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Food and Drug Investigator Series

Food and Drug Investigator Series

California State Personnel Board Specification


Series established July 25, 1973


Scope

This series specification describes three Food and Drug Investigator classes used in the Department of Health Services.

 

Food and Drug Investigator Series Specification - Class Titles and Codes
Schem Code Class Code Class
VW70 9036 Supervising Food and Drug Investigator
VW65 9029 Food and Drug Regional Administrator
VW60 9028 Food and Drug Program Specialist


Definition of Series

The Food and Drug Investigator series describes professional work involving a wide variety of technical inspections and investigations in the enforcement of State food, drug, medical device, cosmetic, health fraud, product safety, hazardous substances, and food canning laws and regulations.

 

Incumbents in this series generally work in all program areas; investigate and inspect physical facilities, operational procedures, and products to ensure that all materials, processes, and conditions of manufacture, distribution, and the like comply with required standards; collect and evaluate evidence; offer consultative services to public and industry regarding product and process; levy embargoes on violative products to prevent sale or distribution; supervise the destruction or reconditioning of embargoed or restrained products; investigate, evaluate, and take appropriate action on consumer complaints and illegal or fraudulent practices in the advertisement, manufacture, or sale of products; issue citations when violations are committed in their presence; receive appropriate peace officer training consistent with functions and POST certification requirements; make arrests and testify in civil and criminal accusations; provide instruction and evaluation of other public and private food and drug protection programs. Positions at the Senior level may be allocated to the headquarters office performing special projects associated with new program development and implementation as well as coordination and liaison activities with other enforcement agencies and consumer advocate groups.


Factors Affecting Position Allocatio​​​n

Scope and level of responsibility; variety; technical complexity; degree of supervision exercised; the nature of public and governmental contacts; and program and policy formulation and implementation responsibilities.


Definition of Lev​​els

Supervising Food and Drug I​​​nvestigator

This is the full supervisory level of the series. Incumbents plan, organize, and direct the activities of the personnel assigned to a geographical area in a region. They supervise the conduct of the investigation and inspection work carried out in development of policies and procedures affecting their area of assignment. Incumbents select, train, and evaluate all staff in their district in all program functions.


Food and Drug Regional Administ​​rator

Under administrative direction, incumbents plan, organize, and direct the work of the staff of field operations section in an assigned geographic region of the State. They assign priorities and develop specific work plans for all program components in their region; select, train, and evaluate personnel; review work progress and workload requirements; administer the budget; assist in the development and implementation of administrative policies and procedures; and evaluate program changes and accomplishments.


Food and Drug Program Spe​cialist

This is the program specialist level in this series. Under general direction, incumbents are responsible for: reviewing and evaluating monthly activity reports from the regional offices to determine patterns of deficiency in industry which would necessitate the need for additional specialized training; ensuring overall statewide program goals are being met; making recommendations to management on change in investigation/inspection procedures or policies; developing or revising policy statements to clarify and improve investigation/ inspection processes and systems and ensuring they are carried out consistently throughout the regions; assisting with and overseeing investigations that cross regional lines; conducting hearings on sensitive issues; serving as liaison with the Food and Drug Science Section staff; ensuring that scientific surveys developed by the Food and Drug Science Section are properly assigned and administered by the appropriate laboratory; keeping abreast of changes in the laws that govern the program and recommending appropriate changes to maintain compliance; analyzing, evaluating, and assisting in the development of regulations and legislation; assisting the development and/or monitoring of the program budget; assisting in the development of the annual program plan; preparing educational materials; and assisting in the training of staff.


Minimum Qualification​s

All Levels​

Applicants may be admitted into the examination without meeting all of the requirements in this section, but the applicant must meet those requirements prior to appointment.

 

Must meet the peace officer selection standards developed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training per Penal Code section 13510(a) and in accordance with existing law; and

 

Supervising Food and Drug Invest​​​igator

Either​​ I

​Two years of experience performing the duties of an Investigator, Range B, in the California state service.


Or II​

​Six years of professional food and drug experience including at least three years of administrative or supervisory responsibilities performing the duties of a registered sanitarian, food and drug inspector, or food or drug technologist in public agencies or private industry responsible for the application of Good Manufacturing Practice. and

 

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with at least 30 semester hours of college courses in one or a combination of bacteriology, biology, chemistry, food technology, pharmacology, environmental health, biomedical engineering, or other biological or chemical science. (Up to 15 semester hours in criminal justice may be credited toward 15 of the 30 total required above.)


