SENIOR ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN

Code: 10298 State Competitive Range: P21 (FY 2027) Work week NE: FLSA coveredOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $66,592.01 - $97,353.91/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under the limited supervision of a Principal Animal Health Technician or other supervisory official in the Department of Agriculture, within designated areas independently performs complex clinical, investigative, and/or public relations work needed to detect and control the spread of infectious and contagious diseases in New Jersey's livestock, poultry, and other animal species; determines the need for and takes the lead in performing detailed field and/or laboratory examinations, investigations and tests; issues quarantines as needed; develops and presents educational programs; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

Inspects licensed garbage feeding swine farms to ensure compliance with state and federal sanitation requirements and observes the taking of temperatures of cooked garbage to prevent the spread of disease transmitted through improperly cooked food; observes swine to detect diseases that may exist; educates producers on a regular basis to detect potentially infectious diseases including foreign animal diseases such as African Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease. Draws blood samples from cattle, swine, and poultry according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Uniform Methods and Rules for (brucellosis, pseudorabies, pullorum, etc.) testing. Conducts epidemiological investigations of disease outbreaks, including diagnostic testing, analyses, and comprehensive reports that may include recommendations for action and preventive measures to reduce the risk of similar outbreaks in the future. Takes the lead as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Traceback Coordinator; performs duties indicated to identify and control the movement of animals that test positive for monitored diseases at slaughter; conducts additional testing as determined by data collection and makes recommendations for surveillance as needed; performs analysis of herds in federal programs. Determines the need for additional testing, including microbiological examinations, investigations, and performs post-mortem examinations to aid in the determination of disease of livestock and poultry; performs other related laboratory and/or fieldwork. Coordinates and conducts poultry testing in the Division of Animal Health for pullorum to make flocks eligible for interstate movement and hatching purposes. Trains private industry poultry people for certification to conduct pullorum tests where necessary. May make determinations that quarantines are needed; issues quarantines on diseased animals to prevent the spread of disease to healthy stock. Takes the lead over lower-level technicians performing clinical and investigative assignments. Performs the appraisal, destruction, and disposal of infected livestock or poultry to eradicate the disease. Responsible for the collection of milk samples from cows and goats at assigned farms and milk processing plants for regulatory tests (i.e., brucellosis ring test) to ensure that animals are free from infection; performs data entry analysis and reporting. Takes the lead in the development and implementation of educational programs for stakeholders and citizens of the State. Organizes monthly training sessions for division personnel and USDA personnel. Represents the Division at various livestock and agricultural meetings in New Jersey. Presents animal disease control information at various meetings to stakeholders and other interested groups. Inspects the health condition of livestock and poultry assigned to auction markets to prevent the potential spread of disease to the State's livestock industry. Acts as division liaison to auction markets; ensure rules and regulations are adhered to; educates market staff to detect potentially infectious diseases, including foreign animal diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease. Performs epidemiology examinations in order to control and eradicate the outbreak of diseases in infected herds or flocks. Inspects flocks to make certain that all reactor (disease carrier) birds are removed before the flocks are certified relative to breeding and standardization under the national poultry improvement plan rules; also inspects the condition of poultry in quarantined areas to prevent the spread of disease to the State's poultry industry. Inspects transported (intrastate and interstate) quarantined animals and poultry for identification purposes to ensure freedom from disease and to verify their compliance with state standards for importation. Interprets and explains the laws of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) and the USDA in response to inquiries from livestock stakeholders. Oversees the licensing of livestock dealers, including the inspection of livestock dealers' record books to determine they are kept in compliance with state and federal guidelines and approves livestock dealers' premises for issuance of renewal of licenses. Organizes assigned field and other inspection work to carry out regulatory activities and analyzes problems arising therein to develop effective work methods. Oversees regulatory development, adoption, amendments, and re-adoption. Acts as a witness in prosecutions of alleged violations of the law. Independently performs veterinary medical diagnostic tests, veterinary microbiological analyses, animal serologic tests, molecular tests, parasitic animal examinations, virologic analyses, and animal dissection (post-mortem) to aid in the determination of diseases of a wide variety of animal species, including livestock, poultry, companion animals, zoo animals, and wildlife; determines the need for confirmatory testing based on initial results/findings and performs other related laboratory work. Takes the lead in securing, dissecting, grossing, and disposing of animal carcasses to examine gross lesions and diagnose diseases. Takes the lead in interpreting veterinary diagnostic laboratory examinations and test results and preparing records of observations, tests, values, raw data etc. Takes the lead in Equine Infectious Anemia testing and signs-off on official Coggins test certificate to prevent the spread of disease in the State's equine industry. Takes the lead in testing and examining samples from imported equine for the presence of infectious bacteria that cause Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) disease to prevent the introduction of the bacteria in New Jersey and the US in compliance with the federal and State regulations. Takes the lead in Emerging and Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) testing and necropsy examinations, including but not limited to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), Classical Swine Fever (CSF), Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), African Swine Fever (ASF) etc.; Complies with the USDA National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) rules and agreements. Takes the lead in surveillance testing in support of the state and federal regulatory programs. Takes the lead in acquisition, accession, chain of custody, storage, and disposal of various sample types, including blood samples, body fluids, carcasses, swabs, milk samples, food samples, etc., to ensure the integrity of specimens and samples. Takes the lead in animal tissue collection, grossing, processing, and staining (including special staining) for animal disease diagnoses by a veterinary pathologist. Takes the lead in complex veterinary clinical chemistry and toxicology analyses, interprets findings and communicates findings to stakeholders. Takes the lead in the preparation of proficiency testing specimens for monitoring veterinary diagnostic test performance; leads in the preparation and standardization of reagents and standard solutions, culture media and stains, and antigens used; manages and maintains inventories. May coordinate the work of lower-level technical laboratory personnel conducting veterinary diagnostic laboratory examinations, tests, and analyses. May take the lead in training laboratory employees in the performance of tests, examinations, and analyses. Ensures adherence to all laboratory safety requirements. Participates in research on veterinary diagnostic-related problems and emerging issues and analytical validation and verification studies designed by research scientists and veterinarians. Takes the lead in ensuring compliance of all the lab work with laboratory quality system and the ISO standard /AAVLD requirements to obtain accreditation. Takes the lead in the acquisition, storage, preservation, maintenance, recording, and proper use of laboratory equipment, materials, and supplies to ensure compliance with the quality system. Keeps current with literature, practices, and new developments in the field of veterinary diagnostic laboratory science; makes recommendations regarding the importance of modifying existing procedures or establishment of new tests and examinations; reviews and revises SOPs. Communicates with the laboratory clients, addresses client requests and complaints related to laboratory services, and ensures client satisfaction. Maintains and disposes of veterinary diagnostic laboratory records, reports, and files to ensure compliance with the quality system and ISO standard. Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports of veterinary diagnostic laboratory tests, inspections, analyses, and examinations containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Develops and updates Division standard operating procedures and protocols. Maintains essential records, reports, and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

