Experience Inc. Jobs

Working Title: Retail Food Specialist or Retail Food Advisor

Job Class: Agricultural Specialist or Agricultural Advisor

Agency: Minnesota Department of Agriculture

• Job ID : 83455

• Location : Various

• Telework Eligible : No

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to bids and to all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bids accepted through 01/29/2025.

• Date Posted : 01/23/2025

• Closing Date : 02/12/2025

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

• Division/Unit : Food and Feed Safety Division / Retail Food Safety D Staff

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

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes

• Salary Range - Agricultural Specialist: $27.84 - $40.82 / hourly; $58,129 - $85,232 / annually

• Salary Range - Agricultural Advisor: $27.84 - $40.82 / hourly; $58,130 - $85,232 / annually

• Job Class Option : Food

• Classified Status : Classified

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

• FLSA Status : Nonexempt

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

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

This position is based out of the inspector's home office and performs retail food inspection work in a territory including portions of the following counties: Stearns, Meeker, Wright, Sherburne, Anoka, and Hennepin. NOTE: Candidate must live in or relocate to within 35 miles of the inspection territory within 6 months of date of hire.

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

Agricultural Specialist: This position exists to achieve Program goals and objectives by establishing and carrying out a detailed work plan that effectively (1) performs inspections, investigations, compliance, and enforcement activities in food establishments, for assurance and general enforcement of State food safety laws and regulations; and (2) provides information and technical assistance for clientele with respect to retail food safety issues or compliance with state retail food safety laws and regulations.

Agricultural Advisor : This position exists to achieve Program goals and objectives by establishing and carrying out a detailed work plan that effectively (1) performs inspections, investigations, compliance, and enforcement activities in food establishments, for assurance and general enforcement of State food safety laws and regulations; (2) provides information and technical assistance for clientele with respect to retail food safety issues or compliance with State retail food safety laws and regulations; and (3) provides inspection training and evaluation for State and local retail food regulatory staff.

Minimum Qualifications

To facilitate proper years of service 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 must meet the following qualifications:

One year experience conducting environmental health regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, plan review, retail HACCP); or equivalent experience in environmental health quality assurance

OR

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.

AND

• 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.

• This position requires the ability to celebrate diversity and a strong commitment to a respectful and inclusive work environment.

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

Two years of experience conducting retail food regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, plan review, retail HACCP); or equivalent experience in industry food safety quality assurance

OR

A bachelor’s degree in biological or physical science, food science, nutrition, environmental health, or closely related field PLUS one (1) year of experience conducting retail food regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, plan review, retail HACCP); or equivalent experience in industry food safety quality assurance

OR

A master’s degree in biological or physical science, food science, nutrition, environmental health, or closely related field PLUS 6 months of experience conducting food regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, plan review, retail HACCP); or equivalent experience in industry food safety quality assurance

AND

• 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.

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

• This position requires 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 MS, MPH, or higher.

• Experience with regulatory work (i.e., inspection, plan review, investigation, compliance, enforcement, retail HACCP) in retail 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 :

• An advanced degree such as a MS, MPH, or higher.

• More than two (2) years of experience with regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, plan review, retail HACCP) in retail food establishments.

• Experience training and/or evaluating risk-based 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 Specialiists 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

A job offer will be contingent upon successfully passing a background check. It is the policy of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, as part of its hiring procedures, to conduct background checks on the finalist(s) for positions within the agency. The background check may consist of the following components:

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

2. Employment Reference Check

3. Driver’s License Check

4. Conflict of Interest Review

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.

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.