Laboratory Evaluation Officer/Dairy Products Inspector - Polk Co

The approximately 345 employees of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship(IDALS) Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) are responsible for a wide range of programs that affect the quality of life of every Iowan. Both Iowans living on the farm and those in our towns and cities are impacted almost daily by the work of the Department. The Dairy Products Control Bureauseeks to fill an Agriculture Compliance Investigator position in Central Iowa. This position will consist of ~60% Laboratory Evaluation Officer work and ~40% Dairy Products Inspector work. The area covered will include ALL counties located in Iowa. The official domicile will be in Polk county or another contiguous county agreed up at the time of hire. The purpose of the position is to assist the Secretary of Agriculture with the enforcement of applicable Iowa Code and to comply with all FDA cooperative agreement requirements. They will perform statewide dairy laboratory evaluation, certification, compliance surveillance, and regulatory activities to ensure Grade A milk laboratories, analysts, sampling procedures, and dairy operations comply with applicable state and federal laws, regulations, and FDA requirements, supporting the safety of milk and milk products and the uninterrupted shipment of dairy products in interstate commerce

Duties include:

• Certify laboratories and milk haulers on a state-wide basis as outlined by the Evaluation of Milk Laboratories (EML) manual to assure safe and wholesome dairy products.
• Maintain quality control records. Calibrate and maintain laboratory equipment so that the instruments are functioning properly and have minimum downtime.
• Achieve and maintain certification with the FDA as a Laboratory Evaluation Officer (LEO) and a certified analyst. This includes required out-of-town training, performance on split sample analysis, and on-site evaluation by FDA officials.
• Assist in the preparation of split samples that are sent to laboratories through the state for their performance evaluation. This includes analysis of the resulting data and dissemination of test results to the participants.
• Inspecting dairy farms, plant manufactures, milk truck, sampler/haulers, dairy product distributors, pasteurizers and single service containers and closures plants, all of which requires squatting, kneeling and bending
• Advising customers of current State and Federal regulations.
• Obtain random samples of milk and/or milk products which require carrying coolers weighing up to 50 lb. of products chest high, climbing a ladder to a height of 15 feet, walking up to 1/2 mile and standing for an hour or more.
• Entering data into computer systems.
• Preparing technical and scientific reports.
• Meeting specified deadlines.
• Adherence to strict safety and housekeeping standards.

Additional requirements include:

• Travel
• Must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License.
• Candidate must be able to acquire and maintain FDA credentials.

Applicants shall attach a cover letter and resume to their application. Application materials can be uploaded in the Attachments Section during the application process. Compensation: NOTE-this Agriculture Compliance Investigator position is capped at Pay Grade 25 Benefits: As an employee of IDALS, you are a State of Iowa employee and are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Paid Time Off: 9 holidays, sick leave, vacation, military leave, and jury duty leave.
• Medical Insurance: High-quality coverage with premiums as low as $210.00 per month for family coverage and $64.00 per month for single coverage.
• Dental Insurance: Free for single coverage and $46.00 per month for family coverage.
• Life Insurance: Basic $20,000 policy at no cost, with additional voluntary supplemental life available at a cost, and long-term disability insurance available at no additional cost.
• Exceptional Retirement: Includes IPERS (Iowa Public Employee Retirement System), a fixed income or defined benefit pension plan, and a deferred compensation plan (similar to a 401K) with a state match of up to $75.00 per month.

To learn more about the benefits of working with the State of Iowa, visit our benefits webpage. E-Verify and Right to Work: The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov. Join us! Apply today! Join us in our mission to enhance Iowa’s agricultural landscape and contribute to the well-being of our communities. If you are passionate about agriculture and have the skills to drive program success, we encourage you to apply. We also strongly encourage you to upload a cover letter and resume in the attachments section of your application. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in animal science, animal husbandry, animal industry, livestock management, crop production, agricultural law, motor fuels and renewable fuels, or closely related field, and the equivalent of two years' full-time technical experience in livestock inspection, production, auction market, sale barn work, work on an organic farm, motor fuels and renewable fuels or work as an auditor, inspector or compliance investigator with agricultural operations;OR an equivalent combination of any of the above qualifying experience substituting for the required education (on the basis that one year of experience equals 30 semester or equivalent hours of education) with a maximum substitution of four years;OR certification by the Federal Department of Agriculture as an Agricultural Products Inspector and the equivalent of two years' full-time technical experience in state and federal inspections of livestock feed manufacturing firms;OR certification as an Organic Inspector by the Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) and one year of experience as an organic inspector;OR employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of two years of full-time experience as a Livestock Inspector, Weights and Measures Inspector, Meat Inspector or a Dairy Product Inspector shall be considered qualified.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.Extensive travel is required for positions in this class. Employees must arrange transportation to and from assigned work areas. *Please include work examples of duties related to the requirements in the application or resume.