Our Ability Jobs

Working Title: Manufactured Food Specialist or Manufactured Food Advisor

Job Class: Agricultural Specialist or Agricultural Advisor

Agency: Minnesota Department of Agriculture

• Who May Apply : Open to bidders and to all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bids accepted through 05/30/2023.

• Date Posted : 05/24/2023

• Closing Date : 06/13/2023

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Minnesota Department of Agriculture / Agriculture-MAPE

• Division/Unit : Food and Feed Safety Division / Manufactured Food Safety A Stf

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes

• Salary Range: $22.94 - $33.30 / hourly; $47,898 - $69,530 / annually

• Job Class Option : Food

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE

• FLSA Status : Nonexempt

• Telework Eligible : No

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

This position is based out the inspector’s home office and will cover an area/territory of NW Minnesota. The preferred home office location will be centrally located within the territory, including but not limited to Beltrami, Clearwater, Polk and Pennington counties.

This professional position is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of state statutes, rules and policies for the Manufactured Food Program, Food and Feed Safety Division, to ensure a safe and wholesome food supply and to protect against fraudulent practices and misbranding of food products.

This position is a remote worker position which is defined as, an employee who, as a condition of their appointment, has their home or alternative location as the assigned work location, works permanently from that location, and does not have an agency permanent/principal work location. Currently the MDA does not allow remote work locations outside of the State of Minnesota. For more information refer to HR/LR Policy #1447 Remote Worker Policy: https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1447-remoteworker.pdf

Minimum Qualifications

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.

Agricultural Specialist - To qualify for the Agricultural Specialist level, applicants met meet the following qualifications:

• A bachelor‘s degree in biological or physical science, food science, nutrition, environmental health, or closely related field that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in science courses.

• Must be educationally qualified to obtain certification as a Registered Sanitarian/Registered Environmental Health Specialist (RS/REHS) with the State of Minnesota and/or the National Environmental Health Association.

• Must currently possess and maintain an active/valid driver‘s license with an acceptable motor vehicle record subject to review.

• The ability to celebrate diversity and a strong commitment to a respectful and inclusive work environment.

Agricultural Advisor - To qualify for the Agricultural Advisor level, applicants met meet the following qualifications:

• A bachelor‘s degree in biological or physical science, food science, nutrition, environmental health, or closely related field that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in science courses PLUS one (1) year of experience conducting manufactured food regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, food safety plans); or equivalent.

• Must currently possess and maintain certification as a Registered Sanitarian/Registered Environmental Health Specialist (RS/REHS) with the State of Minnesota and/or the National Environmental Health Association or obtain within 2 years of appointment to the position.

• Must currently possess and maintain an active/valid driver‘s license with an acceptable motor vehicle record subject to review.

• The ability to celebrate diversity and a strong commitment to a respectful and inclusive work environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Agricultural Specialist

• Certification as a Registered Sanitarian/Registered Environmental Health Specialist (RS/REHS) with the State of Minnesota and/or the National Environmental Health Association.

• An advanced degree such as a Master’s degree in Biology, Chemistry, Epidemiology, Public or Environmental Health, Animal or Food Science, or a related field.

• Experience with regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, compliance, enforcement) in manufactured food establishments.

• Experience collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

• Experience, skill, and comfort with public speaking.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Agricultural Advisor

• A Master’s degree or higher in Biology, Chemistry, Epidemiology, Public or Environmental Health, Animal or Food Science, or a related field.

• More than two (2) years of experience with regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, food safety plans) in manufactured food establishments.

• Experience training and/or evaluating inspections of internal and external regulatory staff.

• Experience leading or coordinating projects.

• Experience collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

• Experience, skill, and comfort with public speaking.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Physical Requirements

Agricultural Specialists and Agricultural Advisors conduct inspections and investigations in the field as needed to ensure compliance with State food safety laws and regulations. The work requires the ability to:

1. Occasionally maintain a stationary position for extended periods of time such as prolonged standing or sitting.

2. Ascend, descend ladders and steps.

3. Position self to move/transport food products during investigation and inspection work.

4. Traverse uneven and/or slippery walking surfaces.

5. Work in wet, hot, and cold environmental conditions.

6. Detect shades of product color to make appropriate product acceptability decisions.

7. Communicate effectively with supervisors and workers in both office and field workplace locations that may be noisy environments.

8. Detect product abnormalities through a sense of smell.

Additional Requirements

It is the policy of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, as a part of its hiring procedures, to conduct background checks on finalist(s) for positions within the agency. The background check for this position may include an Employment Records Check and a Reference Check. The background check may consist of the following components.

• SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and former state employees only)

• Employment Reference Check

• Driver‘s License Check

• Conflict of Interest Review

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.