Meat Inspector - Cerro Gordo Co

The approximately 345 employees of theIowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship(IDALS)are responsible for a wide range of programs that affect the quality of life of every Iowans. Both Iowans living on the farm and those in our towns and cities are impacted almost daily by the work of the Department.

TheMeat & Poultry Inspection Bureauis recruiting for a Meat Inspector for the Cerro Gordo County region in northeast Iowa. The successful candidate willinspect locker plants, small packing plants, and any other establishment in which animals are slaughtered and/or processed for resale to the public to ensure compliance with the Iowa Meat and Poultry Inspection Act.

Essential duties:

Conducts antemortem and postmortem inspections of livestock and poultry, using senses and required hand tools to examine animals for disease.

Travels to and conducts walk-through inspections of regulated facilities, ensuring compliance with sanitation standards.

Conducts examinations of finished and in-process products to ensure wholesomeness and compliance with product labeling standards.

Reviews records generated by inspected facilities to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and facility programs.

Enters inspection results daily into designated computer system and prepares non-compliance reports and memoranda as needed to communicate findings.

Communicates with regulated facilities regarding inspection results, regulatory requirements and changes to policies; conducts outreach to new facilities to aid compliance with regulatory requirements.

Additional requirements: Meat Inspectors must maintain a valid driver's license for statewide travel to conduct inspections and must successfully complete the USDA-FSIS Food Inspector Livestock and Inspection Methods courses within six months of hire. Meat inspection work frequently exposes inspectors to hot, cold, wet, or slippery conditions. Inspectors must be able to handle knives and other tools effectively, and must have full use of their senses, including sight, hearing, touch, and smell. Inspectors are also subject to a background check required for access to federal computer systems.

The preferred candidate will possess a background in the meat industry, food industry, regulatory work or agriculture, with relevant experience and/or education in food safety, animal health, agriculture, or related areas. The candidate will demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills and will be able to both work independently and establish strong professional relationships with industry representatives and colleagues alike.

Applicants may attach a cover letter and resume to their application. Application materials can be uploaded in the Attachments Section during the application process.

As an employee of IDALS you are a State of Iowa employee and eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Low out of pocket, high quality family medical insurance as low as $187.00 per month, single as low as $56.00 per month
• Dental insurance is free for single and $45.00 per month for family coverage
• $20,000 basic life insurance at no cost, voluntary supplemental life for an additional cost, and long term disability insurance at no cost
• Exceptional retirement package includes IPERS (Iowa Public Employee Retirement System) which is a fixed income or defined benefit pension plan
• In addition to IPERS a deferred compensation plan (similar to a 401K) with a state match of up to $75.00 per month
• Paid leave includes – 9 holidays, sick, vacation, military leave, and jury duty leave

To learn more about benefits available as a State of Iowa Employee clickhere to visit the web page.

E-Verify and Right to Work: The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1. Graduation from high school, GED, or equivalency and experience equal to two years of full-time work in livestock or poultry slaughter, processing, or marketing; meat and poultry inspection; or other food-related industry regulatory work.
2. Thirty semester hours of education from an accredited college or university with a minimum of six semester hours in any of the following major areas: veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, animal science, agricultural business, livestock management, zoology, biology or a closely related major.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.All of the following must be successfully completed within one year of employment:
• USDA or approved equivalent courses in livestock slaughter and inspection methods.
• An introductory HACCP course approved by the International HACCP Alliance.
• The USDA poultry course or equivalent for inspectors with poultry inspection duties.