Job Description

Description of Work

**Readvertisement-Previously qualified applicants are still being considered and do not need to reapply**
The Cooperative Grading Service, under an Agreement between the USDA and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, administers a program to provide an impartial basis for the fruit, vegetable, and peanut industry to buy, sell, trade and make settlements on various products throughout the state. This is accomplished by applying U.S. Grade Standards to determine size, quality, condition, and grade of these products. This enables the industry to establish a monetary value directly based on these determinations. This service also ascertains compliance with Marketing Orders and Import requirements. The service is provided through request only, but grading is mandatory for peanuts being bought, sold, or otherwise marketed. The Grading Service also provides audit verification of a company\'s efforts to minimize the risk of microbial contamination of commodities by microbial pathogens based on the FDA\'s \xe2\x80\x9cGuide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables\xe2\x80\x9d. The grading service is totally self-supporting through fees that are established to cover the cost of operation.

This position will primarily oversee daily contract inspections at a distribution center inspection at shipping points. It may require at times inspection at some shipping points.
Secondly, it will provide relief Terminal Market work, when necessary, to other full-time staff. This will require long distance and overnight travel. This includes assisting other inspectors on large scale inspections.

This position must be able to perform or certify to perform as Quality Systems Auditor. Meaning, the incumbent will provide Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices Food Safety Audit Verification program for the state of North Carolina under the authority of the United States Department of Agriculture when feasible. Schedule food safety audits as they are requested. Determine level of adherence to \xe2\x80\x9cFDA Guide to Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables\xe2\x80\x9d and identify other food safety hazards using the USDA Harmonized GAP, GAP Plus Standards.

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The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provide services that promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness and forests; protect consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources for the prosperity of all North Carolinians. The Department employs approximately 2,000 employees.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of industrial workplace safety.
• Knowledge of commercial horticulture crop marketing.
• Knowledge of Excel and MS word software.
• Knowledge and training in the commodity that he/she is required to grade.
• Must have normal color vision.
• Ability to follow department safety guidelines and industry safety rules of the processing plant to which assigned.
• Ability to communicate well in both oral and written form.

PREFERENCES:

• 1 year or more of formal Terminal Market training or hold an unrestricted USDA Interstate/Intrastate License (FV 201)
• Knowledge of USDA\'s GAP/GHP, Harmonized Food Safety procedures or familiar with Food Safety

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

\xe2\x80\x9cYou may qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience, either through years of education or years of directly related experience or a combination of both.\xe2\x80\x9d

Minimum Education and Experience High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma and three years of closely related work experience including two years of experience in grading the commodities of the plant or station to which assigned;

or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Related work may include commodity grading, farming, quality control, working in a processing plant in the area of assignment, food service, grocery, and manufacturing.

Necessary Special Qualification Ability to obtain licensure by USDA for commodities grader; possession of a valid state driver\'s license.

Supplemental and Contact Information

Any employment offer may be less than the maximum of the range due to salary equity with similarly situated employees or the selected candidate\'s related education and experience.

Please follow instructions to apply on-line. It is important that your application includes all of your relevant education and experience. Text or attached resumes ARE NOT accepted as a substitution for a completed application. Applicants seeking veteran\'s/National Guard preference should submit a copy of their Form DD-214, NGB 23A (RPAS), DD256 or NGB 22.

All Law Enforcement positions, aviation safety sensitive positions and positions requiring a Pilot\'s License or a Commercial Driver\'s License (CDL) shall be subject to pre-employment drug testing. All positions requiring a Commercial Driver\'s License shall also be subject to pre-employment DMV physicals. Selected applicants must obtain a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) medical certificate prior to employment. If a CDL is listed as a preference and the selected applicant has a CDL at the time of hire then the CDL will become a requirement for the position.

**Note: When required, you must answer the question(s) for this position, or your application will be considered incomplete. **
Questions regarding this posting? Contact 919-707-3201.

NOTE: For temporary, contract or other supplemental staffing appointments:
There are no paid leave, retirement or other benefits associated with these appointment types.

For permanent and time-limited appointments:
Eligible employees have benefits that include employee health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, NC Flex (a variety of high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis), and paid vacation, sick, and community service leave, to name a few. Paid parental leave is available for eligible employees. Some benefits require 30 + hours work/week for participation.

State of North Carolina