Agriculture Compliance Specialist Supervisor-Retail Food ( District 2)

We at the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) take our responsibilities to you very seriously and are committed to protecting and promoting Georgia's agriculture through superior service and leadership. The mission of the GDA is to protect consumers, promote agriculture, both locally and globally, and assist our customers using education, technology and a professional workforce. The vision of the GDA is to continue to be a globally recognized leader in agricultural excellence through a commitment to safety, quality, growth and innovation.
This position will have an assigned territory to be determined.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:
Inspects and investigates retail food facilities. Performs duties in a manner to ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations requirements. Advises food firm owners, managers and personnel.

• Conducts inspections of all assigned firms using established frequencies and procedures based on applicable laws, rules and regulations relative to sanitation, physical requirements, accuracy of scales, food safety, product labeling, refrigeration, finished product testing and reporting of positive results, etc.
• Observes employees of food firms for adherence to health and food sanitation regulations and GMP’s governing cleanliness.
• Advises food firm managers and personnel about health and food sanitation rules and regulations.
• Notifies supervisor immediately when food firms have imminent food sanitation hazards, do not meet minimum standards, or when problems or significant changes in assigned area occur.
• Reviews plans and specifications for new or renovated food establishments. Consults with owners and/or builders to bring plans into compliance with applicable rules and regulations and provides technical explanations to industry persons when needed.
• Submits license application, documents, and fee in accordance with established policies, laws, rules, and regulations.
• Briefs food firm person in charge on inspection or investigation findings, detailing corrective action when necessary, completing supportive documentation in an accurate and timely manner.
• Issues stop sale order or witnesses a voluntary destruction on food items suspected of being adulterated, contaminated, or misbranded.
• Maintains all State issued equipment properly.
• Examines plant records to ascertain that required specialized training and documentation are in compliance with regulations during each inspection.
• Works with other State and Federal agencies as assigned.

Collects samples of food finished products, processed products, and water samples as necessary from all firms in assigned area of responsibility and/or as directed according to established procedures. Distributes samples to laboratories for analysis.

• Ensures integrity of samples utilizing sanitary sampling procedures and transporting within the established time frame.
• Selects and packs all samples in secure manner and properly identified for transporting to laboratory.
• Selects and packs perishable samples in refrigerant for transporting to laboratory according to established requirements in a timely and efficient manner.
• Submits an accurate and complete collection report for each sample to the food and/or pesticide laboratory with all required information which accompanies the sample.
• Conducts follow-up on laboratory analysis and implements corrective action as required for violative results in a timely manner.
• Collects follow-up on laboratory analysis and implements corrective action as required for violative results in a timely manner.
• Collects, secures, and submits environmental swabs in accordance to rules, regulations, and guidance documents.
• Supervises the collection of environmental swabs by employees of food facilities when applicable.

Provides knowledge, skills and experience to assist and guide colleagues and management.

• Accompanies Agriculture Compliance Specialist on inspections and/or investigations using knowledge, skills, and experience.
• Assists Agriculture Compliance Specialist with workload and specialized training. Communicates regularly with other Agriculture Compliance Specialist to insure standardized knowledge across the State.
• Communicates regularly with District Manager/Program Manager about activities such as: inspections that may require additional assistance, additional explanation, compliance issues, deficiencies, problems, workloads, performance issues, and making recommendations when necessary.

Conducts investigations of consumer complaints, information received from other regulatory agencies, or information received from food processing facility relative to food products. Includes possible foodborne illness, unsanitary conditions, product labeling, packaging, contamination, adulteration, reported positive results, etc. according to applicable rules and regulations.

• Collects food and environmental samples for laboratory analysis as directed by supervisor and/or Division level staff.
• Reviews documentation and conducts investigation to advise supervisor and/or Division level staff to determine action to be taken.
• Briefs proper individual(s) on investigative findings in a timely manner and details corrective action when necessary.
• Completes investigative reports in a clear, concise, and timely manner.

Maintains knowledge of current policies, laws, regulations and developments in the field by reading appropriate policy notices, interpretations and attending training sessions, meetings and conferences.

• Attends district and agency meetings as required to maintain knowledge of health and food safety programs. Attends conferences and training courses as scheduled.
• Reads, interprets, communicates and applies information disseminated from policy directives.

Provides consultation, information, technical assistance and in-service training to food personnel, industry and other personnel regarding health and food sanitation, rules and regulations and their enforcement. Maintains relationship with food industry and related entities, including Federal, State, and local agencies.

• Provides orientation and on the job training in proper inspection and investigation methods to new staff as requested by supervisor.
• Provides consultation and technical assistance to other personnel on health and food sanitation issues.
• Informs supervisor of problems and/or concerns regarding the professional development of new personnel in a timely manner. Provides the supervisor with input into performance appraisals.
• Advises supervisor of problems and/or concerns in any new sanitarian’s territory in a timely manner.
• Attends food meetings and conferences as required.
• Fosters a cooperative working relationship with industry, as well as academia.
• Fosters a cooperative working relationship with Federal, State, and local agencies.

Prepares and completes agency, State, and Federal forms.

• Completes time and activities in the electronic database in an efficient and timely manner.
• Prepares and submits mileage and expense reports which are accurate and complete to supervisor on the last working day of the month.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Completion of a bachelor's degree in agronomy, animal science, biology, chemistry or a related area AND Two years of experience conducting inspections and investigations for complianceORCertification as a registered sanitarian or environmental health specialist AND Two years of experience conducting inspections and investigations for complianceOROne year in a position equivalent to the lower level.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Preference will be given to applicants, who, in addition to meeting the Minimum Qualifications, possess knowledge, skills and abilities in the following areas:

• Certification as a registered sanitarian or registered environmental health specialist by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
• Completion of a 4-year degree in Animal Science, Chemistry, or any related field.
• 4-6 months of professional experience conducting inspections and investigations for compliance with established state and federal health and food and/or milk sanitation laws, rules and regulations associated with the Food Industry.
• Working knowledge of Windows Office Suites, Digital Health Department.

NOTE: The Georgia Department of Agriculture conducts background checks on all final candidates. Hiring of applicants is contingent upon satisfactory results of employment verification, background and criminal records investigations and motor vehicle reports.
HOW TO APPLY: Resumes may be submitted by adding to your profile in Team Georgia Careers.

• Via Team Georgia Careers http://team.georgia.gov/careers/

The GDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview. Due to the large volume of submissions received by this office, information concerning application and/or interview status cannot be provided. Selected applicants will be contacted for next steps in the interview process. Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification.
If you need an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Office at (404) 656-3615.
** The position will be closed once a suitable candidate is identified *
Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in agronomy, animal science, biology, chemistry or a related area from an accredited college or university AND Three years of experience conducting inspections and investigations for compliance, One year of which in a lead/supervisory level OR certification as a Registered Sanitarian or Environmental Health Specialist AND Three years of experience conducting inspections and investigations for compliance, One year of which in a lead/supervisory level OR Two years of experience required at the lower level Agriculture Compliance Spec 3 (RCP042) or position equivalent.