Senior Consumer Safety Officer

Quick Facts

• Role: Senior Consumer Safety Officer (Equivalence Officer)

Description

Lead high-impact evaluations and equivalence determinations for foreign and State meat, poultry, and egg inspection systems against FSIS equivalence requirements. Resolve complex or precedent-setting technical differences, establish the technical basis for recommendations affecting market access/recognition status, and assess inspection system controls and corrective actions. Perform regulatory and procedural analysis of foreign laws and inspection operations, supporting senior leaders with technical analyses, briefings, and policy guidance.

Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive evaluations of foreign inspection systems and State programs, including systemic deficiency and corrective action assessments
• Conduct reviews to determine whether foreign food safety inspection systems meet FSIS equivalence requirements
• Analyze foreign laws, regulations, and procedures governing meat, poultry, and egg product inspection
• Assess inspection system controls—inspection procedures, laboratory systems, and enforcement systems—against FSIS equivalence criteria
• Resolve controversial/disputed differences between foreign requirements and FSIS requirements
• Establish the technical basis for recommendations concerning market access, recognition, modification, suspension, or withdrawal of equivalence
• Prepare technical analyses, decision documents, and recommendations
• Coordinate with agency specialists, laboratories, legal advisors, public health experts, and other program areas to resolve technical issues
• Explain agency requirements and provide technical assistance to stakeholders
• Advanced level: lead international or State negotiations, defend technical positions, and improve agency processes and documentation standards

Requirements

• US citizenship or US national
• Selective Service registration/exemption (if applicable)
• Satisfactory background investigation and/or fingerprint check
• Meet education requirements: degree (or qualifying education + experience) in quality assurance or related fields with at least 30 semester hours in relevant subjects; transcripts must be submitted for positive degree requirements
• Specialized experience aligned to GS level:
  • GS-13: at least 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-12, including reviewing food safety systems or residue sampling programs; evaluating sanitation/HACCP/sampling/enforcement; preparing technical analyses/decision documents; and coordinating with specialists to resolve technical issues
  • GS-14: at least 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-13 plus at least 5 advanced competencies (e.g., leading complex equivalence decisions, developing equivalence policy, setting technical direction, assessing trade/public health effects, leading evaluations and corrective action assessments, representing the agency in high-level negotiations, and improving processes/documentation)