ASSISTANT COORDINATOR, VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH

Definition

Under the direction of the Coordinator, Veterinary Public Health or other supervisory officer in the Department of Health, has charge of specific work programs and staff associated with rabies control and other veterinary public health activities of the Department; provides consultation to the regional offices, local health department staffs, and others; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Participates in and conducts extensive epidemiologic investigations of zoonosisin cooperation with the Division of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health.
• Organizes administrative, supervisory, and technical work, analyses veterinary public health problems, and develops appropriate work methods.
• Plans, develops, and supervises public health programs for the eradication or prevention of the transmission of diseases from animals to man.
• Initiates, conducts, and supervises the conduct of surveys to determine the significance of animal diseases on public health.
• Assigns, instructs, provides technical assistance to, and supervises the work of staff.
• May supervise the activities of rabies control technicians.
• Aids in coordinating the activities of the Veterinary Public Health Project with those of other units within the Department and with those of local official and voluntary health agencies and aids in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with such agencies and groups.
• Makes necessary field trips, confers with local health officers, and holds conferences pertaining to veterinary activities of the Department.
• Directly takes or collects necessary specimens for viral, bacterial, parasitic, or pathological examination.
• Acts as consultant and advisor to other units within the Department, to other State departments, and to official and voluntary organizations.
• Participates in projects involving diseases of animals and man.
• Provides professional guidance to veterinarians employed by local health departments.
• Consults with other Department of Health members in matters pertaining to diseases of animal origin and veterinary public health problems.
• Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of clear, scientifically sound, technically accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Supervises the establishment of and maintenance of essential records and files.
• Provides consultation to other public health personnel regarding matters related to veterinary public health including foodborne diseases and insect and rodent control.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited school of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree supplemented by a Master's degree in Public Health from an accredited college or university.

Experience

One (1) year of experience in the field of public health, with a federal, state, or local agency, in the field of epidemiology or in a veterinary public health program.

License

Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a motor vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of veterinary medical practices.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of veterinary public health.
• Knowledge of the methods used to control diseases of animal origin transmissible to man.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply local, State, and federal laws concerned with veterinary public health and of legal policies and practices established thereunder after a period of training.
• Ability to organize assigned technical and supervisory work, analyze complex veterinary public health problems, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret, and apply basic laws, rules, regulations, policies, and standards.
• Ability to apply the principles and methods of modern public health administration.
• Ability to give appropriate training and instructions to professional and other employees and supervise the performance of their work.
• Ability to work effectively with subordinates, associates, and others interested in or concerned with the veterinary public health activities of State.
• Ability to provide consultation and advice to internal and external units.
• Ability to draft correspondence.
• Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files.
• Ability to collect specimens for examination.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Applicants who lack the Master's degree may substitute one (1) additional year of experience in a state, local, or federal agency as a Veterinarian in Public Health or other related work field.