Title: Meat and Poultry Inspector #W0023

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $21.25 - $29.44 per hour

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Agriculture

Location: MOBILE WORKERS SW

Agency Website: https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking a qualified individual for the position of Meat and Poultry Inspector with the Office of Meat and Poultry Services. While the territory for this position is statewide, for convenience, the selected candidate must reside in the Lynchburg City/Bedford County area. Duties include conducting ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections; verification of the food safety systems in assigned meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities; enforcement of the Humane Handling Act; collection of official samples; and entering data for inspection reports. OMPS Inspector’s enforce the Federal Meat Inspection Act, Poultry Products Inspection Act, and related state regulations.

This position requires travel to various facilities and may involve occasional overtime. The work schedule fluctuates based on agency needs, sometimes with little notice, and includes working weekends, holidays, rotating shifts, and statewide travel (overnight travel is reimbursable). It does not involve a regular set schedule or work hours/days, so the selected applicant must have the flexibility to work as needed or not at all during times there are no agency needs.

A state car may be available to the selected individual for business use only; otherwise, mileage driven while performing official duties in a personal vehicle will be reimbursed at the prevailing allowable rate. This position involves considerable physical activity.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of the meat and poultry slaughter and processing operations is recommended. The ability to interpret, assure and enforce compliance with regulations by analyzing and assessing findings to perform logical, supportable conclusions is needed and often requires independently applying basic scientific principles, including mathematical or statistical functions, while working without direct supervision. Must demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills including the ability to accurately prepare technical reports as well as display excellent customer service skills. Computer proficiency is needed along with experience using standard business office software applications. Ability to recognize animal characteristics and behavior; humane handling of animals and identify abnormal conditions while conducting inspection procedures. Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license with a driving record that reflects a sense of responsibility for highway safety. Must be able to meet the physical demands of the position, including the ability to distinguish colors, as well as to meet the requirements for federal compliance certification within the first twelve months of employment. HS Diploma/GED required.

Additional Considerations

A combination of related education, training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge, skills, and abilities to include knowledge of animal and poultry science, food science, food microbiology/chemistry along with enforcement and interpretation of government regulations is preferred. A working knowledge of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles as applied to the meat industry is also preferred along with meat/poultry processing work experience.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that before we can legally employ an individual, we must verify both the identity and employment authorization of the individual. VDACS uses Form I-9 to satisfy this requirement. Form I-9, instructions, and the List of Acceptable Documents can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9. VDACS does not offer sponsorship for employment purposes; therefore, the selected candidate will need to be able to provide acceptable documents in accordance with Form I-9 (use link above for more details). Additionally, VDACS participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For additional assistance with this requirement, please contact hr.vdacs@vdacs.virginia.gov.

Final candidate must successfully complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 Layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: 804-786-3531

Email: hr.vdacs@vdacs.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.