What are the responsibilities and job description for the (LD) Meat Inspector position at Department of Agriculture?
Initial Posting Date:
11/06/2025
Application Deadline:
11/17/2025
Agency:
Department of Agriculture
Salary Range:
$4,409 - $6,123
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
(LD) Meat Inspector
Job Description:
Are you interested in working for an agency that protects Oregon's agriculture, natural resources, working lands, economies, and communities? At the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), our mission is to safeguard, promote, and sustain Oregon's agricultural and natural heritage for future generations. We seek individuals who share this commitment and are eager to contribute to this important mission. If this interests you, we invite you to join our State Meat Inspection (SMI) program team as a Meat Inspector (Compliance Specialist 1).
What you’ll be doing:
In this role, you will examine food animals in privately-owned meat plants. This position works under remote supervision and will learn and perform inspection duties before, during, and after slaughter/processing to assure all products are wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled. Inspectors must demonstrate experience and proficiency enforcing inspection requirements to ensure regulated establishments produce safe meat products.
Innovative Mission: At ODA, we are committed to protecting and promoting Oregon's agricultural communities and economies. Joining us means being part of something truly impactful.
Diverse Programs: ODA offers 38 programs, with staff and constituents working in the fields and in clean, high-tech labs. This diversity provides a rich and varied environment for you to grow and excel in your role.
Collaborative Agency: The staff is united in our mission to support farmers, ranchers, fishers, and food producers across the state. As a Meat Inspector, you will collaborate with other agency programs to promote ODA’s mission, vision, and core values to both staff and the public.
As a Meat Inspector (Compliance Specialist 1), you will Monitor and evaluate slaughter procedures across multiple species.
- Ensure each step—stunning, bleeding, evisceration—is performed properly and safely.
- Identify and report deviations from approved methods or humane handling protocols.
- Collect samples of various food products for laboratory analysis and review interpretation of lab results for compliance with state and federal standards.
- Verify compliance with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
- Document non-compliance and assist in corrective actions to maintain animal welfare.
- Oversee post-mortem carcass cutting, trimming, and fabrication.
- Ensure sanitary practices are followed during meat processing to prevent contamination.
- Confirm that equipment and facilities meet cleanliness and safety standards.
- Inspect carcasses to identify visible fecal, ingesta, and milk contamination and verify that corrective measures are taken.
- Maintain thorough documentation during verification and enforcement processes.
- Proactively identify sanitation or process control failures.
- Work with plant personnel to initiate immediate corrective actions.
- Record incidents and ensure preventive measures are implemented to avoid recurrence.
- Review and verify that the facility’s SSOPs and HACCP plans are correctly followed.
- Assess critical control points and ensure hazard analyses are current and effective.
- Provide guidance or require changes if sanitation or hazard control documentation is insufficient or out of compliance.
**This is a Full-time limited duration appointment that has an expected duration of 17 months. Limited duration appointments are benefits eligible and have a designated maximum length of service. This position has the potential to become permanent. **
Click here to view a full description of this position
.
What we’re looking for:
Strong understanding of regulatory science, animal welfare, food safety, and sanitation systems—along with the ability to communicate findings, document compliance, and contribute to the overall integrity of the meat production process.
- At least two year of experience in meat processing, food safety inspection, or a related role in a regulated food production environment.
OR
- Bachelor's Degree in Animal Health or Animal Science
- Note: college-level course work in Animal Health may substitute for the experience on the basis of 45-quarter units per year of experience
- Must have a current and valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
Requested skills
- Familiarity with humane slaughter practices and post-mortem meat processing standards.
- Strong attention to detail, recordkeeping, and compliance monitoring.
- Great communication skills including verbal communication with both technical and non-technical customers.
- Willingness to complete additional training or certification in food safety and regulatory inspection as required.
- Preference may be given to individuals with experience in a specialty area specific to the position opening.
- Ability to work independently with little or no supervisory direction, often under tight deadlines.
- Flexibility in schedule required based on program needs with some overnight travel.
- Basic knowledge of Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems.
Projected Recruitment Timeline
- Recruitment Closes: November 16, 2025
- 1st Round: December 1, 2025
- 2nd Round if needed: TBA
*These dates are approximate and may change. *
- Approximate start date: January 5, 2026
** We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the requested skills. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether you meet the minimum qualifications of this position, please contact our human resources department to discuss your application.
How to apply:
Required: Attach a cover letter and resume to your application.
Your cover letter should specifically address the requested skills listed in the “requested skills” section of this job announcement. Using a generic cover letter is likely not going to get you an interview, so please personalize your cover letter.
- Applications without both requested documents attached will not move forward in the recruitment process.
- Upon submitting your application, please be sure to check your account for pending questions and tasks such as declaringVeterans' Pointsand attaching supporting.
- Current state employees – please apply through your employee Workday account.
What’s in it for you?
The State of Oregon offers a competitive and affordable health and benefits package, including excellent
medical, vision and dental
coverage, paid holidays off, and personal business leave, as well as paid and accrued vacation leave and sick leave. In addition to standard medical benefits and employee leave, the state also provides additional optional benefits, such as basic life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, deferred compensation savings program, and flexible spending accounts for health care and childcare expenses. More information is available from the Public Employees Benefit Board
.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are embedded in the Department of Agriculture core values. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The department strives to be a model employer committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the desired attributes. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether you meet the minimum qualifications of this position, please contact our human resources department to discuss your application.
Additional Information:
- This position is represented by SEIU.
- Current state employees, please apply through your employee Workday account.
- Per the Pay Equity Law passed in 2017, an equal pay analysis will be conducted to determine the compensation of the successful candidate. The analysis will be based on the relevant experience, education, training, and certifications documented in the application materials.
- United States Employment Eligibility: The Oregon Department of Agriculture does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. The Oregon Employment Department is an E-Verify employer. If you are the successful candidate, you must present your I-9acceptable documents(See page 3) for employment verification.
- This recruitment may be used to fill current and future Permanent, Limited Duration, Job Rotation and Temporary vacancies as they occur.
Questions/Need Help?
If you have questions about the recruitment or need an accommodation for the recruitment process, please email to:
oda.recruitment@oda.oregon.gov
or call 503-986-4584.