C​/S Agricultural Commodity Inspector

Summary Statement

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented individual to serve as a Casual Seasonal Agricultural Commodity Inspector. Work locations will be in poultry plants throughout Sussex County and will include day and night shifts, Saturdays, and holidays. This position is responsible for independently conducting inspections of agricultural commodities, specifically in the poultry industry, in accordance with federal and state standards.

Duties include preparing detailed inspection reports, maintaining and issuing certificates and forms, and making final determinations on inspection outcomes. The role requires successful completion of 160 hours of training to obtain a poultry grading license.

• Conduct inspection of commodities such as poultry, eggs, or fruits and vegetables to determine compliance with a variety of contractor or USDA standards such as grade, weight, quantity and packaging, and make final grade determination.
• Inspect, sample, test, and grade commodities using standard inspection techniques; grade poultry—including whole birds, drum, legs, wings, breast, and boneless skinless products to include marinated products, antibiotic free claims, and organic claims—considering factors such as fleshing, finish, freedom from defects, age, weight and other conditions. Examine eggs for weight, color, soundness, texture of shell, absence of defects, clarity of yolk outline and clarity and firmness of albumen.
• Prepare and issue certification of products for both international and national distribution.
• Monitor food safety controls such as sanitation, processing and storage conditions; communicate issues immediately to supervisor and/or management.
• Verify store specifications on labeling which includes expiration dates, product codes, dates for compliance, and ensure appropriate labels are applied.
• Enforce federal and state laws, rules, and regulations and resolve issues within the range of normal plant activities involving grading/inspection determinations and operating problems.
• Interpret and apply technical standards, rules, and regulations; explain and defend all grade and inspection determinations and coordinate grading services with plant production activities.
• Cooperate with federal agencies, official state organizations and agencies, and other State representatives on matters related to agricultural inspection and grading.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with plant personnel, retailers, farmers, and facility management.
• Utilize computers to enter information and prepare a variety of reports and records such as plant production data, grading results, certificates issued and other administrative records.
• Provide technical information and assistance to representatives of the Attorney General's Office as well as the Inspector General's Office in preparing court cases and testifying.

• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in agricultural commodities such as poultry, eggs, or fruits and vegetables.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in math such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, or decimals.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in record keeping.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in applying laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in using an automated information system to enter, update, modify, delete, retrieve/inquire and report on data.
• Possession of a valid Driver's License (not suspended, revoked or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).

This is a Casual/Seasonal position which is a non‑pension eligible position without healthcare and/or other benefits.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware Executive Branch participates in the Federal E‑Verify system where the State will provide the federal government with each new hires Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For more information refer to our job seeker resources.

The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.