Produce Safety Field Inspector

AGRICULTURE - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.

The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.

The Food Safety & Consumer Services (FSCS) Division is one of the seven divisions in the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The FSCS Division serves consumers and stakeholders in the state of Washington by assuring the availability, safety, and integrity of the state's human and animal food supply. The division is made up of approximately 100+ FTEs through five statewide programs, including:
Animal Feed, FSCS Laboratory, Food Safety, Organic, and Produce Safety. We also house the Rapid Response Team that manages food and feed emergency responses.

Produce Safety Program is primarily responsible for promoting compliance with the federal Produce Safety Rule (PSR) under Code of Federal Regulations 21 CFR Part 112. The PSR requires farms to adhere to prescriptive measures intended to minimize food safety risks during growing, harvesting, packing and holding of produce for human consumption. The program is funded through a federal cooperative agreement program.

Produce Safety Field Inspector must be able to be commissioned by FDA to perform work concerning present and future environmental issues relating to food safety and must work with industry to bring production/facility sites into compliance with FSMA requirements.

This position's purpose is to conduct field inspections and investigations, provide technical assistance, and assist with/participate/conduct outreach and other activities. These activities assist in protecting the public from unsafe or adulterated produce by ensuring compliance with state laws and federal regulations.

Produce Safety Field Inspectors will work in collaboration with a wide range of internal and external agencies, farms, and organizations such as produce growers, local health departments, and federal agencies. The position also partners with Agricultural extension agencies, commodity commissions and associations to achieve regulatory compliance and understanding of the PSR.

Produce Safety Field Inspectors will assist in the development and improvement of policies, procedures, practices and the federal Produce Safety Regulatory Standards. These actions will be based on practical experience gained and shared by this position.

WSDA is recruiting for a full-time permanent Food Safety Compliance Specialist 2 position within the Food Safety and Consumer Services Division. This position is home-based in Chelan or Okanogan, Washington. This position is not represented.

The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary range for this position is:
Range 54 Step A $61,332 - Step L $80,496 annually.

Some of the various responsibilities within this role:

• Conduct produce safety field investigations and inspections and monitor activity on farms, packing and handling facilities to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations related to safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding…