CDA-Large Scale/Hybrid Inspector (Compliance Specialist II) at State of Colorado

About the Department

Agriculture is a part of all our lives. When you eat, put on clothes, or care for an animal--your life is touched by agriculture. Colorado's food and agriculture industry generated $47 billion of economic activity in 2019 and supports nearly 5% of the state's workforce. CDA is proud to be a part of such an important industry.

Mission:

The CDA's mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado's agriculture; promote a safe and high-quality food supply; protect consumers; and foster responsible stewardship of the environment. 

CDA Wildly Important Goals:

To accomplish our mission, CDA focuses on four “wildly important goals:” 

• Goal 1: Advancing Local Food Access

• Goal 2: Expanding Water-Resilient Agriculture    

• Goal 3: Supporting the Next Generation in Agriculture    

• Goal 4: Advancing Animal Health and Welfare

We use these goals to focus and align the daily work of our staff in support of Colorado farmers and ranchers. Learn more about our Department and our wildly important goals in our performance plan on our website.

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including aPERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans  (www.copera.org)
• Medical and dental health plans (https://stateofcoloradobenefits.com/)
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account ($60 per month)
• Paid life insurance, plus additional optional life insurance options
• Paid Short Term Disability and optional Long Term Disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave accruals
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program State of Health
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, remote work opportunities, free parking, professional development and more!

To learn about the total compensation package for State government employment visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/totalcompensation

Position Duties

***$2,000 Signing Bonus***

Organizational Purpose: 

This work unit exists to regulate and enforce the Measurement Standards Act, Commercial Fertilizer Act, Anhydrous Ammonia Act, Egg Law, Commercial Feed Law, Custom Processing of Meat Animals Act, and the Sale of Meat Act.

Major Objectives of the Position:

Working with the Section Chief and Work Lead, this position will conduct professional inspections to obtain compliance with the Inspection and Consumer Services Division laws. Coordinates and schedules inspection work in an assigned geographical area to conduct all required fieldwork, including, but not limited to, inspections, interviews, investigations, tests, certifications, and reporting. Inspections are performed in the areas of weights and measures, feeds, fertilizers, anhydrous ammonia, eggs, meat processing facilities, and farm products. Performs statutory enforcement work by inspecting facilities and acquiring samples of products to ensure compliance with state laws and regulations related to proper grading, sanitary conditions, proper labeling, approved procedures, and business practices. Inspects weighing and measuring devices for accuracy, issues license applications, and collects license fees. Takes appropriate action to achieve compliance with applicable laws by issuing enforcement actions such as civil penalties, cease and desist orders, stop sales, device rejection orders, and other regulatory actions as necessary. Investigate and attempt to resolve complaints involving regulated products, firms, or individuals. The position will require having and maintaining a Colorado commercial driver’s license (Class B, with air brakes) to accomplish the travel requirements of this position. Travel for this position could be up to twelve weeks per year.

Conduct Field Inspections: 

• Position will drive a state-issued truck or other vehicle to each inspection site. 

• Overnight travel, including week-long stays in hotels, is required for inspections away from the workstation.

•  Loads and secures the vehicle on a dolly, which is then towed behind the truck. Inspects weighing and measuring devices for accuracy and overall compliance with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 44 guidelines. 

• Operates a truck-mounted crane to remove the test cart and test weights from the truck and place them on scales. 

• Drives the self-propelled test cart to various sections of the scale. 

• Records the various readings displayed by the scale and determines if the reading is within allowed tolerances. 

• Duties require the lifting and carrying of up to 100 lbs. at a time and pushing/pulling up to 1,000 lbs. on a two-wheeled weight cart designed for that purpose. These weights are then placed on scales for the determination of the accuracy of the scales. 

• Inspects hopper scales for accuracy by lifting and attaching 50lbs. weights to the overhead scale. 

• Inspects railroad track scales for accuracy by comparing displayed weights to the actual weights of test cars supplied by railroad representatives. 

• Inspects liquid flow meters for accuracy by comparing the quantity discharged through the meter to the actual weight of the product as determined on a reference scale. 

• Responsible for the protection, care, proper use, and proper maintenance of all assigned equipment.

• Position performs various multiple inspector duties when needed, such as performing label reviews of retail packages for compliance with statement of identity, quantity, and responsibility requirements, scanning items for pricing accuracy; inspecting eggs for quality, grade, wholesomeness, proper storage, and labeling; feed and fertilizers for quality, adulteration, registration, and proper labeling; feed manufacturers and dealers for compliance with FDA BSE Rule; anhydrous ammonia tanks for safety; meat processing plants for sanitation and for compliance with State and USDA laws; inspects home food service providers and farm products dealers for licensing and compliance. 

• Performs various types of inspections under cooperative agreements with other governmental agencies such as USDA Custom-Exempt Meat Processor, FDA Medicated Feed Mill, and FDA BSE Inspections. 

• Collects, preserves, and submits to the lab official samples of feed, fertilizer, compost, and environmental surfaces. 

• Properly completes documentation and paperwork to accompany samples for testing and analysis by the lab. 

• Uses computer databases to determine the license or registration status of regulated firms, products, and individuals

Regulatory Action/Enforcement/Investigations:

• Enforces all laws under the jurisdiction of the Division to obtain and maintain compliance. 

