VETERINARIAN 3

Definition

Under direction of a supervisory official within a state department or agency, plans, organizes, and directs the development, coordination and implementation of new and existing disease, quality assurance, and animal welfare programs; has primary responsibility for the coordination of survey examinations and related activities; may perform animal cruelty investigations; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Plans, organizes, and directs new and existing disease control, quality assurance, and animal welfare programs; evaluates stakeholder needs and other state and federal initiatives to develop, enhance or modify current and existing programs.
• Manages, investigates and/or develops grant opportunities for division programs; directs the preparation of grant applications, and expenditure of funds.
• Interprets and explains the laws pertinent to the unit in response to inquiries from federal and state veterinarians and other officials.
• Develops, recommends, implements, and evaluates animal disease control activities.
• Engages and assigns private veterinarians to conduct various disease control tests.
• Directs, conducts, and evaluates tests and performs related activities to ensure that animals are free of disease; provides recommendations and/or solutions for action when infection is found.
• Determines eligibility of infected animals for state and federal regulations.
• Coordinates the disposal of infected animals and disinfection of premises and other areas as required by law.
• Coordinates the preparation of schedules for testing of animals in an assigned area.
• Develops and implements annual work plans and budget, determines personnel needs, and allocates program resources to meet operational objectives.
• Develops and updates division standard operating procedures and protocols.
• Directs and instructs Senior Veterinarians and/or may survey and routinely examine animals for symptoms of contagious and infectious disease.
• Develops, recommends, and enforces laws, regulations, administrative procedures, standards, and rules concerning animal health and welfare.
• May investigate cases of animal cruelty.
• Directs and/or conducts extensive epidemiology investigations of disease outbreaks of animals to determine their cause.
• Acts as lead consultant and provides leadership and assistance to Senior Veterinarians, private veterinarians, and other persons and organizations participating in animal health activities or other work related to the unit.
• Plans, directs, and conducts the development and implementation of educational and outreach programs.
• Arranges, coordinates, and presents seminars concerning animal disease control procedures and programs.
• Secures cooperation and other regulatory assistance, coordinates activities, and maintains liaison with federal veterinarians engaged in related activities; develops effective working relationships and agreements to achieve program goals.
• Acts as the department designee in matters regarding veterinary medicine.
• Instructs Veterinarians, private veterinary practitioners, and disease control inspectors regarding laws, rules, reports, and regulations.
• May coordinate and/or conduct ante- and/or post-mortem examinations of animals or poultry to determine their fitness as edible food.
• Acts as a witness in the prosecution of alleged law violations.
• Prepares correspondence.
• Directs the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
• Evaluates veterinary program operations and performance to meet program objectives.
• Manages the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Prepares and supervises the preparation of reports containing findings and conclusions regarding investigations and other veterinary activities.
• 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 College of Veterinary Medicine approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) with a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, or completion of the training program administered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) of the (AVMA), or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), or achievement of diplomat status in any (AVMA) specialty board.

Experience

Four (4) years of experience in the field of veterinary medicine or animal disease control, one (1) year of which shall have involved supervisory responsibility or the training and assignment of subordinate staff.

License

Appointees must possess a passing grade, as determined by the test sponsor, on the National Board Exam and the Clinical Competency test or equivalent test, or passage of the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), or achievement of diplomat status in any (AVMA) specialty board. The Appointing Authority is responsible for verification.

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

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of principles and techniques of veterinary medicine.
• Knowledge of the symptoms of animal diseases.
• Knowledge of procedures used to collect, analyze, and interpret test data.
• Knowledge of methods used to conduct veterinary inspections.
• Knowledge of the corrective measures taken when contagious diseases are found.
• Knowledge of the problems likely to be encountered in selecting, training, and supervising private veterinary practitioners.
• Knowledge of the ante- and post-mortem diagnosis and disposition of animals.
• Knowledge of the methods used to perform ante- and post-mortem inspections of animals.
• Ability to implement work programs, analyze complex problems, and develop appropriate working procedures.
• Ability to develop administrative procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to interpret law, rules, and regulations and apply them to specific situations.
• Ability to develop and implement an annual work plan and budget.
• Ability to organize and conduct training programs for professional and other employees and supervise the performance of their work.
• Ability to work effectively with subordinates, associates, supervisors, members of professional and lay groups, and with others interested in or concerned with the work of the unit.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with federal, State, county, local, and private agencies and organizations concerned with the work of the unit.
• Ability to compile, prepare, and present convincing legal evidence in cases of alleged violations of state and/or federal laws.
• Ability to identify stakeholder needs in accordance with division mandates and develop appropriate programs.
• Ability to organize and conduct meetings and conferences for lay and professional groups.
• Ability to prepare correspondence.
• Ability to direct the establishment and maintenance of confidential and essential records and files.
• Ability to prepare reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to learn 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 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.