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Food Inspection Technician - Adams, Franklin, York Counties

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, PAvia Commonwealth of PA
As a Food Inspection Technician for the Department of Agriculture, you will become part of a team dedicated to keeping Pennsylvania’s food supply safe. This position helps you build expertise through hands-on inspections and investigations in many types of facilities. You will strengthen your knowledge of food safety laws and inspection practices. This role is an excellent opportunity for those who want to make a direct impact in their community.

This position focuses on conducting inspections, reviewing food safety conditions, and applying laws and regulations to protect public health. As a Food Inspection Technician, you will perform the following duties:

  • Facility Inspections: Perform inspections and investigations in food, dairy, produce, warehouse, and processing facilities to evaluate compliance with laws and regulations
  • Report Preparation: Prepare detailed written reports, review past findings, and maintain accurate inspection records
  • Plan Review: Review construction, remodeling, and system plans to determine compliance with standards and specifications
  • Sampling Activities: Collect food samples, interpret laboratory results, and investigate complaints related to food products or sanitation conditions
  • Emergency Response: Respond to emergency events such as fires, accidents, or power outages to determine food safety conditions
  • License Processing: Approve licenses, registrations, certificates, and permits while ensuring proper documentation and fee collection

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

  • Full-time employment
  • Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
  • Overtime and travel may be required, including occasional overnight trips.
  • This position will be home headquartered if the applicant lives York, Adams, or Franklin County. If  applicant is not home-headquartered, the position will be headquartered at the Region 6 office and the state vehicle must be headquartered/parked at the Regional Office in Dauphin County.
  • This position is home headquartered. In order to be home headquartered, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. 

  • Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable. 
  • You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:
  • A bachelor's degree in food science, food technology, chemistry, microbiology, or a closely related field; or
  • An equivalent combination of experience and training.
  • Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Special Requirements:

  • This position will require possession of an active motor vehicle license.

Other Requirements:

  • You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines. 
  • You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:

  • Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
  • If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
  • Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
  • Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position. 
  • All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

  • Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): 

  • 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

  • Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
  • Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions. 
  • Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
  • You must provide complete and accurate information or:
    • your score may be lower than deserved.
    • you may be disqualified.
  • You may only apply/test once for this posting.
  • Your results will be provided via email.
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