Food Specialist or Food Advisor - Agricultural Specialist or Agricultural Advisor

Working Title: Food Specialist or Food Advisor

Job Class: Agricultural Specialist or Agricultural Advisor

Agency: Minnesota Department of Agriculture

• Job ID : 97061

• Location : Various

• Telework Eligible : No

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to bidders and to all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bids accepted through 09/23/02026

• Date Posted : 09/17/2026

• Closing Date : 09/30/2026

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

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

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Travel Required : Yes

• Salary Range: $26.12 - $37.91 / hourly; $54,538 - $79,156 / 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.

Agricultural Specialist - This entry level position within the Food and Feed Safety Division exists to achieve Program goals, objectives, and outcomes by establishing and carrying out a detailed work plan that effectively (1) performs inspections, compliance, and enforcement activities in food establishments, for assurance and general enforcement of State food safety laws and regulations; (2) under general supervisory direction and oversight, performs licensing, investigations and response activities; and (3) 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 advanced level position within the Food and Feed Safety Division exists to achieve Program goals, objectives, and outcomes by establishing and carrying out a detailed work plan that effectively (1) conducts inspections, licensing, investigations, response, 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 training and assessment on inspection, sampling, compliance, licensing, investigation, and response activities for State Agricultural Specialists and local retail food regulatory staff.

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

This position primarily performs work in an area including portions of the following counties: Wabasha, Olmsted, Winona, Fillmore, and Houston. However, work assignments may be made throughout the state as needed to achieve program goals.

NOTE: Candidate must live in or relocate to within 35 miles of the inspection territory within 6 months of date of hire.

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 (1) year of experience conducting environmental health or food safety regulatory work (inspection, investigation, HACCP/Food Safety Plan review); or equivalent experience performing technical food safety, sanitation, or quality-controlled work in food production, processing, or environmental health settings.

OR

An associate’s degree in general science, natural science, agricultural or animal science, food science, environmental science, or a closely related field PLUS six (6) months of experience as described above.

OR

A bachelor’s degree in general science, natural science, agricultural or animal science, food science, environmental science, or a closely related field.

AND

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• 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 must meet the following qualifications:

Two (2) years of experience conducting food safety regulatory work (inspection, investigation, HACCP or specialized process review); or equivalent experience performing advanced food safety, quality assurance, or compliance work in food manufacturing or regulatory environments, including responsibility for identifying violations, recommending corrective actions, or conducting technical reviews.

OR

An associate’s degree in general science, natural science, agricultural or animal science, food science, environmental science, or a directly related field PLUS 18 months of experience as described above.

OR

A bachelor’s degree in one of the fields listed above PLUS one (1) year of experience as described above.

AND

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Detailed knowledge and understanding of applicable Minnesota food safety laws and regulations

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

• Ability to celebrate diversity and a strong commitment to a respectful and inclusive work environment

Preferred Qualifications

Agricultural Specialist

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in a field listed from an accredited institution.

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

• Retail Foods Regulator Certification (RFRC) from the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

• More than one (1) year of experience with public health regulatory work (i.e., inspection, compliance, enforcement, retail HACCP verification) in retail food establishments.

• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable Minnesota food safety laws and regulations.

• Experience collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Agricultural Advisor

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in a field listed from an accredited institution.

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

• Retail Foods Regulator Certification (FSRC) from the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

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

• Experience training and/or assessing risk-based inspections of regulatory staff.

• Experience collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

• Experience, skill, and comfort with public speaking.

Physical Requirements

Agricultural Specialists and Agricultural Advisors conduct inspection and enforcement activities 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 collect/move/transport food products during investigation, sampling, 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.

9. Adhere to agency safety policies, including but not limited to safe operation of motor vehicles and prohibited confined space entry.

Additional Requirements

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

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

5. Criminal Background Check

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 [email protected] . Please indicate what assistance is needed.