MEAT & POULTRY INSPECTOR TRAINEE - CIRCUIT 2-1 (WHITESIDE CO.)

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Job Details Job Requisition ID: 53730 Opening Date: 06/09/2026 Closing Date: 06/23/2026 Agency: Department of Agriculture Class Title: MEAT & POULTRY INSP TRAINEE - 26075 Salary: $4,373 a month; Full Range $4,373 - $5,703 a month Job Type: Salaried Location: Springfield, IL, 62702 Number of Vacancies: 1 County: Whiteside; Bureau; Carroll; Henry; Lee; Ogle; Rock Island Position Overview The Department of Agriculture is seeking to hire a Meat and Poultry Inspector Trainee in Whiteside County. Meat and Poultry Inspectors are essential employees on the front lines of protecting our food production system. We invite qualified applicants to apply for this position to help the Department of Agriculture ensure the production of safe and wholesome meat and poultry products. Essential Functions Receives formal training for a period of 6 – 12 months in the objectives, methods and techniques of meat and poultry inspection. Under close supervision, performs antemortem inspection of live animals and/or poultry prior to slaughter for the presence of conditions indicative of abnormalities or diseases. Successfully completes the Employee Development Guide for basic meat inspection and State of Illinois Department of Agriculture’s slaughter and processing training courses to become familiar with provisions of food inspection laws, regulations, manuals and inspection procedures. Travels to, attends, and participates in workshops, meetings, institutes, and other activities which will provide meaningful learning experiences for use in meat and poultry inspection. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above. Minimum Qualifications Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to the completion of high school (preferably with courses in algebra, biology, or chemistry). Preferred Qualifications Prefers knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of education beyond high school in the following order: Associate degree, Bachelor’s degree, Advanced degree. Prefers completion of education beyond high school with a bachelor’s or advanced degree in the fields of science or agriculture. Prefers experience in the butchering, slaughtering, and/or processing of animals for food. Prefers experience observing the postmortem exam of animals. Prefers working knowledge of the principles of Hazard Analysis – Critical Control Point Plans (HACCP). Prefers experience filling out HACCP records.Prefers working knowledge of Sanitation and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP). Prefers elementary knowledge of disease or abnormal conditions of animals, poultry, carcasses, or meat and poultry products. Prefers elementary knowledge of how to identify adulterated product. Conditions of Employment Requires completion of a name-based background screening and self-disclosure of criminal history. Requires the ability to successfully pass a preemployment physical. Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license. Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last‑minute overtime. This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends. This position is considered light work as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor. Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. This job may require a good deal of walking or standing or involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. This position requires residency in one of the following counties: Whiteside, Carroll, Ogle, Lee, Bureau, Henry, or Rock Island County. Requires ability to tolerate exposure to unpleasant odors in slaughterhouses and in meat preparation areas, to extreme cold in meat lockers and heat in processing areas. Requires ability to use safety practices around dangerous meat cutting and processing machinery. The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description. Work Hours 7:00 am – 3:30 pm daily; work hours may vary. Headquarter Location 801 E Sangamon Ave, Springfield, Illinois, 62702 Work County Whiteside Agency Contact Personnel: Bureau of Human Resources Email: View email address on click.appcast.io Phone #: View phone number on click.appcast.io Benefits Monday-Friday work schedule Flexible work schedules in many program areas Health, life, vision, and dental insurance 12 Weeks paid maternity/paternity leave Pension Plan Public Service Loan Forgiveness Deferred Compensation, and other pre-tax benefit programs Employees earn twelve (12) paid sick days annually Ten to twenty-five (10–25) paid vacation days based on years of service Employees earn three (3) paid personal days pro-rated based on start date Thirteen–Fourteen (13–14) paid state holidays annually This position DOES NOT contain “Specialized Skills” (as that term is used in CBAs). #J-18808-Ljbffr