Compliance Investigator

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Compliance and Investigations Division (CID), Office of Investigation, Enforcement, and Audit (OIEA).

CID implements a nationwide compliance and investigations program in support of the FSIS public health mission.

Investigations are often a collaborative effort conducted by individuals or teams across the United States. Regular Work Schedule: Mon-Fri. Occasional weekends and holidays may be required.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Time-In-Grade: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade For the GS-11 - Applicants will need to have completed 52 weeks of time-in-grade equivalent to the next lower GS grade level (e.g.

one year at the GS-9 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level.). For the GS-12 - Applicants must have at least 52 weeks of time-in-grade equivalent to the next lower GS grade level (e.g.

one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level.).

Specialized Experience: In order to meet the specialized experience requirement, you will need to have completed 52 weeks of progressively responsible specialized experience at the next lower band/grade level.

For the GS-1801-11 level: Specialized experience at the GS-11 level is defined as having a knowledge of meat, poultry and egg inspection laws and regulations; the ability to monitor and verify compliance with inspection laws and regulations; ability to analyze official records to assure they are in compliance, appear to be true, correct, and unaltered; ability to recognize, resolve, or determine if further investigation is needed when there is a violation of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, Poultry Products Inspection Act, and/or Egg Products Inspection Act.

The ability to gather facts, analyze data, identify trends; and document findings.

For the GS-1801-12 level: Specialized experience for the GS-12 level is defined as enforcement and investigative work rather than inspection activities.

It includes working with enforcement actions, applying investigative methodology, documenting case files, administrative enforcement recall activities, preparing case investigation files, and working with and understanding the enforcement process.

This experience must demonstrate knowledge in the following areas: meat and poultry inspection laws and regulations; the ability to monitor food product and maintain chain of custody, collect and evaluate evidence, recognize and resolve violations of the Meat Inspection Act, Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, and/or Egg Products Inspection Act; and the ability to gather facts, analyze data and develop written reports.

For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, and Compliance Series 1801 Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Major Duties:

• Conducting surveillance of in-commerce facilities focused on food safety, food defense, court order verification, and other consumer protection activities;
• Investigating violations of law to support criminal, civil, and administrative actions, including prosecutions;
• Sampling product for pathogens, species, economic adulteration, and foreign ingredients;
• Educating businesses and officials about food safety and food defense;
• Serving as a liaison with other federal, state, and local public health agencies and law enforcement officials;
• CID Investigator initiates enforcement through referrals to the USDA Office of General Counsel and/or OIG for prosecution, injunction, or product seizure actions by DOJ;
• CID Investigator verifies compliance with settlement agreements and other case outcomes on behalf of FSIS and assists with coordination of legal actions;
• Plays a crucial role in FSIS homeland security activities, including detecting, preventing, and responding to food tampering incidents, food smuggling, national disasters, and other threats to the food supply;
• CID Investigator has a substantive role in foodborne illness outbreaks by performing investigations in cooperation with other federal, state, and local public health partners;
• Investigators identify the vehicles of the outbreak and determine the location of suspect product. These activities may result in recalls, detentions, and/or seizures which provide for the removal of suspected product from the market place.