This is the journey-level of the series and within an assigned geographical area, is responsible for independently guiding the industry in the development, implementation, and maintenance of food safety preventive control plans to prevent or significantly minimize food safety hazards and intentional contamination.  Assists with and ensures compliance with the various state and federal licensing requirements for facility design, processing, sanitation, and product labeling.  Provides expert technical assistance to the industry.  Interacts with and advises the public, industry personnel, and other government officials on public health issues with regard to food safety.

Regulates and monitors preventive controls in both food facilities and the production and harvesting of fruits and vegetables; 

Conducts food safety hazard analysis, compliance inspections and simple to complex investigations of commercial establishments and determines whether producers are complying with food safety standards, rules and regulations as established by Federal, State and local laws; 

Conducts detailed public health food safety monitoring and compliance inspections, Federal Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point inspections, investigations, and/or surveillance of commercial establishments that manufacture, process, hold or transport food products intended for public and/or animal consumption. Initiates corrective and enforcement action at the site as needed;

Conduct analysis of the safety of food production environment and inspection of final product in the such specialized areas as acidified foods, low acid canned foods, egg, seafood, juice, custom meat facilities, slaughter trucks, shell egg, cottage food and direct seller, cannabis infused edibles, and animal feed;

Performs inspections of Grade "A" plants and cheese, ice cream, and butter factories to determine initial and continued compliance with all dairy laws; issuance or renewal of permits; reviews animal health test records; and conducts surveys and sampling of water sources and supplies to ensure purity;

Independently conducts detailed and complex sanitation surveys and inspections; collects, analyzes, and summarizes data obtained from surveys and inspections;

Conducts review and approval of construction plans for new buildings, remodeling, or addition of new equipment to ensure compliance with science-based mitigation strategies to avoid intentional contamination and eliminate or significantly minimize hazards;

Performs inspections of locker plants for compliance with Washington State laws; consults with, instructs, and evaluates the work of industry technical personnel from a sanitation standpoint;

Conducts specialized inspections of food processing plants, food storage warehouses, poultry and rabbit processors, beverage plants, and fish and shellfish canneries and processing plants; performs field investigations of pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables at canneries and packing plants;

Prepares complex, customized reports and findings in accordance with FDA requirements and standards, collects samples for testing and documents results to support reports; prepares cases to be brought before the Director of Agriculture, for formal hearing and revocation or suspension of license; advises Food Safety Compliance Specialist 1 (and/or trainees) in detection, preservation, and presentation of admissible evidence; appears in court or administrative hearings as a witness in cases of noncompliance;

Independently performs field investigations of consumer complaints and takes appropriate action to correct improper conditions; provides technical assistance to consulting firms, municipal officials, industrial plant personnel, and other local government personnel on problems and practices affecting sanitation in the dairy and food industry;

Coordinates inspection and enforcement work with that of other Federal, State, and local officials; attends meetings and seminars pertinent to the dairy and food industry and acts as a technical consultant or expert at said meetings;

Prepares summaries of activities for monthly and biennial reports;

Provides expert-witness testimony as needed; 

May assist supervisors in the direction of trainees;

Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge of: theory, principles and practices of food safety, sanitation enforcement, dairy and/or food technology, Federal, State, and local laws and regulations concerning manufacturing, processing, storage, handling and sale of fresh and processed foodstuffs or of milk and dairy products; skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college, with courses in sanitary science, food technology, or natural sciences.

Ability to: apply and enforce laws and regulations, using maturity and judgment, as well as the power of the law; understand and interpret written and oral directions and specifications; deal tactfully with the public, government, and industrial officials; prepare written reports and make oral presentations; consult with and advise plant owners and personnel on design and operation of plants and farms to comply with sanitation requirements, laws and regulations; work independently with a minimum of direction from a higher level compliance specialist; travel frequently and for extended periods; traverse uneven or steep terrain in rural environments and climb ladders in industrial manufacturing warehouses.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

A Bachelor's degree involving major study in bacteriology, microbiology, food science, food technology, biochemistry, dairy science, or a natural science in a closely allied field.

AND

One year of experience as a Washington State Food Safety Compliance Specialist 1 or two years of equivalent public health regulatory-related experience or three years of quality control experience in a food or dairy processing plant.

A Master's degree involving major study in one of the above education fields will substitute for one year of experience but not for the one year of experience as a Washington State Food Safety   Compliance Specialist 1.