Meat Poultry Inspector - Bitterroot Valley

Job Description
- Meat Poultry Inspector
- Bitterroot Valley )

Position Title:

Meat Poultry Inspector
- Bitterroot Valley - (  )

This position is posted as open until filled; however, a first review of applications will take place on September 25, 2026

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

Benefits of working for the Department of Livestock: 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
• 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!

* Notice Regarding

Position Location:

The individual in this position must live within a 30 Mile radius of Hamilton, Missoula or Darby, 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 aspects of slaughter or processing inspection as assigned. The inspector is expected to perform in-plant inspection in a wide range of different types of slaughter and processing plants.

Knowledge of state and federal regulations regarding the handling and labeling of meat and poultry, the characteristics and normal behavior of livestock, livestock diseases and related symptoms, skill in observation and sampling methods and techniques; state and federal facility and sanitation requirements, proper use of chemicals, insect and rodent control, personal hygiene, and water…