State of Maryland

An Assistant Chief, Animal Health is the supervisory, administrative and consultative level of professional work in the field of veterinary medicine.  Employees in this classification assist the Chief, Animal Health (State Veterinarian) in planning, directing, coordinating and executing the administrative and technical phases of the Animal Health Program of the Maryland Department of Agriculture.  Employees in this classification assists the Chief, Animal Health in leading and managing the regulatory, administrative and service operations of the unit which involves the supervision of professional and technical staff who enforce the laws and regulations pertaining to animal health.  Employees in this classification may assist the Chief, Animal Health in investigations of outbreaks of animal diseases, implementation of control and eradication measures on a local, State, federal, national or international basis.  Employees in this classification have primary responsibility for an assigned program area which includes responsibility for the administration and enforcement of all laws and regulations within their assigned program areas:  responsibility for educating the public about animal diseases that can spread to humans; increasing public awareness of all other activities of the Animal Health program and coordinating, organizing and evaluating the program activities with federal, State, and local agencies, constituent groups and the general public.  Employees in this classification also have contacts with representatives of these agencies, as well as with practicing Veterinarians, farmers, members of private industry and civic organizations, and confers with these individuals on the enforcement of laws, program objectives and the establishment of inspection priorities.  Employees in this classification may be required to represent the Department as expert officials in matters relating to infectious and contagious animal diseases in an assigned area and in the absence of the Chief, Animal Health.  Employees in this classification may supervise professional, technical, administrative and clerical personnel assigned to the Animal Health Program.

Employees in this classification receive administrative direction from of the Chief, Animal Health.  Employees may confer with the Chief, Animal Health the other Assistant Chiefs, Animal Health or higher level Administrators on matters of policy and program objectives within their assigned areas of responsibility.  Work effectiveness is determined through conferences and evaluation of program results.

Positions in this classification are evaluated 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 sections of the class specification.

Conducts operational planning, coordination and support to regional and Statewide regulatory, operational or service functions;

Advises the Chief, Animal Health in areas of specific responsibility and expertise;

Identifies problems in the administration or coordination of programs, activities or projects;

Collaborates with the other Assistant Chief, Animal Health to plan, coordinate, implement and execute effective and efficient Statewide regulatory, service, program or emergency operations;

Assists the Chief, Animal Health in the identification of animal disease threats, the investigation of reportable animal disease complaints, and the development of policies, practices and procedures designed to implement animal disease prevention, control, and eradication activities on a local, State, federal, national or international basis;

Directs, plans, and implements policies, objectives, and activities of assigned areas in order to ensure continuing operations and to increase productivity;

Manages external sources of revenue and allocates resources to complete work as provided for in cooperative agreements;

Devises improvement or change plans for the operation of assigned areas;

Monitors the efficiency and effectiveness of programs or services;

Develops and prepares budget estimates for approval, including those for funding and implementation of programs and manages fiscal resources for assigned program area;

Directs human resource activities, including recruitment, selection, training, and supervision of staff;

Provides active leadership, applies consistent and uniform practices to subordinate staff, and mediates problems that cannot be resolved through other protocol;

Mentors subordinate staff members including professional Veterinarians;

Provides consultation and guidance;

Provides technical advice to staff, peers, or management;

Provides liaison to governmental agencies, practicing Veterinarians, farmers, and farm organizations and various other persons and groups interested in, or affected by, animal disease control or eradications programs;

Communicates with staff members, constituents and the general public and other professionals to discuss issues, coordinate activities and resolve problems;

Prepares notices, memoranda, reports or news releases about policy changes, major events or other information for staff members, constituents, general public and other professionals;

Serves as Regional Veterinarian in an assigned geographical area;

Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with all staff and others interested or involved in the work of the program;

Evaluates field reports and current technical information concerning problems related to the activity supervised;

Prepares and directs the preparation of reports of section programs containing findings, conclusions and recommendations;

Attends meetings and conferences to communicate and receive information and formulate policy and plans;

May supervise Statewide integrated laboratory and regulatory regional services delivery;

May serve as a Laboratory Director;

May be responsible for elements of emergency readiness and response to include planning, training, coordination, incident command, general supervision and execution of emergency operation procedures during crisis situations;

May serve as liaison with regional colleges and academic institutions for the purpose of collaborating on activities to achieve the objectives of the Animal Health program;

May serve as Acting Chief, Animal Health in the absence of that official;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of regulatory veterinary medicine;

Knowledge of the causes, transmission prevention techniques and control and eradication procedures regarding infectious diseases of livestock and poultry, including a sound understanding of zoonotic diseases;

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

Knowledge of disease control programs and disease eradication objectives;

Knowledge of management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources, leadership technique, production methods and coordination of people and resources;

Knowledge of program development and program evaluation;

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, State, national or international security operations for the protection of people, data, property and institutions;

May require knowledge of diagnostic laboratory operations, including but not limited to gross pathology, microbiology, histopathology, hematology, serology, toxicology, fluorescent antibody techniques, cell culture, and antigen production;

May require knowledge of laboratory administration and supervision techniques;

Ability to supervise and administer the technical and administrative components of animal health programs;

Ability to evaluate the need for animal health regulation and to plan programs to address these needs;

Ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with Department officials, State, federal and community officials, fellow employees, producers, Veterinarians;

Ability to prepare or supervise the preparation of technical and management reports;

Ability to evaluate situations and render effective decisions;

Ability to interpret technical reports;

Ability to address the public and conduct lectures and talks;

Ability to communicate effectively in business English;

Ability to comprehend, interpret, and evaluate relevant information from various types of source materials;

Ability to effectively communicate information and ideas so that others will understand;

Ability to interpret, and apply pertinent laws, regulations, procedures, policies, and rules to given situations;

Ability to specific problems to produce answers;

Ability to schedule, organize and coordinate activities for others;

May require the ability to procure, manage and maintain the physical plant and equipment necessary to conduct diagnostic laboratory operations.

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.

Experience: Five years of general veterinary medicine experience, at least three years must have been in regulatory programs related to animal health.

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.