Meat Inspector Trainee

Competitive Salary:  $47,757 - $58,074 annually

Who We Are: 

Agriculture is the heart of it all in Ohio! 

The Ohio Department of Agriculture protects all Ohioans by safeguarding plants and animals, conserving our natural resources and supporting farmers. ODA is cabinet-level agency reporting to Governor DeWine. Food and agriculture are Ohio’s number one industry, contributing $124 billion to the economy and employing one in eight people. Ohio is home to more than 75,000 farms, with agriculture touching every part of the state. Not only does Ohio rank number one in Swiss cheese production, but we are top three in the nation’s egg production and fifth in soybean production. Ohio’s farmers impact those well beyond state lines, feeding families across the nation.  

ODA’s beautiful campus is located in Reynoldsburg on 158-acres. Not only is parking free, but food trucks frequent the campus for coffee and lunch. You’ll find great coworkers here, who are experts in their field and care about the work they do.

What We Do: 

Working for the Ohio Department of Agriculture means strengthening our state with the help of our 19 divisions programs. Our staff ensures the products you consume every day are safe to eat and drink. We protect Ohio’s farmland, improve soil health and water quality, all while keeping our plants, crops, and animals free of pests and disease. We are home to the state’s top food safety laboratory and serve as the hub for a statewide lab safety system. Our folks protect consumers by ensuring you get what you pay for through weights and measures accuracy standards. ODA oversees Ohio’s 94 county and independent fairs, the showcases of our towns and cities, and protects fair goers by inspecting the amusement rides you love to enjoy! 

As a member of team ODA, you will be working with people of the highest caliber, doing great work, and making a difference for all Ohioans.

Click the link below to see what it's like to be an ODA Inspector!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MiEj1M-ibU

No ag background, no problem! You'll learn all about agriculture from our top-notch experts who dedicate their lives to a cleaner, safer, better Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture is currently seeking candidates for a Meat Inspector Trainee, Meat Inspection Division, headquartered in Ashtabula County. This position is responsible for:

• Receives training and mentoring from higher level meat inspector to learn procedures and assists in conducting inspections of registered meat plants, private, commercial slaughtering plants and custom- exempt red meat and/or poultry processing facilities
• Learns to perform ante mortem and postmortem inspections of carcasses and enforces state and federal sanitation, humane slaughter, meat processing and food safety policies, procedures and guidelines
• Conducts visual examination of live animal and/or poultry prior to slaughter while looking for abnormalities in appearance and behavior such as sick, hurt and/or non-ambulatory
• Contacts veterinarian for final disposition of unhealthy animals and records results
• Makes determination of age of beef through dentition of cattle 30 months or older for removal of backbone due to concerns of BSE 
• Performs visual, tactile and/or incisory inspection of head, lymph nodes, viscera, carcass and offal to include liver, heart, brain and tripe to determine whether or not pathological conditions are present, and carcass is in clean and wholesome condition
• Inspects all equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure acceptable sanitation levels and prohibiting use of unsanitary, unsafe and/or unapproved equipment and facilities until cleaned and/or corrected to include pest and rodent control, use of pesticides and chemicals, condition and use of potable water supply and waste and sewage systems
• Halts production for poor sanitation and/or non-compliance
• Assures proper disposition of unfit and condemned products, enforces sanitary dressing procedures and controls carcass branding
• Learns labeling requirements and assists in reviewing labeling materials
• Reviews proposed labels, product formulations, production procedures, quality control programs, quality control records and laboratory reports for state inspected meat and/or poultry establishments
• Checks formulations of all types of meat food products for compliance with federal regulations and periodically monitors inspection procedures for maintaining compliance in production of meat products
• Learns sampling procedures and assists higher level inspector with submission of product samples of products for analysis for microbiological adulterants and for consumer protection
• Requires meat slaughter plants to conduct microbial testing for generic E.coli to verify adequacy of process controls for prevention of fecal contamination
• Learns how to document verification results and navigate in the Public Health Information System (PHIS)
• Assists higher level inspector with other meat inspection duties as assigned
• Performs re-inspection of meat and/or poultry products and non-meat ingredients for such products intended for further processing or distribution
  Inspects critical control points in preparation and handling of meat or poultry products (i.e., monitors formulation, temperature controls, preparation procedures, use of restricted ingredients and sampling) to ensure compliance
• Prepares, maintains and monitors required records, reports and formulations concerning product condemnations and retentions
  Controls all sanitation discrepancies and corrective actions
• Assists in industry quality control programs
• Analyzes report deviations, travel and pay reports and submits such through proper channels
• Attends training courses (e.g., Incidence Command Systems training courses; Inspection System Procedures including Homeland Security) 
• Refresher seminars and on-job training activities

