CLASSIFICATION: Organic Processing
and Handling Inspector
Class Code: 6682-16 Date Established: 02-01-04
Occupational
Code: 3-1-1 Date of Last Revision: 04-02-04
BASIC PURPOSE: To inspect and
review the records of producers, processors, and handlers of Certified Organic
agricultural plant, animal, food or fiber commodities for conformance with
State of New Hampshire laws and rules and the requirements of the United States
Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program.
CHARACTERISTIC
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Reviews the applications
of organic processors and handlers enrolling in the organic certification
program for completeness and accuracy.
· Visits and inspects
the businesses of organic processors and handlers in order to obtain information
used in determining compliance with organic certification regulations.
· Reviews production practices
and audits inventory, financial, and other records of organic processors and
handlers to ensure compliance with program requirements.
· Verifies information
on records for completeness and accuracy and requests new or revised forms
and records to correct errors, omissions and inconsistencies.
· Prepares written reports,
maintains records, initiates correspondence, and responds to inquiries regarding
inspections.
· Provides information
concerning on-site inspections to supervisor in order to facilitate the issuance,
withholding, or revocation of organic certification.
· Communicates with business
employees, departmental staff, and organic producers and handlers.
Notifies producers and handlers of applicable regulations.
· Uses computers and telecommunications
equipment including electronic mail, fax and word processing software in communication
with agency staff and external organizations.
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DISTINGUISHING
FACTORS:
Skill: Requires skill in
recommending routine changes in standardized operating procedures OR in
retrieving, compiling, and reporting data according to established procedures
OR in operating complex machines.
Knowledge: Requires
understanding and using business or trades vocabulary or basic arithmetic to
perform standard operating procedures.
Impact: Requires
responsibility for contributing to immediate, ongoing agency objectives by
facilitating the direct provision of services to the public or other state
agencies. Errors at this level result
in inaccurate reports or invalid test results and require a significant
investment of time and resources to detect.
Supervision: Requires no
supervision of employees or functions.
PAGE 2
ORGANIC PROCESSING AND HANDLING INSPECTOR
Working
Conditions: Requires performing regular job functions in
an environment which includes exposure to continuous physical elements or a
number of disagreeable working conditions with frequent exposure to minor
injuries or health hazards.
Physical
Demands: Requires light work, including continuous
walking or operating simple equipment for extended periods of time as well as
occasional strenuous activities such as reaching or bending.
Communication: Requires
summarizing data, preparing reports, and making recommendations based on
findings which contribute to solving problems and achieving work
objectives. This level also requires
presenting information for use by administrative-level managers in making decisions.
Complexity: Requires a combination
of job functions to establish facts, to draw daily operational conclusions, or
to solve practical problems. This level
also requires providing a variety of alternative solutions where only limited
standardization exists.
Independent
Action: Requires objective assessment in analyzing
and developing new work methods and procedures subject to periodic review and
in making decisions according to established technical, professional or
administrative standards.
MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Graduation from
high school, G.E.D. or its equivalent.
Experience: Two years of
experience in the production, processing, inventory control, or marketing of
agricultural products, or a related field.
License/Certification: Valid driver’s
license.
Special Requirements:
1. Must have access
to reliable transportation, maintain and provide a valid certificate of
automobile insurance, and be able to travel in a variety of weather
conditions.
2. Must submit to a background check if
required as a condition of initial and/or continued
employment.
RECOMMENDED
WORK TRAITS: Knowledge of general practices and
procedures concerning the performance of inspections and basic theories and
principals of auditing. Knowledge of
general mathematics including addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division. Ability to learn the state
and federal statutes relating to organic agricultural products. Ability to work independently. Ability to follow written and oral
procedural instructions. Ability to
conduct technical inspections, observe and collect facts, and interview persons
to obtain information. Ability to
compare and relate regulations to inspection findings. Ability to prepare and present technical
written reports. Ability to communicate
effectively both orally and in writing concerning state and federal
agricultural regulations. Ability to
establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people involved with the
production and handling of certified organic products, as well as departmental
personnel. Must be willing to maintain
appearance appropriate to assigned duties and responsibilities as determined by
the agency appointing authority.
DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: This class specification is descriptive of
general duties and is not intended to list every specific function of this
class title.
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