Animal Food Field Inspector- Central WA

Animal Food Field Inspector – Central WA

Salary
$60,132.00 – $80,820.00 Annually

Location 
Multiple Locations – Central Washington, WA

Job Type
Full Time – Permanent

Remote Employment
Remote Only

Job Number
2026-00995

Department
Dept. of Agriculture

Division
Food Safety and Consumer Services – Animal Feed

Opening Date
02/06/2026

Closing Date
Continuous

Salary Information
The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description
This recruitment is open until filled. 

The first review of applications is scheduled for the week of February 23, 2026, order to be considered, please submit your application on or before February 22, 2026. The agency reserves the right to make a hire any time after the initial screening date.

AGRICULTURE – A Cornerstone of Washington’s Economy

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

We’re hiring a full-time permanent Food Safety Compliance Specialist 2 to join the Animal Feed Program covering Central Washington territory. Home office can be located in Kittitas County, Yakima County, Douglas County, Grant County, Benton County, Other Negotiable Central Washington Location, or Pierce County

The Food Safety & Consumer Services (FSCS) Division is one of the five divisions in the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). The FSCS Division serves consumers and stakeholders in the state of Washington by assuring the safety, and integrity of the state’s human and animal food supply. The division is made up of approximately 100 full time employees, 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 Animal Feed Program (AFP) within the Food Safety & Consumer Services Division serves the people and animals of Washington and beyond by regulating the safety and integrity of animal food, to protect animal and public health, and ensure market fairness. WSDA AFP regulates animal food manufacturers, distributors, and guarantors (responsible party). Our work extends not only statewide but nationally and internationally for those companies that do business in Washington. We register and review pet and specialty pet food products, license firms, conduct field activities such as inspections, sampling, investigations, recalls and technical assistance and provide outreach and education. WSDA AFP has implemented and is maintaining the Animal Food Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS), which is a set of eleven standards utilized to improve animal food regulatory programs as well as implement preventive controls regulatory activities, and to encourage domestic mutual reliance amongst animal food regulatory agencies and an integrated food safety system.

The Central WA Field Inspector serves the AFP in carrying out objectives and tasks in its strategic action plan, specifically performing field activities such as inspections, investigations, sample collections, technical assistance, recall activities and compliance/enforcement actions at any applicable facility within the state to protect animals and humans from misbranded or adulterated/contaminated animal food or ingredients. The Field Inspector demonstrates a strong working knowledge of the applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations related to animal food.

This position performs field activities independently while prescribing to set procedures, policies or directives. This position discerns between major and minor violations and one-time, isolated events vs. pattern or history of violations while documenting observations in an articulate and well-organized manner. This position also collects samples for various analyses (e.g. prohibited materials, pathogens, mycotoxins, etc.) while correctly completing the necessary sampling documentation. Following procedures/policies/directives and proper documentation of field activities is essential as they could be used for evidence in enforcement actions, or the potential for providing testimony for legal actions. In addition, this position serves as the primary liaison between industry partners and the Animal Feed Program for technical assistance related to animal food and may provide outreach to stakeholders.

Important Notes
WSDA is recruiting for a full-time permanent Food Safety Compliance Specialist 2 position within the Food Safety & Consumer Services Division, Animal Feed Program. The Food Safety Compliance Specialist 2 position is approved for a home duty station in Kittitas County, Yakima County, Douglas County, Grant County, Benton County, Other Negotiable Central Washington Location, or Pierce County WA but needs to be willing and able to travel statewide for inspections. 

Some workdays may be outside a typical 8-hour schedule and rarely weekend work may be necessary. The Food Safety Compliance Specialist 2 position is represented by the Washington Public Employees Association.

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 54 Step A $60,132 – Step L $78,912 annually.

Duties
Some of what you’ll do: 

• Conduct inspections, investigations and compliance/enforcement related to animal food
• Perform independent or joint inspections and investigations under the authority of the Washington State and under contract with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Interpret, apply and ensure compliance with federal, state, and departmental laws, requirements, regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to Animal Feed Program and WSDA.
• Discern between critical and significant observations that may indicate patterns or history of incompliance and risk during inspectional and investigational activities.
• Document inspectional and investigational findings as prescribed by the Animal Feed Program and/or federal partners.
• Identify adulterated, contaminated or misbranded products, unregistered products, or unlicensed firms in the field and reports findings in a timely manner to appropriate Animal Feed staff.
• Conduct appropriate or assigned compliance/enforcement actions.
• Conduct Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Reviews and completes reports in a timely manner.
• Conduct sampling activities of animal food and animal food ingredients
• Collect samples of animal food and animal food ingredients under Washington State authority and under contract with the FDA.
• Collect samples in response to consumer complaints or compliance/enforcement follow-up activities.
• Prepare, document, store, and ship samples in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Provide technical assistance and communicate with stakeholders
• Provide technical assistance to licensees, registrants, agency representatives, and stakeholders regarding animal food safety regulation, compliance, and enforcement.

Qualifications
Professionals with:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution involving major study in agriculture, microbiology, animal science/nutrition, public or environmental health, food science or technology, biochemistry, or natural science in a closely allied field.

AND

One (1) year of professional experience in a public health regulatory, food manufacturing environment, or animal food-based agriculture industry.

Additional qualifying experience may substitute for education on a year for year basis.

• Must hold and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Must have the ability to qualify for and obtain FDA Commissioning as required. FDA Commission qualifications (subject to change, discretion, and further inquiry by FDA):
• Meets qualification for FSCS position duties.
• Citizen of US.
• No felonies/misdemeanors (excluding minor traffic offenses) or pending trials/investigations for such.

Preferred / Desired Qualifications:

• Experience conducting inspections or audits emphasizing preventive controls for animal food (PCAF) or human food; current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) for medicated feed, animal food or human food; Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) and Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE) control and prevention.
• Experience and proficiency with technology such as Microsoft and Adobe, and inspection/audit databases, etc. and understand basic cyber security protection.
• Demonstrated history of fostering teamwork, maintaining confidentiality, self-motivation, excellent customer service, problem resolution, producing high-quality work, accepting accountability and responsibility for work product and making sound judgment for decisions which affect clients, coworkers, or other stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with attention to detail and the ability to convey policy language into easily understood concepts as well as strong proactive, respectful communication habits with regards to interacting with various audiences including co-workers, management, and regulatory/industry partners.
• Demonstrated ability in establishing professional relationships based on trust and mutual respect, collaborative and cooperative problem solving, and soliciting input from and trusting the decisions of others.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to change and implement creative thinking. Learns from mistakes and makes lasting improvements based on lessons learned.