NSIS Technologist

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A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We’re looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us. Apply Now!

Your Opportunity

As part of our FS/QA team, you would conduct routine sanitation checks, ensuring that HACCP and USDA regulations are strictly enforced. You will be responsible for ensuring that we are able to safely deliver the best Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathan’s Famous, or any of our product brands to customers and consumers.

This position is responsible for performing NSIS procedures. The New Swine Inspection System (NSIS) was developed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to produce a flexible, more efficient, fully integrated meat inspection system. The NSIS system, in contrast with the traditional inspection system, focuses more control for food safety and other consumer protection activities on the establishment with Agency personnel focusing on carcass and verification system activities. The NSIS Technologist conducts all the necessary inspections of live hogs, heads, carcasses, and viscera. The NSIS Technologist is responsible for identifying and controlling potential food safety hazards occurring from pathological conditions in these items and contamination occurring during processing.

Core Responsibilities

• Recognize and identify diseases, consumer concerns, and contamination in pork/swine in compliance with Federal Regulation, Directives, and Guidelines.

• Ensures product meets definitions of RTC pork.

• Monitor and communicate with helpers to ensure that the correct tag and marking is used to identify carcass/swine pathology and other carcass inspection issues.

• Clearly and effectively communicate with USDA officials and Plant Management on technical issues and complete/verify necessary inspection documentation.

• Works with other departments to implement procedure changes, based on predetermined specifications, involving raw materials and finished goods to remedy the cause of any non-compliance as quickly as possible.

• Ability to interpret customer and sales specifications and apply subjective quality decisions to product (ie: product appearance, color, texture, etc).

• Utilize technical knowledge to prevent and identify the root cause of process or product failures.

• Continuous improvement of product quality through attention to process expected.

• Additional duties as assigned.

Absence

• In the absence of key personnel, the employee’s supervisor or qualified designee (one that has been trained in the key employee's duties) is responsible to complete or delegate the completion of all required tasks and responsibilities.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions. 

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED), required

• For internal candidates with 4+ years of experience with the company, the Company has the discretion to waive educational requirements.

• 2+ years’ experience (Harvest processing, USDA inspector, or FSQA) in a related field, preferred.

• Bilingual Preferred. Must have the ability to complete required applicable forms in English, which requires the ability to read and write in English.

• Must be able to follow written/verbal directions and apply previously determined corrective

• action when deviations are identified.

• Ability to create, revise and interpret technical documents such as quality specifications, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals

• Knowledge and understanding of quality assurance principles, food science and meat processing, and regulatory expectations of sorting carcasses and associated parts.

• A high level of technical expertise, ownership and practical knowledge of all Quality Assurance and regulatory programs

• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence

• Ability to use exposure monitoring equipment, interpret and communicate results

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form

• Ability to work on the internet, Spreadsheet, Presentation and Word Processing software

• Comprehensive experience and understanding of USDA Rules and Regulations

• Ability to uphold regulatory, company, and customer standards

• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Strong decision making and problem solving skills

• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.

• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Plant setting. The plant environment will include wet or humid conditions (non-weather related), extreme cold and heat (non-weather related), working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and chemicals.

• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud when in the production area.

• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds

• Ability to perform repetitive tasks and stand for prolonged period of time.

• Specific vision includes close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

• Exposed to temperatures ranging from below 40 – above 90 degrees, working in warm and cold area simultaneously. 

• Continually stand and use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.

• Some Responsibilities will require work in livestock areas with and around live animals.

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EEO/AA Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.