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Posted: March 24, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Dairy Safety Inspector 9-P11 - Dairy West Region

State of Michigan

Agriculture and Rural Development

Fresh

Location

Michigan, 48909

Salary

$25.03 - $42.18

per hour

Closes

April 6, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves traveling to dairy farms, processing plants, and transport vehicles in western Michigan to inspect operations and ensure milk and dairy products meet safety standards, helping protect public health and support the state's dairy industry.

A good fit would be someone detail-oriented with strong communication skills who enjoys fieldwork, can handle occasional conflicts professionally, and is willing to live in or relocate to specific northern Michigan counties.

The role requires flexibility for local and statewide travel to enforce regulations effectively.

Key Requirements

  • Reside in or relocate within 10 months to Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Missaukee, or Wexford County, or within 20 minutes of the area
  • Strong observation, listening, and communication skills
  • Ability to make sound decisions and prioritize risks
  • Capacity to handle conflict situations effectively with professional demeanor
  • Flexibility to manage work assignments and develop in-depth knowledge of dairy programs
  • Willingness to perform local travel regularly and occasional statewide or overnight travel
  • Relevant education or experience in dairy safety, food inspection, or related fields (as detailed in full position description)

Full Job Description



Food and Agriculture is one of the largest industries in Michigan. Grow with us and make a difference!


Job Summary:

The Dairy, Feed, and Produce Division of MDARD has a mission to protect public health by ensuring a safe and wholesome food/feed supply, while working to maintain a viable food and dairy industry. Food safety is the division's top priority. The Dairy Safety Inspector (Dairy Industry Field Scientist) is a field-based position that performs regulatory inspections and related work within an assigned work area.

This field-based position performs dairy regulatory inspections and enforces dairy laws and regulations for the MDARD Dairy, Feed, and Produce Division. Inspections may include farms, plants, bulk milk tankers and trucks, etc. Michigan's Dairy Safety and Inspection Program ensures the milk and dairy products produced by Michigan's dairy farms and processing plants are in substantial compliance with Michigan's milk laws, thereby allowing the state's dairy industry to market Grade A milk and dairy products in interstate commerce and providing consumers with the safest milk and dairy products possible. Michigan currently ranks 6th in the nation for milk production. Fulfillment of these duties necessitates local travel and periodically, statewide and/or overnight travel.

The ideal candidate will possess and be able to demonstrate key position-critical skills and abilities, including: enhanced observation, listening, and communication skills; the ability to project confidence; the ability to utilize and implement sound decision-making skills; the ability to prioritize risk; the ability and/or developing ability to handle conflict-type situations effectively; and, a professional demeanor and composure in all situations have capacity to develop an in depth understanding of the state's dairy program, and the ability to be flexible to manage work assignments.

This position will require the selected incumbent to live in Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Missaukee, or Wexford County, or within 20 minutes, or be willing to relocate within 10 months of hire.

Position Description

About MDARD:
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) partners with the food and agriculture industry to assure a safe, wholesome and abundant food supply; grow our state's economy; and improve the lives of Michigan citizens. These are the primary reasons we do the work we do, and we take great pride in doing our jobs well.



More About MDARD:
MDARD is comprised of four bureaus that use a customer-driven, solution-oriented approach to cultivate and expand new economic opportunities for the food and agricultural sector; safeguard the public's food supply; inspect and enforce sound animal health practices; control and eradicate plant pests and diseases threatening the $125.8 billion food and agriculture system; preserve the environment by which the farming community makes their living and feeds consumers; and protect consumers by enforcing laws relating to weights and measures.

Requirements

Education
Possession of a bachelor's degree in animal science, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, environmental health, food science/technology, microbiology, toxicology, veterinary science, or a related field including 10 semester (15 term) credits in a combination of biology and/or chemistry courses.
Experience
Dairy Industry Field Scientist 9
No specific type or amount is required.
Dairy Industry Field Scientist 10
One year of professional experience in the enforcement of laws pertaining to the production, transportation, and storage of dairy products equivalent to a Dairy Industry Field Scientist 9.
Dairy Industry Field Scientist P11
Two years of professional experience in the enforcement of laws pertaining to the production, transportation, and storage of dairy products equivalent to a Dairy Industry Field Scientist, including one year equivalent to a Dairy Industry Field Scientist 10.

Additional Information

Click the following link to view competitive benefit packages the State of Michigan offers!
MiCSC - Employee Benefits

Please attach a cover letter, resume and official college transcripts to your application. For our purposes, "Official Transcripts" must contain the college/university name and address, the degree conferred and date granted, coursework completed (especially if no degree granted), and the Registrar's signature and/or seal.

Information provided in your application, resume, cover letter, transcripts, and any other documentation provided will be used to verify responses to the supplemental questions. Unsupported responses may not be considered further.

Your application for any position does not guarantee that you will be contacted by the Department/Agency for further consideration. Only those applicants interviewed will be notified of the results.

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Posted on NEOGOV: 3/24/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/25/2026

Source: NEOGOV | ID: neogov-michigan-5281332