accredited college or university, or certification as a Registered Sanitarian or Environmental Health Specialist.

Agriculture Compliance Specialist 2 -Paygrade: G – Job Code: RCP041

Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, animal science, biology, chemistry, or a related area from an accredited college or university and one (1) year of experience conducting inspections and investigations for compliance or certification as a Registered Sanitarian or Environmental Health Specialist AND One (1) year of experience conducting inspections and investigations for compliance; or one (1) year of experience required at the lower level Agriculture Compliance Spec 1 (RCP040) or position equivalent.

Agriculture Compliance Specialist 3 – Paygrade: H – Job Code: RCP042

Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, animal science, biology, chemistry, or a related area from an accredited college or university AND (2) Two years of experience conducting inspections and investigations for compliance or certification as a Registered Sanitarian or Environmental Health Specialist AND Two (2)  years of experience conduction inspection and investigations for compliance OR One (1) year of experience required at the low-level Agriculture Compliance Specialist 1 (RCP040) or position equivalent.

Physical Demands

·         Constant standing/walking

·         Climbing stairs in high ranges

·         Water Exposure

·         Exposure to different temperatures

·         Long travel days

NOTE: 

If you are applying for this position based on college credit, please submit a copy of your college transcript with your application. This will help determine if you meet the qualifications for this position based on your education. Failure to submit a transcript may result in not being eligible for this specific position if qualifying based on education.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

·         Certification as a registered sanitarian or registered environmental health specialist by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).

·         Two years of professional experience conducting inspections and investigations for compliance with established state and federal health and food and/or milk sanitation laws, rules, and regulations.

·         Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

·         Completion of a 4-year degree in Agronomy, Animal Science, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field; 4-6 months of professional experience conducting inspections and investigations for compliance with established state and federal health and food and/or milk sanitation laws, rules, and regulations associated with the Food Industry.

·         Working knowledge of the Windows Office Suites, Digital Health Department.

NOTE: The Georgia Department of Agriculture conducts background checks on all final candidates. The hiring of applicants is contingent upon satisfactory employment verification results, background, criminal records investigations, and motor vehicle reports.

Please note: Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to respond to phone/email inquiries regarding application status. Only candidates selected to move forward in the hiring process will be contacted.

HOW TO APPLY:  Resumes may be submitted by adding to your profile in Team Georgia Careers:

·         Via Team Georgia Careers http://team.georgia.gov/careers/

The GDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants will be considered, but may not necessarily receive an interview. Due to this office's large volume of submissions, information concerning application and/or interview status cannot be provided. Selected applicants will be contacted for the next steps in the interview process. Applicants who are not selected will not receive a notification.

Don't hesitate to get in touch with the Human Resources Office at (404) 656-3615 if you need accommodation.

** The position will be closed once a suitable candidate is identified *