DEPT OF AGRICULTURE

Address:  Animal Services Division / Meat and Poultry Prgram
1110 W. Washington Street, Ste. 450, Phoenix AZ 85007

Salary: $58,240.00 - $62,400.00 

Grade: 20

Closing Date: June 19, 2026

The Arizona Department of Agriculture is currently recruiting for a Food Products Inspection Supervisor for the Meat and Poultry Inspection Program. This is NOT a remote position and requires the successful candidate to work onsite in Phoenix, AZ.

This position supervises and trains employees for the Meat and Poultry Inspection Program. Assist the Program Manager as needed on Federal and State audits. Conducts on site visits or inspections as required. Maintains documentation and files reports as needed to the proper authority. Remains up to date with all directives and recall information coming from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Maintains a working relationship with industry and responds to any question or concerns.

Duties to include but not limited to:

• Supervise subordinate staff on a day-to-day basis in all FSIS /ADA requirements. Delegate work schedules and activity for employees. Approve leave request and time worked entry. Ensure employees are properly trained for their assigned duties. Document all required personnel files. Assist with Federal and State audits or in-plant reviews. Maintains a working relationship with industry and responds to any question or concerns. Ensures that all subordinate employees are performing job duties as required below.
• Performs verification for Humane Handling of Livestock. Conducts ante-mortem inspection of live animals segregating suspect animals. Performs ongoing visual and direct inspection of carcasses, viscera and organs by incising lymph nodes and palpation. Constant surveillance by examining each animal for zoonotic diseases, Residue, lymphoma, pathology of human health concerns. Compliance with pathogen intervention and HACCP, SSOP, pest control. Maintaining food security. Branding of inspected and passed carcasses with the official mark of inspection. Collect samples for salmonella and E coli 0157:H7 and submit to laboratory for analysis.
• Verifies processing is being performed as per plants Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. Insure product meets all Critical Control Points by Direct Observation of monitoring procedures or by reviewing of records for critical times and temperatures. Verify the plants verification protocol are acceptable to prevent the health hazard or pathogen from reaching the consumer. Insure food security is maintained. Perform sampling of product and environment for pathogens of concern and submit to laboratory for analysis. Reassessments are performed as required or needed. Compliance with ingredients of public health concern.
• Ensuring Standard Sanitation Operating Procedures are maintained on a daily basis by performing pre-operational and operational verification of facility, equipment and procedures. Verify compliance with product formulation, Product Standards, Net Weights, Batter/Breading, X % Yield/Shrink, Labeling, CN/Grade Labeling/Declared Count/Vignette, Finished Product Standards/AQL/Boneless Meat Defects Criteria/Pork Skins/Moisture, compliance with potable water and sewage disposal.
• Maintain in-plant records and files. Remains up to date with all directives and recall information coming from FSIS, USDA. Will take USDA/ADA training as mandated. Works on assigned computer with Microsoft windows, Microsoft office, enters databases, word processing, and mentor less experienced personnel. Comply with all Arizona Department of Agriculture requirements.
• You will be required to drive a state vehicle for state business and other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:
• The principles and practices of public health sanitation, including food handling and food processing, insect and rodent control, state laws, and regulations pertaining to environmental health
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
• Standard Sanitation Operation Procedures (SSOP)
• Animal diseases and pathology
• Google Suite, Word, Excel and Federal computer programs

Skills in:
• Analyzing situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
• Work effectively with internal and external customers
• Prepare concise technical reports
• Excellent written/oral communication
• Recommending improvements in sanitary practices in the private sector and sanitary programs in the public sector
• Applying and interprets Federal, State and Agency laws, rules, regulations, and policies
• Organoleptic examination of food products
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity of propriety formulations or equipment which may be trade secret

Ability to:
• Adapt successfully and quickly to change and deliver quality in a timely manner
• Work effectively in situations and meet deadlines while maintaining extreme attention to details
• Works cooperatively and effectively with diverse groups of people
• Maintain the highest level of confidentiality and trade secrets
• Act in an ethical manner at all times, fair, truthful, sincere, honest and discreet
• Willing to consider alternative ideas or points of view, be tactful, in dealing with people, be actively aware of physical surroundings and activities, be instinctively aware of and able to understand situations, be ready to adjust to different situations, be persistent, focus on achieving objectives, reaching conclusions in timely manner based on logical reasoning, or analysis, act and function independently while interacting effectively with others.

Working knowledge of HACCP and SSOP
Experience in the food industry, commercial kitchens, and red meat/sausage processing or slaughterhouse operations
Basic animal anatomy and knowledge of animal disease and pathology
Meat/Poultry inspection experience
Diversity Training
USDA/Agriculture mandated training
Meat Cutting Techniques

Valid Driver's License
Position requires completion of all USDA/ADA mandated courses. Diversity Training, Computer Security, etc.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Agriculture offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
Sick leave
Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
Health and dental insurance
Retirement plan
Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Mandatory condition of Employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in statute. Current contribution rate is 12.00%. Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Melissa Meek at mmeek@azda.gov for assistance. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.