Environmental Scientist

This position is primarily field-based and supports the Central Region.

Under the supervision of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the incumbent will conduct environmental health inspections on dairy farms and at milk processing and PRMP plants, gather scientific data, research and investigate food safety hazards, test pasteurization equipment for proper operation and food safety controls, and provide analytical expertise and reports on specific food safety parameters on dairy farms, milk processing plants, bulk milk haulers and other dairy food and PRMP facilities, including those associated with possible illegal sales of substandard dairy products to California consumers.

• Utilize and maintain knowledge of current state-of-the-art field equipment and technologies to obtain measurements of dairy foods and food processing parameters that relate to food safety or component analysis
  
  
• Respond to emergency food contamination incidents or food-borne illness outbreaks linked to milk products plants: conduct potentially complex environmental health investigations to identify, mitigate and correct the cause of contamination and emerging issues; prepare protocols, procedures, questionnaires, and guidelines for investigation; and serve impound notices and/or official quarantine recall orders as directed
  
  
• Collect and review documentation and distribution information of recalled dairy food products. Analyze documents collected for completeness and follow-up with regulated firms to ensure that all impacted products distribution information has been provided. Ensure that recalled foods are properly segregated for rework or destruction. Manage and oversee the voluntary condemnation and destruction of adulterated recalled foods in a manner that prevents their diversion or scavenging by the public
  
  
• Investigate and resolve all complaints received, from consumers, industry or other public or environmental health agencies in a timely manner, including any follow-up inspections, sampling and/or collaboration with allied agencies as necessary
  
  
• Develop sample plan and coordinate the collection and submission of environmental, compliance, and surveillance samples in response and follow-up to food safety incidents
  
  
• Maintain Evaluate bulk milk tanker trucks for compliance with sanitary design and operation in accordance with requirements of the FAC and PMO
  
  
• Travel and collect Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) surveillance samples from assigned dairies

Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

The duties of this job are performed outdoors approximately 75% of the time. The incumbent works out of his/her home office and reports to the Regional Office only to pick up supplies, attend meetings and turn in required documents. Most of the workday will be spent traveling to various locations throughout the region.

When working outdoors the incumbent may be exposed to extremes in temperature, fumes and gases. The noise level in equipment rooms may be high.