Agricultural Commodity Grader (Grain) (Quality Assurance Specialist)
Summary
Oversees grain quality assurance programs, resolves grading disputes, and ensures inspection accuracy for export markets.
The Quality Assurance Specialist (QAS) assists Management in providing technical and administrative direction and supervision of field office employees by managing and coordinating the national and local Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) programs for inspection services at export location and by oversight of agencies performing inspection services through the delegation and/or designation arrangement.
The duties may include, but are not limited to:
Develop, maintain, and conduct a quality assurance program for the purpose of monitoring and ensuring the accuracy of: interpretive grading determinations mechanical inspection determinations.
Makes final decisions on unusual, borderline, and unique grading situations that require further review.
identifies training needs, recommends, coordinates, and provides special training and technical direction to ACGs and official agency personnel.
Assembles and maintains type samples for interpretive opinions to supplement instructions and procedures contained in inspection manuals.
Communicates with the Standard and Procedures Branch regarding situations not covered under current standards or regulations and assists in updating policies.
To stay updated on varying crop conditions and to foresee potential grading problems, the QAS collects information from extension agents, farmers, trade groups, and other resources.
investigates and troubleshoots quality complaints pertaining to the inspection results obtained from the intermarket barge-tracking program, rail tracking, and through other sources.