Dairy Compliance Officer

Sdsoybean; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 39,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid vacation

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Livestock Services Program, seeks a full-time Agriculture Program Specialist based in Sioux Falls or Brookings to inspect dairy facilities and enforce PMO, USDA specs, and state rules.

You will review equipment, ensure food safety, collect samples, and work with managers on enforcement actions, with the goal of safe, interstate dairy shipments. A valid driver’s license is required; milk sampler license within six months is needed.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Must obtain a milk sampler license within the first six months.
• HACCP, PCQI, food safety certifications are desirable but not required.
• Applicants with dairy manufacturing/production experience are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Inspect dairy processing plants to ensure interstate shipment compliance.
• Provide regulatory inspection of the dairy processing industry.
• Review dairy processing equipment for PMO/USDA compliance.
• Assist with enforcement actions on serious inspection findings.
• Serve as a knowledge resource for the dairy processing industry.

Skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Regulatory inspection

Record keeping

Tools

MS Office

Regulatory software

Job description

Brookings, SD or Sioux Falls, SD | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly

28.54 - 42.79 US per hour

Posted 2 days ago | Apply before November 6, 2026

Description

Job ID: 38022
Agency:Agriculture & Natural Resources
Location:Sioux Falls or Brookings, SDSalary:$28.54-$42.79 Hourly, depending on qualifications
Pay Grade:J
Closing Date:11/06/2026

This is a full-time position with the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. For more information on the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, please visit https://danr.sd.gov/ .

Make a Difference:
The mission of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) is to protect and preserve South Dakota's agriculture, environment, and natural resources. The successful applicant will be a member of the Livestock Services Program in DANR. The dedicated staff of professionals in the Livestock Services Program work hard to create and sustain a vision for South Dakota that is prosperous and diverse with clean air, clean water, and healthy families. We are seeking individuals with a strong desire to learn and an interest in building a career.

What you will do:
As part of the Livestock Services Program, you will play an important role inspecting dairy processing plants to ensure uninterrupted interstate shipment of milk and milk products produced in the state. The position ensures the safety and quality of milk and milk products produced and sold in South Dakota by providing regulatory inspection of the dairy processing industry. The inspections include milk and milk processing facilities, pasteurization equipment, milk truck tankers, and milk samplers. The complex nature of the dairy processing industry requires the ability to understand and effectively implement regulations from the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), USDA General Specifications, and state statutes/administrative rules. The effective enforcement of these regulations ensures food safety standards are met. This position will also review dairy processing equipment to ensure it meets the minimum requirements, ladder logic of pasteurization units, and site plans for remodeling/updating/installing the various dairy processing equipment. The Agriculture Program Specialist will work with the Program Manager on serious inspection findings leading to enforcement actions. The Agriculture Program Specialist must meet the requirements to be a licensed milk sampler and conduct required milk and milk product sampling. This position also functions as a resource for the dairy processing industry.

Benefits of Working for DANR:
The state of South Dakota offers a generous health benefits package which includes options for health, vision, and dental insurance in addition to one of the strongest retirement systems in the nation.

South Dakota state government understands the importance of having a work/life balance and this position includes paid vacation leave, sick leave, and family leave. You will work a 40-hour week which leaves plenty of time to enjoy all that South Dakota has to offer.

Licenses and Certifications:

• A valid driver's license is required.
• Must be able to obtain a milk sampler license for dairy products within the first six months.
• HACCP, PCQI, food safety certifications are desirable but not required.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
Our ideal candidate is someone that desires to learn, has strong attention to detail, has good interpersonal and customer service skills, and is seeking a career opportunity in public service. Applicants with education or experience related to Dairy Manufacturing or Dairy Production are preferred.

Knowledge of:

• milk and milk products and how they are produced, transported, and processed;
• dairy processing equipment;
• basic food safety principles;
• technical terms related to the dairy industry;
• current issues related to the dairy industry;
• laws and regulations pertaining to the dairy industry and dairy farms including the PMO and USDA General Specifications.

Ability to:

• pay attention to detail and ensure work is accurate and complete;
• maintain complete and accurate records;
• communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing;
• set goals and work independently or in a team setting to achieve them;
• make appropriate decisions by applying standards and available information to specific situations;
• identify and define problems or potential problems and addressing them in proper order;
• collect and present evidence of violations of laws and regulations and give testimony in court;
• provide technical assistance to managers, staff, industry and the public;
• present and promote departmental priorities, services, and actions internally and externally;
• provide customer service to the general public;
• use basic computer applications;
• set goals and work independently to achieve them;
• work cooperatively with coworkers and treat others with respect; and
• work with regulated entities to gain compliance in a customer friendly manner.

Additional Requirements:

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

NCRC:If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office.A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9.The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here .This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.