Are you looking for a career where you will help keep Ontario's food safe and ensure animal welfare through your knowledge of agriculture, food safety and regulatory compliance? Do you have knowledge of food production practices and food safety hazards? The Food Safety Inspection Delivery Branch is seeking Inspectors to keep food safe and ensure animal welfare by conducting regulatory compliance verification and providing professional advice and assistance on food safety practices.
The Food Safety Inspection Delivery Branch ensures the safety of a variety of food Ontarian's enjoy: meat and livestock products, milk and milk products, fish, fruits, vegetables, maple products and honey by providing inspection services to their production, processing, marketing and distribution. We cooperate with colleague branches and agencies to establish food safety standards and works with other ministries and agencies to provide a strong and seamless food inspection environment from farm to fork in Ontario. As a Food Safety Inspector, you will be an integral part of a team that plays an important role in the daily lives of Ontarians by keeping their food safe.
Our newly hired Food Safety Inspectors are provided comprehensive training, including 1:1 practical training with experienced inspectors. Training is on-going throughout your career, and development and growth is supported and encouraged!
Please Note:• These positions require frequent travel in all weather conditions and the ability to conduct physically demanding fieldwork in all types of weather conditions.
• The positions are irregularly scheduled, working 0 to 36.25 hours per week based on operational requirements. There is no minimum guaranteed number of hours per week, but it is not uncommon to average 20+ hours per week.
• Schedules are tentatively set in advance of the work week and management provides as much notice as possible, changes can occur on short notice based on operational requirements.
How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility
We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.
We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
Visit the
OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the
OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.
We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's
Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.
About the job
In this role, you will help keep food and Ontarians safe by:
• inspecting agricultural and food products for harvest and processing to support food safety for Ontarians including performing ante and post mortem assessment of livestock and carcasses
• assessing recipes, formulations, production, processing, packaging, preservation and storage methods of food products
• evaluating practices, programs and records for process control systems
• identifying unacceptable food safety hazards or noncompliance with applicable regulatory requirements
• collecting a variety of samples from agricultural or food products and processing environments to test regularly for biological, physical or chemical food safety hazards
• preparing and maintaining reports for compliance verification activities
• providing technical assistance to premises operators and other related parties (e.g. industry organizations and associations, equipment suppliers)
• conducting field sampling and related reporting activities during emergency response, and participate in regular emergency preparedness exercises and training
After joining the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) as a Food Safety Inspector you will work towards obtaining one or more required food safety inspection certifications provided by the ministry. You may have the opportunity to explore further certifications based on commodities of interest.
What you bring to the team
Mandatory requirements
• You must have a valid Ontario class “G” driver's license or equivalent as recognized by the province of Ontario and have the ability to travel extensively
• You must be able to work in hot and cold working conditions
Technical knowledge:
• You have knowledge of food safety hazards and risks.
• You have knowledge of food production and processing practices including raw materials, product formulations, food additives/ingredients, and quality control methods and practices.
• You can interpret and apply legislation, regulations and operational policies, protocols, guidelines, and procedures as they relate to food production.
Analytical and problem-solving skills:
You can:
• apply knowledge of principles and application of quality assurance systems such as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
• monitor work quality against current inspection and compliance standards and policies.
• assess inspection and audit corrective action plans.
• exercise judgement to recognize and understand the issues that arise during inspections.
• assess stakeholder concerns/issues regarding deficiencies, methods, techniques, critical control points and hazards.
• apply understanding of science-based risk assessment principles, develop contingency plans and identify control measures.
Training experience:
• You have knowledge of adult learning principles to help deliver training and coaching to new staff, monitoring progress and preparing written assessments.
Communication and interpersonal skills:
• You can develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external clients.
• You can mitigate disputes and confrontational situations when conflicts occur between clients' perceived interests and inspection requirements.
• You can provide information as it relates to outcomes, application of legislation/regulations and technical advice.
Computer and arithmetic skills:
• You have proficiency with computer software applications to locate, adapt, manipulate and store data/information.
• You possess arithmetic skills to perform calculations in order to verify accuracy of records and compliance measures.