Agency Information: Kansas Department of Agriculture
The Kansas Department of Agriculture is devoted to the total support of agriculture in Kansas. The department works for the entire Kansas agriculture sector including farmers, ranchers, food establishments and agribusinesses. The agency has a balanced approach to providing an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and Kansas economy while promoting and advocating for the agriculture industry, the state’s largest industry, employer, and economic contributor. KDA helps to ensure a safe food supply, protects natural resources, promotes public health and safety, protects animal health, and provides consumer protection to the best of our ability.
Kansas Department of Agriculture: 1320 Research Park Drive, Manhattan, KS 66502
About the Position:
- Who can apply: Anyone
- Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified
- Full/Part-time: Full-Time
- Work Schedule: Days
- Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes
- Veteran Preference Eligible: Yes
Compensation:
- Annual Salary: $40,000 Per Year
- Hourly Pay: $19.23 Per Hour
* Salary can vary depending upon education, experience, or qualifications.
Employment Benefits:
- Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage
- Sick & Vacation leave
- Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave
- Paid State Holidays (designated by the Governor annually)
- Fitness Centers in select locations
- Employee discounts with the STAR Program
- Retirement and deferred compensation programs
Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information…
Position Summary & Responsibilities:
Location: Applicants must live in or around Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson or Douglas County, Kansas. Applicant must reside in this county or surrounding area or be willing to relocate to assigned area.
This position serves as the Meat & Poultry Inspector of the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s meat and poultry (M&P) inspection program. This state-wide program has the regulatory responsibility to ensure that meat products produced in state-inspected meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities are slaughtered and processed to meet the “equal to” requirements of federally inspected facilities.
Some responsibilities for the Meat & Poultry Inspector include, but not limited to:
This position is responsible for performing inspections at meat and poultry slaughter and processing plants in the state of Kansas. The position will be required to quickly identify abnormalities in live food animals prior to slaughter and identifying abnormalities in animal organ and muscle tissue after slaughter;
This position must assure the inspected facility is operating according to their system and that they are following regulations. This position will be required to read, observe, and understand the inspected facilities Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans and systems. This position will evaluate the adequacy and the effectiveness of these plans by recognizing and identifying actual and potential food safety hazards in the meat-processing environment. HACCP training will be provided to the applicant upon hire.
Be knowledgeable of products being prepared, formulations being used, and check on pumping and cooking temperatures to ensure food safety and check net weights periodically for accuracy.
This position provides education, consultation, and regulatory guidance to licensed meat establishments, including certain food processing plants and retail operations. The impact of the work is to assure overall meat and poultry safety and related consumer protection by assuring safe and wholesome food, properly labeled, for human consumption.
Maintain an up-to-date label file and take samples according to established procedure and forward for laboratory analysis to assure standards of identity. Verify that all samples required under the HACCP system are taken as directed which will require providing detailed and accurate records. This position is expected to have high attention to detail and must be able to forward think while performing the duties listed above.
The territory for this position will located in the KC Metro area of the state and the applicant must live in the assigned territory.
*This position is a home-based position. The applicant that is selected for this position will start each workday from his/her home.
Qualifications:
- Course credit from an accredited two or four year college or university with major course work related to Agriculture, animal/food science, meat processing or Biology.
- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Animal Science, Biology or any close related field preferred. Experience may be substituted for education as determined relevant by the agency. Willing to train the right individual.
- Applicant for this position must submit to and pass a color blindness test as a condition of employment.
- Employee must have a valid Class C (or higher) Kansas driver’s license or equivalent license from another state. Employee is responsible to maintain an acceptable driving record to safely drive state vehicle and be willing and able to fulfill all job-related travel normally associated with this position.
Recruiter Contact Information:
- Name: Alyssa Satterthwaite
- Email: Alyssa.Satterthwaite@ks.gov
- Phone: (785) 564-6713
- Fax: (785) 564-6777
- Mailing Address: 1320 Research Park Drive, Manhattan, KS 66502
Required Documents for this Application to be Complete:
- On the My Job Applications page, verify these documents are present and valid. Upload or delete and replace if needed.
- DD214 (if you are claiming Veteran’s Preference)
- Inside your Job Application, upload the these documents:
- Resume (or choose existing resume if you have one)
- Cover Letter
Job Application Process
- Sign in to your existing account or Register for a new account.
- Review and complete your contact information on the My Contact Information page.
- Upload documents listed in the Required Documents section of this job posting to the appropriate location.
- Complete and Submit your application.
- Check your email and My Job Notifications for written communications from the Recruiter.
- Email - the email listed on the Careers>My Contact Information page.
- Notifications - view the Careers>My Job Notifications page.
See the helpful links below to assist in completing your application:
How to Claim Veterans Preference
Veterans' Preference Eligible (VPE): Former military personnel or their spouse that have been verified as a "veteran"; under K.S.A. 73-201 will receive an interview if they meet the minimum competency factors of the position. The veterans' preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job. Positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determine by the hiring manager.
Learn more about claiming Veteran’s Preference
Equal Employment Opportunity
The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.
If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.