Staff Veterinarian
Summary
Title:Staff Veterinarian
ID:1039
Division:Animal Health
Campaign End Date:N/A
Description

Job Title: Staff Veterinarian

Division: Animal Health

Headquarters: Charleston, WV

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $60,000 to $85,000

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

 

Nature of Work:

Under direction of the State Veterinarian, serves as Staff Veterinarian covering a wide area of the state with a broad range of responsibilities requiring extensive knowledge of veterinary medicine, animal health, food safety, and applicable state and federal regulations.

Examples of Work:

  • Applies veterinary knowledge to a myriad of circumstances involving both animal health, disease prevention/control/eradication, and meat inspection to ensure regulatory compliance.
  • Performs duties of a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician. This includes responding to reports of suspected Foreign Animal Diseases in West Virginia. Independently conducts official field investigations, including collection and submission of samples for laboratory testing.
  • Provides leadership and direction for biosecurity, containment, depopulation, removal/composting, cleaning and disinfection, and area surveillance in the event of an animal disease outbreak.
  • Performs epidemiological analyses of livestock during animal disease events, with an ability to both trace back and trace forward livestock to ascertain other herd involvement or potential exposure to disease agents.
  • Prepares grant applications, makes procurement and budget recommendations, oversees regulatory laboratories, compiles, and analyzes data. Prepares reports for grantors that reflect progress/status towards goals.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

  • Will be headquartered at either the Guthrie Agriculture Center or the Moorefield Agriculture Center, with the full range of veterinary responsibilities in the assigned area.
  • Normal office environment: standing, sitting, walking, lifting, operating a computer and other office equipment, performing calculations, and communicating orally and in writing.
  • Non-traditional work hours, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergencies.
  • Extensive in-state state travel required with occasional out-of-state travel.
  • Position also includes functioning in proximity of working machinery, laboratory operations, poultry, livestock, field necropsy procedures utilizing sharp objects, outside work, and exposure to inclement weather.
  • Must be able to lift and/or carry up to 50 lbs.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Ability to create and maintain effective and professional relations for the Department.
  • Ability to record data, make observations, and provide professional suggestions to veterinarians and producers.
  • Ability to conduct necropsies and collect tissue samples.
  • Ability to establish and enforce quarantines.
  • Ability to respond to animal disease events.
  • Ability to supervise employees.
  • Ability to perform epidemiological investigations regarding livestock and animal disease.
  • Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with other government officials, employees, and the public.
  • Possess strong organizational skills.
  • Knowledge of federal and state laws, rules and regulations as they might apply to, or affect, agriculture and associated funding.
  • Knowledge of veterinary medicine pertaining to both large and small animals, as well as poultry and aquaculture.
  • Knowledge of the proper disposal of infectious waste.
  • Knowledge of swine garbage feeding law.
  • Knowledge of computers and software, including Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
  • Willingness to undergo any necessary training to become proficient in areas associated with other animal health problems.
  • Ability to secure and maintain WV veterinary licensure and Level 2 veterinary accreditation.
  • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Qualifications:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college of veterinary medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, or an equivalent veterinary doctorate degree.

Experience: Five years of professional experience as a veterinarian working with food producing animals, horses, and poultry is preferred.

Preference given to veterinarians trained, certified, and experienced in meat and poultry inspection and/or previous regulatory veterinary experience.

Other Requirements:

  • Valid driver’s license required. Must possess a WV driver’s license within three (3) months of hire.
  • WV veterinary licensure. Subsequent to WV veterinary licensure, must secure Level 2 veterinary accreditation by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services in West Virginia.
  • Must be willing to travel extensively throughout West Virginia on regular basis, with occasional out-of-state travel.
  • Must be willing to take responsibility for an assigned state vehicle.
  • Must be willing to respond as needed to arising events, such as official Foreign Animal Disease Investigations.
  • Satisfactory completion of pre-employment drug testing.
  • Satisfactory completion of pre-employment law enforcement background investigation, and motor vehicle records.
  • Must maintain a positive image of the Commissioner, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, and the State of West Virginia.

This description is subject to review and revision at the discretion of the Commissioner and designees.

This opening is closed and is no longer accepting applications
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