• Assesses and determines the nature of violations and recommends courses of enforcement actions to their supervisor. 

• Follows procedures to take appropriate regulatory action, such as issuing stop sales, cease & desist orders, violations/fines, and other regulatory actions. 

• The position requires a case-by-case analysis of various situations and selection of the appropriate available enforcement tools. 

• Regulatory actions are expected to be issued in accordance with the guidelines of the Programs and guidance from the supervisor.

• Investigate complaints, violations encountered during regular work, and information received from other governmental agencies. 

• Provides timely, accurate, and concise updates, reports, and summaries to the office. If necessary, work with the supervisor and/or program manager to prepare cases for further regulatory actions, hearings, or possible court action if warranted. 

• Testifies in administrative hearings or court, as needed.

Reporting/Paperwork/Office Communication:

• Uses a state-issued laptop computer to enter all inspection information into appropriate computer programs and/or electronic databases. 

• Evaluates inspection results and composes reports after each inspection, which are free of spelling errors and are grammatically correct. 

• Original inspection report and any associated documents will be submitted to the office if needed, and copies given to each inspected firm or individual. 

• Electronic reports will be transmitted to Division servers weekly. 

• Timesheets will be completed correctly and submitted to the office on time and will accurately reflect the hours worked. 

• Federal expense tracking, credit card statements, leave slips, and other necessary paperwork will also be submitted to the office on or before established deadlines, and will be completed correctly and free of errors. 

• Communicate with the supervisor or other appropriate office staff as needed to successfully perform and complete the job assignments. 

• The position will require adequate knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word programs.

Territory and Time Management:

• Schedules and prioritizes inspections to be performed based on schedules, assigned risk value or Program Manager Requests from the office or computer databases. 

• Maintains an awareness and recognition of firms or individuals doing business in the assigned territory. 

• Investigate these firms to determine if they are subject to the Division’s jurisdiction. 

• Prepares and submits itineraries and/or work plans as requested. 

• Plan overnight travel for out-of-town inspections. 

• Utilizes maps and other scheduling tools to develop inspection itineraries that promote the most efficient use of all Division resources.

Education and Training:

• Provides compliance assistance and education to regulated firms/individuals. Educates and informs the public, clients, and other agencies of the Division’s statutes, regulations, requirements, and functions.

• Receives training and practices new techniques and procedures, statute/rule changes, and policies. 

• Includes, but not limited to, attending scheduled meetings/training and time spent studying training materials and other information from the office.

Minimum Qualifications

This posting will be used to fill more than one vacancy.
This position will be taking applications at this time but no hire will be made to start until after January 1st 2026. 
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This position is advertised in line with the Governor’s executive order focused on skills-based hiring practices that focuses on the knowledge, skills, and abilities specific to the job and aligns the hiring process accordingly. Skills-based hiring reduces potential barriers for applicants and allows for reduced bias in the hiring process by providing a direct description of skills that are unique to the duties assigned to the position with a recognition that the applicant may have developed these skills through education, training, or past experiences. 

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Salary:
HOURLY
$24.45 - $29.34
ANNUALLY
$50,856.00 - $61,032.00
Minimum Qualification:Proven Experience, Knowledge, Skills:

• Five (5) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position

• Part-time experience will be prorated.

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned, equal to five (5) years

• Experience in a regulatory role including working with rules and regulations.

• Relevant experience working for the State of Colorado

• Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado commercial driver's license (Class B, with air brakes).

• Ability to operate a motor vehicle for extended periods of time. Must be willing and able to travel away from home for weekly business trips, up to 12 weeks per year.

• Circumstances may require a position to work outside of regular business hours.

• Ability to work indoors and outside as needed in inclement weather that could include hot, cold, wet, humid, and/ or windy conditions.

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. at a time and push/pull up to 1000 lbs. on a two-wheeled weight cart across ground, up ramps, or stairs.

• Signing Bonus:

  • $1,000 upon hire

  • $1,000 after successful completion of the one-year probationary period.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills.

• Detail-oriented.

• Ability to write detail-oriented reports based on analysis.

• Excellent communication skills; able to communicate effectively and articulately in writing and orally with diverse communities in all corners of the state.

• Work well under pressure.

• Strong relationship management skills and excellent representation of the department in community interactions.

• A proven track record for developing and maintaining trusted relationships with stakeholders and industry experts.

• Excellent negotiation and consensus-building skills.

• Proactive approaches to problem-solving and strong decision-making capability.

• Knowledge and experience working in a regulatory field. (preferred)

• Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently.

• Online application (completed fully) describing how you meet the minimum qualifications
• OR If you are not able to submit an online application, a paper application is available at this link: PDF State Paper Application.  Paper applications must be received (either by US mail or email to [email protected] by the closing date and time of the application period listed on this announcement.
• DD214 (if applicable)
• Unofficial copy of transcripts (if applicable)

• Technical Competence – Technical experience as it relates to the duties outlined in this job announcement.
• Depth and Breadth of Experience – Experience that covers multiple areas outlined in this job announcement.  Experience should be varied and not one dimensional and demonstrate a wide range of community involvement.
• Job Fit – Experience will be evaluated to determine how well your past experience aligns with and meets the business needs of this position.  Current experience is preferred.

Other Qualifications