State of Maryland

A Veterinarian Supervisor, Agriculture is the supervisory level of professional work in the field of Veterinary Medicine in the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Employees in this classification perform work that involves the coordination of laboratory or field activities with the State branch laboratories, federal laboratories, meat and poultry inspectors, laboratory scientists, veterinarians and all other persons or agencies submitting specimens for diagnostic assistance. Employees in this classification are responsible for the continuous development of subordinate staff and facility resources in order to provide diagnostic or field support to all current and developing disease control and eradication programs, as well as for the development of the capabilities necessary to diagnose emerging diseases of economic importance to the State. Employees in this classification are responsible for providing supervision and guidance to lower-level Veterinarians and may also supervise Agricultural Laboratory Scientists, Agricultural Inspectors, or technical, administrative and clerical personnel assigned to a laboratory or to the Field Services program.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Chief, Animal Health Section or the Assistant Chief, Animal Health.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work of the class specification.

The Veterinarian Supervisor, Agriculture is differentiated from the Veterinarian Advanced, Agriculture in that the Veterinarian Supervisor, Agriculture has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Veterinarians while the Veterinarian Advanced, Agriculture administers a program/division in a diagnostic laboratory or in the field in the Animal Health Section.

Supervises lower-level Veterinarians at a diagnostic laboratory or in the Field Services program;

Provides subject matter expertise at a diagnostic laboratory in a program specific area in such as pathology, virology, or a species-specific specialization as defined by the American Veterinary Medical Association;

Coordinates activities in area of expertise with state branch diagnostic laboratories, veterinary field services, federal laboratories, and meat and poultry inspectors.

Performs and/or supervises (professional, technical, administrative and clerical personnel) administrative duties involving procurement of supplies, maintenance of adequate records and reports, and establishment of administrative procedures and policies for area of expertise;

Conducts animal disease investigations, including required tests and postmortem necropsy examinations or field visits when necessary;

Selects and obtains samples of materials to be forwarded for diagnostic evaluation and makes disease diagnosis based on field examinations and laboratory test results;

Conducts and supports field investigations or examinations by performing/supervising lab tests and procedures or directing the handling and disposition of animals which have reacted to official tests;

Establishes, continues or releases quarantines as the disease situation dictates;

Enforces State and federal rules and regulations concerning program operations;

Maintains appropriate records and submits required reports;

Prepares technical, written reports;

Reviews technical manuals and journals to remain current in veterinary techniques;

May perform laboratory and field inspection duties as assigned;

May manage a program/area within Animal Health;

May manage livestock inspections or laboratory testing in area of expertise for disease problems, sanitation and enforcement of regulations at auction markets, sales, fairs or shows;

May supervise Agricultural Laboratory Scientists, Agricultural Inspectors, or other technical, administrative and/or clerical personnel;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision;

Knowledge of the principles and practices of regulatory veterinary medicine;

Knowledge of histopathology, hematology, serology, toxicology, fluorescent antibody studies and culture and antigen production;

Knowledge of gross pathology, microbiology, parasitology, toxicology, zoonosis, and epidemiology of animal diseases;

Knowledge of the causes, transmission, prevention techniques, control and eradication procedures regarding infectious disease of livestock;

Knowledge of the applicable rules and regulations relating to infectious diseases, quarantines and the movement of livestock intra and interstate;

Knowledge of the elementary concepts of laboratory administrative techniques;

Skill in effectively performing laboratory procedures, tests and examinations;

Skill in assigning appropriate priorities among a variety of disease control activities and among the activities of assigned subordinates;

Ability to work with management or owner/herdsmen in a cooperative manner and to encourage compliance with the requirements of Maryland animal health programs;

Ability to supervise and coordinate the work of others, including other professional, technical, administrative and clerical employees;

Ability to establish and maintain effective administrative procedures and policies;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;

Ability to communicate effectively.

Education: A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or a Veterinary Medical Doctor’s degree from a college or university accredited or recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association or its equivalent.

Experience: Five years of full-time postdoctoral experience in Veterinary Medicine, three years must have been in a Veterinary diagnostic laboratory specialty area or equivalent.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Doctor of Philosophy degree or Doctor of Science degree in veterinary pathology or microbiology or Board certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists or Veterinary Microbiologists for three years of the required specialized experience.

2. Candidates may substitute board certification in American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Equine, Bovine, Food Animal, Dairy, Swine, Avian), American College of Internal Medicine (large animal), American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and American College of Poultry Veterinarians for three years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master of Science degree in veterinary pathology or microbiology, or a Master of Public Health for two years of the required specialized experience.

4. Candidates may substitute the possession of a PhD in Public Health for three years of the required specialized experience.

5. Total allowable substitution under notes #1, 2, 3 and 4 are three years.

6. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in veterinary preventive medicine classification or veterinary preventive medicine specialty codes in the veterinary medical science field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education and experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions. Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential). As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.