Meat Poultry Inspector- Missoula

Job Description - Meat Poultry Inspector
- Missoula )

Position Title:

Meat Poultry Inspector
- Missoula - (  )

To be considered for Department of Livestock positions, applicants must complete an online application and submit any required application materials through the State Careers website:
State careers.mt.gov.

* This position is posted as 'open until filled' with a first review of applications on October 16, 2026.

• Cover Letter
  In your cover letter please describe your experience with food safety and how you might use that experience to carry out the duties of this position. Include specific details. Limit your cover letter to one page.
• Resume
• References References will be requested of finalist applicants prior to an offer of employment, however are not required as part of the application process at this time.

Our work matters ! We are proud of the work we do, to find out more about the Department of Livestock visit our website HERE.

The ability to work and play in the beautiful state of Montana is one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Other fantastic benefits include:

• Health Coverage
• Paid vacation, sick leave and Holidays
• Work/life balance
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness-  to learn more!

The individual in this position must live within a 30-50 Mile radius of Missoula, MT.

The meat and poultry inspector is the first line of defense for meat and poultry food safety. The inspector performs duties to verify that a food safety system within officially inspected slaughter and/or processing establishments is operating in compliance with regulations and in a way that will result in safe food. The Meat & Poultry Inspection Bureau's function is to ensure that meat & poultry products processed in Montana meet state and federal requirements governing the wholesomeness and purity of meat and poultry products.

This work is done in cooperation with other state and federal agencies. Meat and poultry Inspectors employed by the Department of Livestock inspect the slaughter and processing of food animals in privately-owned meat or poultry slaughter and processing plants. Site inspections involve the inspection of live animals, carcasses, facilities, slaughter and processing operations, and finished products. The inspector is also responsible for sampling products for laboratory testing, verifying plants’ records, and inspecting labels and packaging of products.

There is a strong emphasis on interpreting both federal and state regulations and taking appropriate regulatory action. Inspectors record all findings and tasks in a federal database and must document daily activities in weekly reports.

• Regulatory oversight activities inside plants in matters relating to Sanitation Performance Standards (SPS), Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP), pathogen reduction verification procedures, food security verification procedures, and other consumer protections (e.g., economic adulteration and misbranding).
• The Inspector performs work within the Agency’s automated Public Health Information system (PHIS) to include updating establishment profiles, selecting appropriate inspection tasks, entering information and reacting to data from PHIS.
• The incumbent serves as slaughter and/or processing inspector in a red meat and/or poultry plant or department requiring the exercise of judgment in the full range of slaughter or processing inspection functions and carries out all…