Meat Hygiene Officer (MEAT INSPECTOR)

Are you looking for a career where you will have a positive impact on safeguarding Ontario's food chain and ensuring animal welfare at meat plants?

If so, please consider an opportunity with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' Meat Inspection Program.

What can I expect to do in this role?

As a Meat Hygiene Officer, you will conduct food safety and regulatory compliance inspections at provincially licensed meat plants. You will:

• conduct inspections of live animals for illness or injury
• oversee slaughter operations, ensuring animals are handled humanely, and conduct post-mortem inspections of carcasses
• monitor plant activities, verifying good manufacturing practices during the processing of the carcasses to ensure safe food handling
• review and assess compliance of operator's written programs and records
• collect various samples for laboratory analysis
• maintain an inspector's notebook and a variety of electronic records

How do I qualify?

Mandatory requirements:

• You are able to travel in all weather conditions to areas where public transportation is not available.
• You are able to perform physically demanding work duties in adverse conditions such as extreme heat, cold and/or humidity.

Problem solving skills and judgement:

• You have strong problem solving skills to identify underlying issues, link issues with regulatory requirements and recommend appropriate corrective measures to address challenging situations.
• You can identify and take necessary, appropriate and timely action in response to complex and/or critical issues.
• You have judgement to evaluate and consider situational factors to make independent, timely decisions that align with policies, procedures and legislation.

Communication and relationship management skills:

• You have oral communication and active listening skills to explain complex policies, procedures and techniques and to help ensure information is understood.
• You have written communication skills to accurately document information and prepare reports.
• You have experience developing and maintaining harmonious relationships with internal and external clients.
• You can influence and persuade others to adopt a specific course of action.
• You have the ability to identify potential conflicts, facilitate open and constructive dialogue, and proactively address and defuse potential issues.

Enforcement and compliance expertise:

• You have experience identifying situations of non-compliance and assessing the associated level of risk to determine appropriate corrective measures to achieve desired outcomes.
• You can accurately interpret, apply and enforce policies, procedures and legislation, and relay compliance-related information to others.

Concern for quality and standards:

• You have integrity to ensure your actions are consistent with organizational values, policies and codes of conduct.
• You are able to monitor and evaluate work quality and processes against policies, standards and regulations.

Specialized knowledge and experience:

• You have knowledge of food safety principles, theories, and practices.
• You have knowledge of humane animal handling practices for livestock.
• You have time management and organizational skills to effectively manage multiple tasks in a fast paced environment.
• You are proficient with common office software applications (e.g. email, word processing, data entry).

Please be advised that the results of this competition may be used to form an eligibility list of qualified candidates to potentially fill future vacancies represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). In accordance with the Collective Agreement, eligibility lists are shared with OPSEU representatives. By applying to this competition, you are providing consent that your name may be shared with OPSEU representatives.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Thursday, November 1, 2018 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.