Poultry Grader-Unclassified

Position Overview

Job number: AHFS--1.9.2026-KGB The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and State as a Model Employer (SAME) to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This position (#) is located in the Office of Animal Health & Food Safety Poultry & Egg Division, in Union Parish.

Ready to make a meaningful impact on Louisiana’s workforce as a Poultry Grader? As a Poultry Grader, you play a vital role in ensuring the quality, safety, and integrity of poultry products that reach consumers across Louisiana and beyond. In this position, you will inspect and evaluate poultry products for compliance with state and federal grading standards, helping protect public health while supporting the agricultural industry.

Explore the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry's Meat and Poultry Division

https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).-poultry

This position will be filled as an Unclassified Appointment

LDAF cares about the well‑being of its employees! We offer a fully employer‑funded Employee Assistance Program (EAP), providing valuable support and resources to help you and your household members thrive at work and  EAP is also free for all members of your household.

This position performs inspection services for the Office of Animal Health & Food Safety, Poultry & Eggs Programs within the Department of Agriculture & Forestry. Grading is conducted at Louisiana Poultry Plants. The Poultry Programs are responsible for voluntary grading service on poultry, resident poultry plant grading, fee grading for poultry performed by federally licensed state graders, state grading and certification of poultry for state institutions at USDA approved poultry plants.

Supervision for this position is received from an Agriculture Specialist Program Manager and the employee may be asked to assist with lead worker responsibilities over lower‑level Agriculture Specialists positions.

• Obtains and maintains a USDA license and performs grading of poultry and poultry products.
• Takes appropriate enforcement actions to ensure regulatory non‑compliances are corrected.
• Inspects and grades poultry or poultry products in a plant environment as a resident grader to ensure that all USDA regulations are followed, and the product is in compliance.
• Ensures that all Federal and State rules and regulations governing poultry & poultry products are followed. Prepares and issues USDA grade certificates as needed, keeps USDA files up to date as required and works with appropriate USDA supervision as required by Federal/State cooperative agreement.
• Monitors and verifies the grading of poultry and poultry products performed by industry graders by observing, examining samples of finished product, counting, weighing, and checking temperatures to ensure compliance with USDA regulations. Responsible for conducting examination of grade and certifying quality, quantity, condition and method of handling poultry and poultry products in poultry plants.

• Moderate light lifting, 30 pounds with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds
• Reaching above shoulders
• Climbing stairs
• Frequent reaching above shoulder height
• Occasional bending or kneeling
• Drive a vehicle to perform inspections
• Lifting items such as tools, computer, scanner, luggage or other items used to travel and perform duties/attend class throughout the state
• Climbing on and off transport and tractor

• Working indoors and occasionally outdoors
• Occasional excessive heat and humidity
• Slippery and uneven walking surfaces
• Occasionally working in moderately cold temperatures for short periods of time
• Working in cold temperatures for short periods of time

• Full‑time, This position will be filled by Unclassified appointment that may last up to 4 years.

The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as…