Food and Drug Reg​​ional Administrator

Food and Drug Program Specialist​​​

Either I​​

​Two years of experience performing the duties of a Supervising Food and Drug Investigator in the California state service.


Or II

​Four years of experience performing the duties of an Investigator, Range B in the California state service.


Or III​

​Experience: Eight years of professional food and drug experience including at least five years of administrative or supervisory experience performing the duties of a registered sanitarian, food and drug inspector, or food or drug technologist, in public agencies or private industry responsible for the application of Good Manufacturing Practice regulations. and

 

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with at least 30 semester hours of college courses in one or a combination of bacteriology, biology, chemistry, food technology, pharmacology, environmental health, biomedical engineering, or other biological or chemical science. (Up to 15 semester hours in criminal justice may be credited toward 15 of the 30 total required above.)


Knowledge and Ab​​ilities

Supervising Food and Drug Investigator​​

Knowledge of: Basic scientific principles and methods; general trends in current public health and safety problems related to the food and drug field; State and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to the canning of foods, health fraud, product safety and the manufacture, distribution and sale of foods, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and hazardous substances; methods commonly used in the manufacturing, preparation, testing, compounding, packaging and selling of food and drug products subject to State and Federal laws and regulations; sanitation of foods, drugs, and related manufacturing plants; epidemiology, pharmaceutical chemistry, bacteriology, food technology, vector control; engineering principles, investigative, and enforcement procedures and techniques; rules of evidence; general concepts of civil and case law related to food and drug regulatory work; general organization and purposes of the Department of Health Care Services; and adulterants used in the food and drug field; standards established for food, drug and related products; policies of related enforcement agencies; technical changes and advances in regulated industries; administrative policies and procedures; a manager's/supervisor's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment; communication and active listening skills; behaviors indicative of potential hostility; techniques for effective interaction with diverse communities; how to approach problems with cultural awareness and sensitivity; cultural differences and similarities; implicit and explicit biases; community engagement and strategies and the benefits of effective community engagement; reporting obligations when biased behavior or misconduct is observed; characteristics protected under the Racial and Identity Profiling Act.

 

Ability to: Make routine inspections and investigations; interpret and apply State laws, rules, and regulations; analyze data and field situations; present ideas and information both orally and in writing; develop and maintain effective working relationship with the public and those contacted during the course of business; work independently; draw valid conclusions; make quick and accurate decisions; take effective action and prepare clear and comprehensive reports; physically perform duties of the class; plan, organize, direct and coordinate food, drug, medical devices, cosmetics, health fraud, product safety, hazardous substances and food canning inspection and investigation work; conduct hearings; interpret the analysis of regulated products, devices, and substances; effectively supervise subordinate personnel; train and evaluate personnel in the various phases of inspection and investigation work; develop, implement, and evaluate programs; and effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment; be open-minded, flexible, and willing to learn and understand other cultures; social and cultural perceptiveness; seek clarifying questions to get a better understanding of the issue(s); maintain neutrality; identify effective ways to communicate and/or provide support; work cooperatively with various cultural backgrounds and others in the community; defuse, negotiate, and resolve conflicts; recognize and respect diversity through words and actions; effectively investigate allegations of misconduct pursuant to departmental policy; treat all people with respect and in an unbiased and unprejudiced manner; recruit qualified individuals who understand and demonstrate respect for diverse communities.


Food and Drug Regional Administ​​rator

Food and Drug Program ​​Specialist

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles of personnel management; public and business administration; program budgeting; and legislative processes.

 

Ability to: All of the above.


Special Personal Qualificatio​​ns

All Levels:​​

Aptitude for investigative and law enforcement work; hearing, vision and color vision sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation; tact; patience; substantial self-reliance; ability to work independently; capacity for development of skills and abilities; and willingness to travel.


Class History​​​​

Food and Drug Investigator Series History - Dates Established, Revised, and Title Changed
Class Date Established Date Revised Title Changed
Supervising Food and Drug Investigator 12/29/1944 12/01/2022
05/21/1985
Food and Drug Regional Administrator 07/25/1973 12/01/2022
--
Food and Drug Program Specialist 07/25/1973 12/01/2022
07/25/1989
  Updated: 12/28/2022
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