Assistant Veterinarian Medical Officer (#MDED01)
$100,198.00 Yearly Min / $133,597.00 Yearly Mid / $166,996.00 Yearly Max

Veterinarian Medical Officer (#MDED02)
$120,733.00 Yearly Min / $160,977.00 Yearly Mid / $201,221.00 Yearly Max

This class series uses two levels of work in the Health and Human Services occupational group and Medical Services occupational series and describes work in the field of veterinary medicine.  Work requires applying the principles, theories and practices of veterinary science to enforce state and federal codes and identify trends in diseases and potential large scale impact on the industry and public health. Positions in this series must have a license to practice veterinary medicine.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Enforces compliance with State and Federal codes dealing with contagious diseases and health certification.
   
• Performs necropsies to determine cause of death and diagnose diseases.
   
• Ensures completion of field inspections, diagnostic tests, laboratory procedures, and reports to ensure goals/objectives are met.
   
• Determines need for and enforces quarantines of a premise, region, county or the state to protect human and animal health.
   
• Advises animal owners, livestock dealers and producers of proper sanitation and disease control methods.
   
• Reviews, evaluates and analyzes existing, proposed and newly enacted animal health regulations  and advises supervisor on feasibility of implementation and impact on current policies, procedures, regulations, programs and operations.
   
• Reviews and evaluates operations and establishes new/revised policies, procedures and methods of operation to ensure uniform interpretation and accurate application of regulations, instructions, standards and specifications.
   
• Represents the State before public and private groups and individuals on a state, regional, national and international level.
   
• Develops reports containing medical and technical information.
   
• Prepares and presents lectures and demonstrations.
   
• Plans, directs, reviews and evaluates the work of subordinates including contractuals.

Assistant Veterinarian Medical Officer
 
This level is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing statewide animal and poultry health programs and performing examinations of poultry and animals to diagnose diseases and determine cause of death and appropriate action.

• Reports to the Veterinarian Medical Officer.
• Performs the full range of Essential Functions.
• Develops, implements, coordinates, and manages statewide animal and poultry health programs including developing and managing budgets, developing policies and procedures, conducting outreach, and completing reporting requirements.
• Coordinates and oversees emergency animal response issues related to natural and man-made disasters.
• Serves as Veterinarian Medical Officer in his/her absence.

Veterinarian Medical Officer

This is the State Veterinary Medical Officer.

• Major functional areas include but are not limited to those dealing with the enforcement of state and federal codes concerning animals and poultry infected with or exposed to contagious diseases including identifying trends in diseases and potential large scale impact on the industry and public health.
• Certifies the health of livestock and poultry/poultry products to be exported out of the state.
• Provides veterinarian expertise to the horse racing commissions.
• Ensures the health of commercial aquaculture species.
• Oversees permitting of exotic mammals and reptiles.
• Contacts typically are for achieving a high degree of cooperation from customers who are resistant and hostile and prone to undertake devious and illegal methods to avoid complying with the regulations.

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA's listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of veterinary medicine.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state and departmental laws, rules, regulations, programs, policies, procedures and systems relating to industries regulated and the control and eradication of animal diseases.
• Knowledge of the methods and techniques of diagnosing diseases and conditions and controlling diseases associated with veterinary medicine.
• Knowledge of animal diseases of public health significance.
• Knowledge of State and federal budget processes and fiscal policies and cycles.
• Knowledge of the principles of public administration, management and supervision.
• Knowledge of basic legal procedures and processes regarding inspections and compliance investigations, as well as criminal investigations or knowledge of quasi-judicial proceedings such as administrative hearings including the rules of admissible evidence and testimony.
• Knowledge of negotiations and settlement, especially at the state, regional, national and international level.
• Skill in effective communication with customers and other state agencies with regards to diagnosis, control, and treatment of infectious animal diseases.
• Skill in evaluating the effectiveness of assigned programs.
• Skill in diagnosing a wide variety of diseases and conditions during ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection.
• Ability to apply practical knowledge of autopsy and gross and microscopic examination procedures; e.g., pathological, histopathological, or microbiological for isolating and identifying diseases.
• Ability to prepare clear and comprehensive reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a broad range of business, industry, community, administrative and regulatory officials.
• Ability to understand, interpret and explain applicable statutory requirements.
• Ability to recognize and mediate diverse and/or conflicting priorities.
• Ability to determine and/or recommend appropriate enforcement procedures.

 In addition to the above knowledge, skills and abilities, the Veterinarian Medical Officer requires:

• Knowledge of the harness racing industry including trends, legal/illegal activities and practices.
• Knowledge of exotic mammals and reptiles including those not native to Delaware and including management, breeding and feeding practices and diseases.
• Skill in negotiations and settlement, especially at the state, regional, national and international level.

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Veterinarian Medical Officer
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. Possession of an active Delaware Veterinarian license OR Possession of an active Veterinarian license in another jurisdiction (state, the District of Columbia or U.S. territory).
2. Three years experience in practicing veterinarian medicine which includes diagnosing and controlling diseases.
3. Three years experience in program administration such as overseeing and directing the development, implementation and evaluation of programs and services; planning and establishing short and long range program goals and objectives. Providing advice to other agency organizational units through consultation.
4. Six months experience in interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
5. Knowledge of staff supervision acquired through course work, academic training, training provided through an employer, or performing as a lead worker overseeing the work of others; OR supervising staff which may include planning, assigning, reviewing, and evaluating the work of others; OR supervising through subordinate supervisors a group of professional, technical, and clerical employees.