U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION SERVICE (FSIS)

Information and Links to Food Safety Related Regulatory Jobs

Quick Links:

• USDA FSIS Job Search: https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?l=&l=&d=AG&k=food&wma=15509
• USA Jobs Website: https://www.usajobs.gov/
• U.S. Office of Personnel Management: https://www.opm.gov

How to Obtain a Federal Job with USDA FSIS: 

Applicants interested in working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service, or USDA FSIS, should search for USDA FSIS jobs on the USA Jobs website for positions of interest. Review the job postings carefully and determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Read the “How to Apply” section of the job announcement and then click the “Apply” button to login or create a new account. Once you have a USA Jobs account, you can store various versions of your resume, cover letters, and other relevant documents. Note: All uploaded files must be 3 MB or smaller and in an acceptable format (.gif, .jgp, .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, word.doc or word.docx). Each application walks you through a five-step process where you can attach your resume and other required documentation. You can also review, edit, delete, or update the details of your application at any time during the process before you complete the submission. 

How to Apply: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/process/

U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) is responsible for inspecting meat, poultry, eggs, and siluriform fish (catfish). 

Entry level classifications utilized by the agency include Food Inspectors, who are responsible for in-plant inspection of animals before and after slaughter, and Consumer Safety Inspectors, who conduct inspectional oversight in meat, poultry, and egg processing plants to ensure plants are operating within their written plans for HACCP, sanitation and processing. 

The minimum qualifications for these classifications are:

Food Inspector
Annual Salary Range:  
GS-5 $30,414 - $39,540
GS-7 $37,674 - $48,978
Note: Pay may vary based on geographic location of position.

Minimum Qualifications: 

For the GS-5 level: Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience that was obtained after your 16th birthday. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the applicant's knowledge, judgment, interpretive ability, and technical skill associated with the production of a finished product which meets all prescribed standards of quality and conforms with approved production methods. Such experience may have been gained in the following:

• Experience in a slaughter or processing plant, or a comparable manufacturing or production activity which prepares food for human consumption. This experience must demonstrate skills in sorting good from bad; applying, interpreting, and explaining standards; making decisions; and communicating with others.
• Experience as a meat cutter/butcher in a wholesale or retail meat/poultry business, provided a full range of responsible duties are performed such as cutting or butchering, sanitation, dealing with customers, meeting customer standards, use of judgment, interpretation or various requirements, and sorting acceptable from unacceptable.
• Quality control or laboratory analytical experience in the food industry or other similar production environments. An example of qualifying experience may be a Veterinary Technician conducting lab tests, assessing animals and/or partial examination of animals, performing necropsies, monitoring animals under anesthesia and administering medications.
• Supervisory responsibilities in the food or livestock industry, which demonstrates the applicant applied and has effective skills in communicating job requirements, evaluating results of work methods or processes, applying instructions, and interpreting standards or regulations. Responsibility for management or supervision of a full scale commercial or industrial livestock or poultry enterprise.
• Commercial restaurant or kitchen chef or cook responsible for proper food preparation, safe food handling and sanitation practices and judgment recognizing abnormalities in food.

For the GS-7 level: For positions above GS-5, applicants must have demonstrated one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression in the organization in which the position is being filled.

Specialized experience is regulatory food inspection work which involved either ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection of red meat animals, poultry, fish, or seafood; or inspection of production of processed products involving red meat, poultry, fish, seafood, or egg products. This experience must have demonstrated:

• Knowledge of general sanitation practices, laws, and regulations governing the food industry
• Knowledge of Federal laws and regulations pertaining to fitness of red meat animals, poultry, fish, or seafood for human consumption; or knowledge of Federal laws and regulations applicable to the processing of red meat, poultry, fish, seafood, or egg products; and
• Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors and workers in the food industry.

Education: For the GS-5 level: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in an accredited college or university that included at least 12 semester hours in biological, physical, mathematical, or agricultural sciences. If you are qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your transcripts when you apply.

For the GS-7 level:  Education is not creditable for positions at the GS-7 level.

Additional Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Must be at least 16 years of age.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment medical examination.
• Selected applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a NACI security clearance. If selected you may be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI).

Consumer Safety Inspectors
Annual Salary Range:  
GS-5 $30,414 - $39,540
GS-7 $37,674 - $48,978
Note: Pay may vary based on geographic location of position.

Minimum Qualifications: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the experience that would have been gained if working in this position or a similar, closely related position at the next lower level or the appropriate education substitution. See specialized experience definitions below.

Specialized experience: For all grade levels:
This experience should encompass at least two of the following areas:

• Skill in applying proper techniques for collecting samples and performing field tests and examinations,
• Skill in developing written reports and reporting findings or results orally,
• Skill in maintaining effective personal contacts with a variety of individuals.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including the following specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the appropriate experience requirements.

For the GS-05 Level: At least 52 weeks of qualifying experience gained under close supervision that provided you with knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities and substances; such as: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or other food for human consumption, and other ingestible substances, such as pharmaceuticals. This experience should include several or all of the following: Skill in applying proper techniques for collecting samples and performing field tests and examinations, skill in developing written reports and reporting findings or results orally, and skill in maintaining effective personal contacts with a variety of individuals. Such experience may have been acquired in work such as consumer safety inspector or inspection aid, food inspector, public health inspector, quality inspection specialist, or similar position with responsibility for sampling, quality control and sanitation in a food manufacturing or production environment, or similar environment for other ingestible items.

For the GS-07 Level: In addition to the qualifications above, incumbents are expected to perform standard and recurrent duties on an independent basis. Your resume should demonstrate at least 52 weeks of experience in independently carrying out routine, standard assignments on a regular and recurring basis that provided you with knowledge of the properties and characteristics of regulated food commodities and substances; such as: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or other food for human consumption, and other ingestible substances, such as pharmaceuticals.

Such experience may have been acquired in work such as consumer safety inspector or inspection aide, food inspector, public health inspector, quality inspection specialist, or similar position with responsibility for sampling, quality control and sanitation in a food manufacturing or production environment, or similar environment for other ingestible items.

Education:  Education may be used to qualify in lieu of specialized experience as described below.

For the GS-05 level: Successful completion of a full 4 year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours/credits in any combination of coursework in the areas of: agricultural, biological, or physical sciences, food technology, epidemiology, home economics, pharmacy, engineering, or nutrition. Specialized government or military training may be creditable if it is related directly to this position.   OR   A combination of education and specialized experience. In this instance, only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (with some related coursework, as described in the paragraph above) is creditable towards meeting the requirements, along with specialized work experience. The combination must equal 100% of the requirement. For example, if you have 33% of the education requirement, then you will need 67% of the specialized experience requirement.

For the GS-07 Level: One full year of directly related graduate education is qualifying for GS-7.   OR  A combination of education and specialized experience. In this instance, only graduate education directly related to the work of the position is creditable towards meeting the requirements, along with specialized work experience. The combination must equal 100% of the requirement. For example, if you have 33% of the education requirement, then you will need 67% of the specialized experience requirement.

Additional Requirements:

• Selected applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance. If selected you may be subject to a Moderate Risk Background Investigation.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Applicants must Pass a pre-employment medical examination.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.