This position shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of the OCSEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. ODA bargaining unit members have selection rights before non-bargaining unit members. All other applications will only be considered if an internal bargaining unit applicant is not selected for this position.

 We Support Diversity and Inclusion:

ODA values its internal diversity and pledges to cultivate an inclusive and engaging environment for all employees where differences are embraced and celebrated. The agency commits to building a workforce that champions the advancement of these principles and initiatives. The values on which these efforts are founded are respect, empathy, transparency, equality, and equal access.

What’s in it for you:

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

Medical Coverage

Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered through the Ohio Med PPO plan. 
Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance

Dental, vision and basic life insurance premiums are free after one year of continuous service.
Time Away from Work and Work/Life Balance

Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave 
11 paid holidays per year
Childbirth/Adoption leave
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees.  The employee contributes 10% of his/her salary towards his/her retirement.  The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary.  Visit the OPERS website for more information.
Deferred Compensation

The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan. Visit the Ohio Deferred Compensation website for more information.
 

Maternity Benefits

·        Expanded maternity health care benefits available to state employees enrolled in the Ohio Med PPO and Ohio Med NN (narrow network) medical plan options. Several prenatal, childbirth, and post-childbirth services are provided at no out-of-pocket cost to employees utilizing network providers.

·        Examples of services now covered by network providers at 100% include:

o   Prenatal care, including physician visits and examinations.

o   Home health care services designated as maternity care (for expectant members on bed rest).

o   Inpatient claims for all types of delivery.

o   Inpatient NICU claims, from birth through discharge.

o   Postpartum care, including office visits for follow-up, and procedures/treatments directly related to maternity.

·        Medications prescribed for both antepartum and postpartum conditions (e.g., morning sickness, postpartum depression). Medical services provided by non-network providers will be processed at the applicable coinsurance, deductible, and out-of-pocket limits.

·        Prescription drugs that are directly related to maternity care are covered with no copay. The State of Ohio has collaborated with the prescription drug third-party administrator (OptumRx) to provide a list of covered medications that can be approved for zero copay via prior authorization from providers.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

1 course in animal science, agribusiness and/or food business management

OR 3 months experience in livestock industry/industrial meat and poultry processing

AND 1 course in biological sciences or chemistry (e.g., high school or college)

AND must be able to provide own transportation

OR

Equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above. 

Job Skills: Food Safety Inspection

If you require an accommodation for the interview process or the position, please notify the assigned recruiter.

NOTE:  A color deficiency test will be administered before the interview.  If candidate fails, he/she will not be further considered.

Unusual Working Conditions: 

       Work flexible hours and/or shifts; travel required, some overnight stays, must provide own transportation or in order to operate a state vehicle, must have a valid driver's license from state of residence, work weekends; rotating 6 month rotations on 2nd shift; exposure to extreme temperature changes; work on surface slippery from fluids and  grease; required to climb steps or ladders & work from catwalks or power lift platforms; exposed to possible injury from animals in holding pen; must stand for extended periods of time in confined work area; work around machinery with moving parts while standing on raised expanded metal platform; exposure to inmates with knives and/or sharp weapons; exposed to animal waste &/or infectious disease, loud equipment such as splitting saw, captive bolt pistol and/or firearms.

For Questions Regarding This Posting Please Contact:
Linda Roberts
Linda.Roberts@agri.ohio.gov

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free Workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). All final applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointments. Testing will also be performed for the presence of marijuana. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment unless the applicant submits medical documentation of legally prescribed medications or a recommendation for medical marijuana.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.