Sanitarian Supervisor

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience)--The necessary knowledge skills and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to:

• Bachelors degree in environmental health or a related field from an accredited program and three years public health sanitarian experience.
• Continuing education in milk sanitation (e.g. FDA 302 & 501 courses)
• Equivalent combinations of directly related education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Supervisory or Leadership experience in a work setting.

Licensing:

• A valid drivers license is required.
• Applicant must be a current Registered Sanitarian.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1 or more years of supervisory experience.

• State Ratings Officer certification

• Masters degreein Public Health Food Science or Veterinary Medicine.

• Experience in application of regulations to ensure safe food production with a focus on meat products including animal slaughter and meat processing.

• Experience with the design application and review of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).

Reasons to work for the Montana Department of Livestock:Our work matters!We are proud of the work we do to find out more about the Department of Livestock visit our websiteHERE.

Benefits of working for the Department of Livestock:The ability toworkandplayin thebeautiful state of Montanais one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity!

When you work for the State of Montana the compensation for your hard work is more then just a paycheck. The State of Montana offers employees a robust total rewards package that invests in you! Here are some of the benefits:

• Health dental vision life insurance coverage flexible spending accounts EAP - clickhere to learn more.
• Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
• A combination of 38 paid days off a year; including vacation sick leave and holidays.
• Military leave: Youll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.

• Longevity raises with continuous service as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.

• Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan - click here to learn more.
• Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available. Click here to learn more.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness- clickhere to learn more!
• Career progression training opportunities and room for professional growth.

• State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.

  *This position may be eligible for a statutory $1.00 an hour base pay increase effective on July 1 2026.

About this Opportunity!

The Department of Livestock is looking for a motivated and passionate safety leader to join the Meat Milk and Egg Inspection Bureau as a Sanitarian Supervisor!

*Notice of Location: The preferred location for this position is Helena however applicants residing within 30 miles of Great Falls and Bozeman would also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Meat Milk and Egg Inspection Bureaus purpose is to ensure that meat and poultry products slaughtered processed and stored in Montana meet state and federal requirements through product and site inspections licensing and laboratory testing. This work is done in cooperation with other state and federal agencies.

Department sanitarians conduct environmental inspections and reviews of licensed and regulated establishments and programs to evaluate their ability to provide safe products to the public.Sanitarians must respond to and investigate consumer complaints of licensed and regulated establishments under the jurisdiction of sanitarians. Research study and recommend measures to help protect consumers and workers from environmentally hazardous work methods processes or materials. Prepare reports and letters of sanitarians findings of public health inspections and investigations. Approve and issue operating permits licenses renewals and site approvals for businesses and programs under jurisdiction of sanitarians. Assess and determine public health materials and training needs by collecting and analyzing data. Collaborate with specialists to institute control or remedial measures for hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions or equipment. May develop and implement education and training programs for regulatory environmental and public health compliance.

This specific position of Sanitarian Supervisor in addition to performing the above listed compliance duties will also act as a secondary Enforcement Investigations and Analysis Officer within the bureau. Thes duties include providing training and guidance to staff within the bureau on a number of food safety related topics as well as conducting FSAs at establishments inspected by the department throughout Montana. This position provides direct supervision to other staff wich includes performance management work distribution hiring firing and employee development related duties.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The position works in both a standard office environment as well as onsite in facility establishments to perform work training or investigations. Travel up to 50% can be expected to various plants throughout the state. The position also involves hazards and physical demands associated with conducting inspections of milk and egg producers and processors including exposure to chemicals bending stooping climbing and potential exposure to pathogens. The position also involves exposure to potential hazardous pathogens when conducting training on inspections of carcasses as well as threat of injury while inspecting/working around unpredictable live animals. The work also involves periodic exposure to unpleasant sights sounds and odors while training or working in slaughter and processing operations. Additional hazardous include exposure to sterilizers steam lines hoists hanging meat slick floors knives hooks etc. and other possible job hazards relating to other equipment used in a meat processing establishment.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

The Sanitarian Supervisor will have knowledge of the principles and practices of public health administration microbiology disease control and biostatistics. The position also requires knowledge skills and abilities related to food processing technology manufacturing processes food labeling and nutritional labeling standards FDA and USDA program regulations food and drug toxicology food infection and toxin illness characteristics training and statistical methods and excellent communication skills.

Additional specific areas of knowledge required by the Sanitarian Supervisor include: knowledge of conducting a HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) program for dairy processing and manufacturing plants including identifying high risk areas for cross contamination of pasteurized and raw product or chemicals and tracing product and cleaning solution flow through diagrams and plant facilities; GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) for all cultured and manufactured dairy products; knowledge of 3A standards (Industry Design Standards) for acceptable materials and surface finishes in dairy equipment design for plants producers and haulers; sweet water and glycol coolant systems used in processing plants; steam systems and culinary steam applications; non compressed air systems; animal husbandry as it relates to mastitis (udder infection) control using animal housing bedding and teat care in preventative measures; animal lactating cycles to determine normal/abnormal milk and different handling practices; and animal grooming requirements.

The incumbent must have the ability to deal with the public in a regulatory capacity diffuse potentially violent situations and remain calm and professional in very hostile adversary conditions; ability to monitor for public health risks from disease infections and non-hygienic personal practices; the ability to collect pertinent facts in situations where persons under investigation are less than forthright and apply the information to assess potential health risk or cause using epidemiological methods; and be capable of judging the appropriate action for the situation to condemn or embargo retain recall or regrade non-compliant products.

Additional KSAs:

^{Ability to analyze large amounts of data and take appropriate enforcement actions.}

^{Knowledge of food inspections and other food science; including and understanding of the design application and review of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).}

^{Ability to interpret regulations.}

^{Ability and experience in developing related policy.}

^{Strong computer and electronic skills including experience entering data into selected software systems.}

^{Effective time management and organization skills.}

^{Strong attention to detail and observation skills.}

^{Strong troubleshooting skills.}

^{Ability to use reason and logic to identify and solve problems.}

^{Ability to lead instruct and facilitate collaboration and cooperation with others.}

^{Ability to plan organize and prioritize work activities without direct supervision.}

^{Strong communication and customer service skills.}

^{The position also requires the ability to assess program resources and industry risk develop priorities and goals perform planning and program monitoring negotiate and solve problems.}