Food Inspection Technician - Agriculture

Are you knowledgeable about food safety regulations? If you answered yes, this opportunity might be perfect for you! The Division of Food Safety is essential in safeguarding the health of both Pennsylvanians and visitors by overseeing the vast array of dining establishments, retail food outlets, and food production facilities throughout the state. This role involves ensuring that these entities adhere to stringent food safety laws, thereby maintaining high standards for public health. If you are passionate about food safety and want to make a difference, we encourage you to apply today!

Your responsibilities will include executing technical tasks as part of an agricultural inspection program aimed at ensuring adherence to state regulations concerning purity, quality, and sanitation standards. You will be tasked with carrying out a variety of food safety inspections across multiple types of establishments, such as produce farms, dairy farms, retail food outlets, manufacturing plants, and facilities dedicated to processing milk and eggs, as well as distribution and warehousing operations. These inspections will encompass critical areas including the handling, processing, bottling, packaging, and distribution of agricultural products. Your role will involve selecting and weighing commodities, along with conducting thorough internal and external examinations to assess whether the products meet the requirements set forth by state and federal laws and regulations.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• This position will be home headquartered if applicant lives in Huntingdon, Centre, Mifflin, Juniata County. If applicant does not live in Huntingdon, Centre, Mifflin, Juniata County, the assigned state vehicle must be parked in Huntingdon, Centre, Mifflin, Juniata County at location TBD.
• This position is home headquartered. In order to be home headquartered, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.
  

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• A bachelor's degree in food science, food technology, chemistry, microbiology, or a closely related field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Special Requirement:

• This position requires possession of an active motor vehicle license.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.