Job Details

Food Safety Compliance Specialist 3

AGRICULTURE - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy

Apply early! First review of applications is scheduled for September 18th! To be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before September 17th, 2026.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.

The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more andview additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.

The Food Safety & Consumer Services (FSCS) Division is one of the seven divisions in the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The FSCS Division serves consumers and stakeholders in the state of Washington by assuring the availability, safety, and integrity of the state's human and animal food supply. The division is made up of approximately 100+ FTEs through five statewide programs, including: Animal Feed, FSCS Laboratory, Food Safety, Organic, and Produce Safety. We also house the Rapid Response Team that manages food and feed emergency responses.

The Opportunity

The purpose of the Compliance Specialist is to perform inspections, investigations and collect samples to protect the public from unsafe or adulterated food by evaluating conformance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. This position conducts complex food safety inspections in facilities that process or hold food products including but not limited to: food processors, dairy farms, dairy plants, custom meat facilities and trucks, egg handling facilities, poultry processors, food warehouses, cottage food permits, cannabis infused edible processors and other food handlers as needed, to assess compliance with state and applicable federal regulations. The Compliance Specialist conducts or is on track to conduct specialized inspections including the following food types along with the specific federal and state regulations that oversee their production; Seafood HACCP, Juice HACCP, Preventive Controls, acidified products or LACF foods. This position performs independent inspections to evaluate conditions found in each facility based on the appropriate state law and applicable federal regulation. It will also independently assess conditions that may lead to increased risk to public health by discerning between minor and critical violations and create reports of inspection findings in a clear and concise manner. At times the position may be asked to participate in drafting sections of legal documents including compliance agreements or Notices of Intent to assess penalties or revocation of licenses. In addition to the duties listed above, the FSCS 3 Technical Review Specialist is responsible for reviewing advanced industry applications for food processing of all types to determine compliance with regulations governing legal food formulations. A significant part of this position's specialized duties is to; review Cottage Food and Cannabis-Infused Edibles (CIE) applications for legal formulations, enter inspection reports into the Food Safety Program database as well as coordinate with all regions to maintain uniformity of product approval. This position will coordinate both with industry and other agencies such as Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration for accuracy, consistency and completeness. A high degree of familiarity with the Food Safety Program laws, rules and policies is required to be successful in this position. This specialist will work with the Training and Technical Projects Supervisor, Region Supervisors, and other internal and external members to develop training material and job guides to improve the inspectional process for the program. This critical program position is also responsible for updating program management of potential problems with applications that may fall outside of regulatory standards.

Important Notes

WSDA is recruiting for three (3) internal full-time permanent Food Safety Compliance Specialist 3's position within the Food Safety and Consumer Services Division. These positions are home-based in any county in Washington. These positions are represented by the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA).

The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary range for this position is: Range 56 Step A $64,512 - Step L $84,528 annually.

What to Expect Some of the various responsibilities within this role: Technical Review Specialist

• Conduct advanced technical reviews of all types of food applications including, but not limited to Cannabis-Infused Edibles, Cottage Foods, HACCP Plans, Food Safety Plans and supporting information.
• Enter updates with product evaluations and plan reviews to the Food Safety data system in a timely and efficient manner.
• Provide recommendations to program staff based on regulatory standards and available scientific information.
• Provide ongoing review, feedback, and technical assistance to industry regarding product formulation, processing and labeling that meets current regulations.
• Interface with industry to assess future needs and trends to help with program direction.
• Work in teams to develop, maintain and improve the program's standards and processes for all staff.
• Assist the program with improvement of product review procedures and identification of future enhancements.
• Organize and report significant non-compliance to Training and Technical Projects Supervisor and Region Supervisor for further action.
• Perform other tasks as needed by Region Supervisor to support and achieve Program goals.
• Help develop training materials and participate in presentations related to product formulation approval considerations and other related topics.

Conducting Food Safety Program public health inspections, investigations, consumer complaints, traceback and recall effectiveness checks.

• Evaluate firm's control of public health risks by performing independent inspections of conditions in facilities that hold, pack, transfer or produce food.
• Base inspections on the appropriate state and/or federal regulation and program policy.
• Conduct federally mandated IMS and non IMS Grade 'A' Dairy inspections, testing of pasteurization equipment, and evaluations of dairy technicians by practical examination.
• Discern between critical and significant violations and provide technical assistance to industry when appropriate.
• Travel to distant and close locations requiring proper use of state agency vehicle.

Documentation and presentation of inspection and investigation findings

• Provide clear and concise oral and written reports of inspection and investigation findings.
• Prepare written reports that serve as the foundation for initiation of enforcement actions including on-the-spot product diversions (voluntary option to avoid embargo), embargo or stop sale actions.
• Provide documentation to include but not limited to; photographs, product labels or processing records.
• Assist the program in development and review of compliance cases as needed.

Providing technical assistance, conducting informational training to the public, industry or to sister agency personnel.

• Provide technical assistance and education to industry and the public regarding food safety regulation, compliance, and enforcement.
• Provide applicants with technical assistance to achieve licensing status including the review of construction and remodel plans for compliance.
• Participate in developing technical brochures and factsheets to aid and education to stakeholders, peers, and other regulatory officials.
• Coordinate and work with other state, local and federal agencies in actions, inspections, investigations, and training dealing with issues of food safety.
• Travel to distant and close locations requiring proper use of state Motorpool vehicle.

Conducting Food Safety Program public health investigations, traceback and recall effectiveness checks.

• Investigate consumer complaints per state policy and initiates appropriate action.
• Act as field support for recall effectiveness checks and other public health events.
• Take compliance actions such as embargo or stop sale to remove food from distribution.
• Travel to distant and close locations requiring proper use of state agency vehicles.

Collection and preparation of assigned routine samples and collection and preparation of samples relating to investigation of contamination or adulteration of food.

• Collect dairy product and water samples at mandated intervals to comply with federal regulation.
• Sample food items routinely for scheduled surveillance testing.
• Conduct follow-up investigations in response to laboratory results.
• Participate in environmental swabbing events as part of FDA contract and state surveillance assignments.
• Investigate and sample when inspection observations indicate a potential for public health risk. Sampling activities may include focused aseptic environmental and product sampling to determine the extent or source of a particular issue of public health concern.
• Travel to distant and close locations requiring proper use of state agency vehicle.

Who should apply? Professionals with:

• Bachelor's degree involving major