Working Title: Retail Food Specialist or Retail Food Advisor
Job Class: Agricultural Specialist or Agricultural Advisor
Agency: Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Job ID : 89891
Location : Various
Telework Eligible : No
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to bidders and to all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bids accepted through 11/04/2025
Date Posted : 10/29/2025
Closing Date : 11/18/2025
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Minnesota Department of Agriculture / Agriculture-MAPE
Division/Unit : Food and Feed Safety Division / Retail Food Safety A Staff
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : Yes
Salary Range - Agricultural Specialist: $25.67 - $37.26 / hourly; $53,598 - $77,798 / annually
Salary Range - Agricultural Advisor: $28.26 - $41.43 / hourly; $59,006 - $86,505 / annually
Job Class Option : Food
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
FLSA Status : Nonexempt
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
This position is a remote worker position which is defined as, an employee who, as a condition of their appointment, has their home or alternative location as the assigned work location, works permanently from that location, and does not have an agency permanent/principal work location. Currently the MDA does not allow remote work locations outside of the State of Minnesota. For more information refer to HR/LR Policy #1447 Remote Worker Policy: https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1447-remoteworker.pdf.
This position performs work in an inspection territory including portions of the following counties: Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona. NOTE: Candidate must live in or relocate to within 35 miles of the inspection territory within 6 months of date of hire.
Agricultural Specialist - This position exists to achieve Program goals and objectives by establishing and carrying out a detailed work plan that effectively (1) performs inspections, investigations, compliance, and enforcement activities in food establishments, for assurance and general enforcement of State food safety laws and regulations; and (2) provides information and technical assistance for clientele with respect to retail food safety issues or compliance with state retail food safety laws and regulations.
Agricultural Advisor - This position exists to achieve Program goals and objectives by establishing and carrying out a detailed work plan that effectively (1) performs inspections, investigations, compliance, and enforcement activities in food establishments, for assurance and general enforcement of State food safety laws and regulations; (2) provides information and technical assistance for clientele with respect to retail food safety issues or compliance with State retail food safety laws and regulations; and (3) provides inspection training and evaluation for State and local retail food regulatory staff.
Minimum Qualifications
To facilitate proper years of service crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.
Agricultural Specialist - To qualify for the Agricultural Specialist level, applicants must meet the following qualifications:
One year experience conducting environmental health regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, plan review, retail HACCP); or equivalent experience in environmental health quality assurance.
OR
A bachelor's degree in biological or physical science, food science, nutrition, environmental health, or closely related field that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in science courses.
AND
Must be educationally qualified to obtain certification as a Registered Sanitarian/Registered Environmental Health Specialist (RS/REHS) with the State of Minnesota and/or the National Environmental Health Association.
Must currently possess and maintain an active/valid driver's license with an acceptable motor vehicle record subject to review.
This position requires the ability to celebrate diversity and a strong commitment to a respectful and inclusive work environment.
Agricultural Advisor - To qualify for the Agricultural Advisor level, applicants must meet the following qualifications:
Two years of experience conducting retail food regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, plan review, retail HACCP); or equivalent experience in industry food safety quality assurance
OR
A bachelor's degree in biological or physical science, food science, nutrition, environmental health, or closely related field PLUS one (1) year of experience conducting retail food regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, plan review, retail HACCP); or equivalent experience in industry food safety quality assurance
OR
A master's degree in biological or physical science, food science, nutrition, environmental health, or closely related field PLUS 6 months of experience conducting food regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, plan review, retail HACCP); or equivalent experience in industry food safety quality assurance
AND
Must currently possess and maintain certification as a Registered Sanitarian/Registered Environmental Health Specialist (RS/REHS) with the State of Minnesota and/or the National Environmental
Must currently possess and maintain an active/valid driver's license with an acceptable motor vehicle record subject to review.
This position requires the ability to celebrate diversity and a strong commitment to a respectful and inclusive work environment.Health Association.
Preferred Qualifications
Agricultural Specialist:
Certification as a Registered Sanitarian/Registered Environmental Health Specialist (RS/REHS) with the State of Minnesota and/or the National Environmental Health Association.
An advanced degree such as a MS, MPH, or higher.
Experience with regulatory work (i.e., inspection, plan review, investigation, compliance, enforcement, retail HACCP) in retail food establishments.
Experience collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
Experience, skill, and comfort with public speaking.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Agricultural Advisor:
An advanced degree such as a MS, MPH, or higher.
More than two (2) years of experience with regulatory work (i.e., inspection, investigation, plan review, retail HACCP) in retail food establishments.
Experience training and/or evaluating risk-based inspections of internal and external regulatory staff.
Experience leading or coordinating projects.
Experience collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
Experience, skill, and comfort with public speaking.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Physical Requirements
Agricultural Specialists and Agricultural Advisors conduct inspections and investigations in the field as needed to ensure compliance with State food safety laws and regulations. The work requires the ability to:
Occasionally maintain a stationary position for extended periods of time such as prolonged standing or sitting.
Ascend, descend ladders and steps.
Position self to move/transport food products during investigation and inspection work.
Traverse uneven and/or slippery walking surfaces.
Work in wet, hot, and cold environmental conditions.
Detect shades of product color to make appropriate product acceptability decisions.
Communicate effectively with supervisors and workers in both office and field workplace locations that may be noisy environments.
Detect product abnormalities through a sense of smell.
Additional Requirements
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will not sponsor applicants for work visas, including STEM OPT extensions. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.
A job offer will be contingent upon successfully passing a background check. It is the policy of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, as part of its hiring procedures, to conduct background checks on the finalist(s) for positions within the agency. The background check may consist of the following components:
SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and former state employees only)
Employment Reference Check
Driver's License Check
Conflict of Interest Review
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
