About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Scientific & QA (Dairy and Meat Inspection).

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Position overview

Confidential Client is seeking an entry-level Meat Inspector (Agricultural Specialist) to join the Dairy & Meat Inspection division as a remote worker based in Moorhead, MN. The role focuses on meat and poultry inspection at small and custom processors, including ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection, plant sanitation assessments, and verification of HACCP systems and Critical Control Points.

• Employment type: Full-time
• Work schedule: Day shift, Monday–Friday (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.). Flexibility required to accommodate slaughter start times and relief/relocation assignments.
• Travel required: Yes — travel within assigned inspection territory and occasional work in other counties (may include Lyon, Redwood, Murray, Cottonwood).
• Remote worker: Yes — remote worker position with assigned home/alternative work location in Minnesota. Candidate must live in or relocate within 35 miles of the inspection territory within 6 months of hire.
• Salary: $26.12–$37.91 / hour; $54,538–$79,156 / year (range provided by client)

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What you’ll do

• Perform ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections for meat and poultry operations across assigned territories.
• Evaluate plant sanitation procedures and practices and verify effectiveness of HACCP plans and monitoring of Critical Control Points.
• Inspect multiple species as required by territory needs (examples: beef, swine, goat, sheep, bison, elk, deer, chicken, turkey, duck, geese, pheasant).
• Educate plant operators on regulatory requirements and best practices; when necessary, help initiate regulatory actions to address noncompliance.
• Conduct inspections in varied environments including refrigerated coolers/freezers and noisy production floors with moving machinery.
• Document findings, communicate with plant staff, and collaborate with supervisors and veterinary staff as needed.
• Participate in emergency responses as required (e.g., spills, accidents, natural disasters affecting food safety).

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Minimum qualifications

To be considered, applicants must clearly document the required experience/education on their resume.

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Meat Science, Animal Science, Biology, Food Science, Microbiology, or related field OR
• One (1) year of experience conducting meat and poultry inspections OR comparable experience in meat/poultry processing or production systems.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable motor vehicle record (subject to verification and periodic review).
• Commitment to diversity and an inclusive work environment.

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Preferred qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant agriculture/science field.
• More than one (1) year of meat or poultry inspection experience or related processing experience.
• Knowledge of microbiology, food safety, HACCP systems, and food quality issues for meat/poultry products.
• Familiarity with rules and regulations governing meat and poultry operations.
• Understanding of animal physiology/pathology sufficient to assess animal fitness for slaughter and identify abnormal carcasses/parts.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to negotiate, listen, and problem-solve with plant owners and staff.

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Physical & work environment requirements

• Work is performed inside meat, poultry, and shell egg processing facilities.
• Frequent standing on wet/slippery/uneven floors; prolonged periods on concrete (approx. 45% of the time).
• Repetitive hand and wrist motions, viscera inspection (palpation and slicing), and rapid hand/arm movements.
• Exposure to hot water, electrical equipment, firearms used for stunning livestock, and variable atmospheric conditions.
• Accurate color vision, adequate hearing, and ability to detect product abnormalities by smell are required.
• Must be able to respond tactfully to challenging interpersonal situations in the workplace.

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Additional requirements & hiring conditions

• Confidential Client will not sponsor applicants for work visas, including STEM OPT extensions. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
• Employment offer contingent on successful background checks and verification steps (may include employment reference check, driver’s license check, conflict of interest review, criminal background check, and agency records checks where applicable).
• This posting is open to all qualified applicants. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request.

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Why apply

• Join a mission-driven public service inspection team focused on food safety and public health.
• Competitive salary range ($54,538–$79,156 annually) with public-sector benefits and training opportunities.
• Opportunity to develop inspection and food-safety expertise across multiple species and production settings.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.