License

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

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of the habits and behavior of livestock and poultry. Knowledge of the husbandry procedures as they apply to livestock and poultry. Knowledge of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Federal Swine Health Protection Act and the procedures to inspect and/or coordinate inspections of licensed garbage-feeding swine farms under the Act. Knowledge of the Federal laws concerning the importation and shipment of poultry and livestock. Knowledge of the prevention and control of contagious diseases of poultry and livestock and their application to specific cases. Knowledge of how to draw blood samples from cattle, swine, goats, and horses according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Uniform Methods and Rules. Knowledge of the field tests for various livestock and poultry diseases. Knowledge of the laws of New Jersey and the rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture concerning the importation and shipment of poultry and livestock. Knowledge of the principles and application of livestock and poultry quarantines. Knowledge of veterinary diagnostic laboratory examinations, tests, and analyses. Knowledge of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory-related federal and State rules, regulations, methods, and policies. Knowledge of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory accreditation and ISO standard. Knowledge of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory biosafety and biosecurity to ensure safe operations. Knowledge of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory equipment, reagents, and techniques. Ability to communicate lab results to clients and supervise resolution of client complaints. Ability to take the lead in veterinary diagnostic laboratory examinations, tests, and analyses of varied types following standards and prescribed procedures in compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements. Ability to take the lead in the use, maintenance, and calibration of veterinary diagnostic laboratory equipment and supplies in such a manner as to avoid unnecessary breakage and comply with the quality system. Ability to take the lead in the operations of the necropsy (animal autopsy) and histology processing. Ability to review and revise methods, procedures, and SOPs to ensure they are based on the latest scientific literature. Ability to organize assigned work, analyze routine lab problems, and develop appropriate work methods. Ability to take measures required to ensure that laboratory areas are maintained, clean, orderly, and safe. Ability to take the lead in addressing client complaints and ensuring client satisfaction with the laboratory services. Ability to recognize and identify abnormal health conditions and behavior of livestock and poultry. Ability to comprehend and carry out written and verbal instructions and field procedures. Ability to draw blood samples from cattle, swine, goats, poultry, and horses according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Uniform Methods and Rules. Ability to perform field tests for various livestock and poultry diseases. Ability to work effectively with associates, veterinarians, superior officers, farmers, stockmen, poultrymen, and others interested in or concerned with the Division of Animal Health activities. Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the laws of New Jersey and the federal government, and the rules, regulations, polices, and procedures of the Department of Agriculture concerning the importation and shipment and the prevention, control, and eradication of contagious and infectious disease of poultry and livestock. Ability to act as a witness in court and give testimony under oath. Ability to plan and conduct training programs. Ability to develop educational and technical assistance materials for use in training programs. Ability to conduct epidemiological follow-up investigations, examinations, and analyses of livestock and poultry disease outbreaks. Ability to assist in the development of regulations affecting the livestock and poultry industry. Ability to make presentations regarding animal disease control information and/or veterinary diagnostic laboratory information. Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to maintain essential records, reports, and files. Ability to learn how 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, and 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 if they can perform the 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 must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Six (6) years of professional laboratory examination, analysis, and testing experience on a wide variety of animal specimens in a veterinary diagnostic laboratory or clinic and/or of technical experience inspecting and controlling livestock and poultry diseases and conducting field and laboratory tests concerning these diseases in a regulatory agency or private industry; and twenty-one (21) credit hours concentration in animal science, animal science technology, veterinary technology, or other related biological sciences. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with twenty-one (21) credit hours concentration in animal science, animal science technology, veterinary technology, or other related biological sciences; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.