USDA FSIS Establishes Consumer Safety Inspector Training Leader Position

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is establishing a new Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Training Leader position within the Office of Field Operations. The position was created to strengthen on-the-job training and promote consistent application of policy for inspection program personnel nationwide.

CSIs complete classroom-based instruction through the FSIS Center for Learning as a condition of employment. The CSI Training Leader reinforces this instruction through structured, field-based mentoring to help inspection personnel apply agency policies consistently at their assigned establishments.

In fiscal year 2026, FSIS will phase in 100 CSI Training Leader positions in three waves. The first wave will be implemented in the second quarter of FY26. Position placement is based on the number of inspection personnel, operational complexity and workforce needs across districts, said the agency.

This new role is focused on training and mentoring. It does not create additional inspection authority, change inspection frequency or add a second layer of inspection, said USDA. Training leaders support inspector development by working alongside inspection personnel to reinforce consistent application of existing regulatory requirements, the agency said.

By providing field-based training support, FSIS aims to promote nationwide consistency in inspection activities, improve documentation quality and strengthen overall workforce readiness, the agency said.

The CSI Training Leader position also creates a non-supervisory career advancement opportunity for eligible inspection personnel, supporting retention and long-term workforce stability, according to USDA.