FOOD & DAIRY INSPECTOR 2* - 09082026-80807

State of Tennessee; Murfreesboro (TN); On-site; USD 37,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Tennessee invites applications for a Food and Dairy Inspector playing a key role in the Agriculture Department, Rutherford County. This full-time position focuses on inspecting food and dairy facilities, enforcing state and federal standards, and collecting data for audits and reports.

Under supervision, the inspector assesses processes, performs samples, and documents findings. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree with two years of related experience, and may require a valid

Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and two years of full time work experience in the planning of nutritional food programs for individuals or establishments, or any experience involved with adherence to proper hygiene or sanitation of food, dairy, water, or related environmental health issues.
• Substitution of Experience for Education: Qualifying experience in the planning of nutritional food programs for individuals or establishments, or any experience involved with adherence to proper hygiene or sanitation of food, dairy, water, or related environmental health issues may substitute for the required education on a year for year basis to a maximum of four years (e.g., experience equivalent to one year of full‑time work in one or a combination of the above listed fields may substitute for one year of the required education).
• Necessary Special Qualifications: A valid vehicle operator's license may be required for employment in some positions.
• Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates procedures followed in the manufacture and processing of food and dairy products; inspects retail food stores, dairy farms, and food manufacturing and storage facilities; identifies public health concerns related to potential sources of food contamination; visually inspects vehicles, machines, and processing procedures; evaluates procedures to ensure rules and regulations are being met by testing product and measuring process times, temperatures, flow rates, and storage equipment procedures; performs follow-up inspections to assure identified infractions have been corrected; prepares and maintains inspection, activity, and expense reports; gathers background and operational data for planning purposes and for use in required federal reports; maintains current files of use of time, personnel actions and behaviors, and other reports related to each establishment.

Skills

Active Learning and Listening

Critical Thinking

Mathematics

Reading Comprehension

Speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Office Equipment

Vehicle

Job description

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 09/08/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 09/08/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time 09/14/2026 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly) $3,631.00

Salary (Annually) $43,572.00

Job Type Full-Time

City, State Location Murfreesboro, TN

Department Agriculture

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RUTHERFORD COUNTY

This position is with Consumer and Industry Services and is located in Rutherford County.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and two years of full time work experience in the planning of nutritional food programs for individuals or establishments, or any experience involved with adherence to proper hygiene or sanitation of food, dairy, water, or related environmental health issues, including but not limited to, (1) the inspection of agricultural or industrial establishments, commodities, or equipment; (2) the training of retail staff who prepare food; (3) the proper storage and processing of food, dairy, or water commodities or (4) dairy farm work.

Substitution of Experience for Education: Qualifying experience in the planning of nutritional food programs for individuals or establishments, or any experience involved with adherence to proper hygiene or sanitation of food, dairy, water, or related environmental health issues may substitute for the required education on a year for year basis to a maximum of four years (e.g., experience equivalent to one year of full‑time work in one or a combination of the above listed fields may substitute for one year of the required education).

Necessary Special Qualifications: A valid vehicle operator's license may be required for employment in some positions.

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Overview

Under general supervision, is responsible for technical inspection and enforcement work of average difficulty involving food and dairy manufacturing, processing, and marketing laws and regulations; and performs related work as required.

This is the working level class for the Food and Dairy Inspector series. An employee in this class is responsible for inspecting and enforcing compliance with state and federal laws and regulations at food and dairy processing, manufacturing, wholesale, or retail establishments within a fixed geographic area of the state and may lead or assist in the training of lower level inspectors. This class differs from that of Food and Dairy Inspector 1, in that an incumbent of the latter functions at an entry level capacity under immediate supervision. This class differs from that of a Food and Dairy Inspector 3 in that the latter functions at the advanced working level in inspections and enforcement of state and federal laws in the most complex food processing, manufacturing, wholesale, and retail sites, and specifically dairy processing plants.

NOTE: Applicants may be appointed directly into this job classification or be promoted from the job title of Food and Dairy Inspector 1, without further examination, upon satisfactory completion of a mandatory two year probationary period.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates procedures followed in the manufacture and processing of food and dairy products; inspects retail food stores, dairy farms, and food manufacturing and storage facilities; identifies public health concerns related to potential sources of food contamination; visually inspects vehicles, machines, and processing procedures; evaluates procedures to ensure rules and regulations are being met by testing product and measuring process times, temperatures, flow rates, and storage equipment procedures; performs follow-up inspections to assure identified infractions have been corrected; prepares and maintains inspection, activity, and expense reports; gathers background and operational data for planning purposes and for use in required federal reports; maintains current files of use of time, personnel actions and behaviors, and other reports related to each establishment.
• Collects food and water samples from bulk tanks, wells, springs, and re‑circulated cooler water systems using appropriate instruments; measures appropriate amount of product to ensure sufficient sample for testing; fills out forms and labels by marking and writing information such as sample description, time and date collected, method of collection, and address of collection; packs and arranges for samples to be sent to testing laboratory for analysis.
• Trains and certifies individuals, onsite, to legally and properly acquire dairy samples in accordance with the requirements of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance; trains samplers on monitoring how samples are acquired, labeled, stored, transported, and delivered; accompanies lower level inspectors on the job to train them to perform inspections correctly.
• Responds to emergency disaster areas such as floods, fires, explosions, nuclear exposures, food transport accidents, and tornadoes; determines potential hazards to the immediate food or water chain which includes any physical, chemical, microbiological, or allergen contaminates; takes necessary actions to ensure public health safety including the seizure, condemnation, or destruction of product; follows procedures and documents the circumstances for the seizure or destruction of products according to state and federal regulations.
• Conducts an undercover inspection of potential violations of the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act; obtains parental consent to work with minors between ages 14 - 17; instructs minor(s) in an acting role to attempt to purchase tobacco product; documents events of the attempted transaction.
• Performs onsite visits in order to respond to consumer food and dairy complaints; verifies the validity of complaints, acquires samples for testing or analysis if necessary, documents findings, and communicates results to complainant.

Competencies (KSA's)

• Manages Complexity
• Tech Savvy
• Plans and Aligns
• Communicates Effectively
• Interpersonal Savvy

Knowledge

• Building and Construction
• Clerical
• Customer and Personal Service
• Design
• Food Production

Skills

• Active Learning and Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Mathematics
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking

Abilities

• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Selective Attention
• Spatial Orientation

Tools & Equipment

• Office Equipment
• Vehicle

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

• Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.