State of Maryland

A Veterinarian III, Agriculture is the full performance level of professional work in the field of veterinary medicine in the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Employees in this classification prescribe, perform and/or administer a variety of routine assignments in a laboratory program specialty or field services area. In the laboratory, employees in this classification prescribe, perform and/or administer various diagnostic tests and procedures, normally in a specialty area such as hematology, microbiology, histopathology, gross pathology or antigen production. In the field, employees in this classification perform work in specialty areas of regulatory veterinary medicine or a specialty area as defined by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Employees in this classification may rotate from one specialty area to another to meet operational needs. Employees in this classification may lead Agricultural Laboratory Scientists, Agricultural Inspectors and other technical, administrative and clerical personnel.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Veterinarian Supervisor, Agriculture or the Assistant Chief, Animal Health or the Chief, Animal Health and are expected to maintain a level of professional competence through continuing formal or informal educational activities.

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 I Agriculture, Veterinarian II Agriculture, and Veterinarian III Agriculture are differentiated on the basis of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The Veterinarian I, Agriculture learns to perform the duties under close supervision. The Veterinarian II, Agriculture performs the duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed. The Veterinarian III, Agriculture performs the full range of duties and responsibilities in their assigned area under general supervision. The Veterinarian III, Agriculture is differentiated from the Veterinarian Advanced, Agriculture in that the Veterinarian Advanced, Agriculture administers a program/division in a diagnostic laboratory or in the field in the Animal Health Section while the Veterinarian III, Agriculture performs a full range of duties under general supervision.

Conducts animal disease investigations, including required tests and post-mortem examinations and/or field investigations;

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;

Manages livestock inspections or laboratory testing for disease problems, sanitation and regulation enforcement at auctions markets, sales, fairs, or shows;

Enforces State and federal rules and regulations concerning program operations;

Contacts and consults with practicing Veterinarians, Extension Agents, agricultural instructors and livestock owners in the assigned geographical area or program specialty;

Maintains appropriate records and submits required reports;

Prepares technical, written reports;

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

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

May perform laboratory and field inspection duties as assigned;

Performs other related duties.

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 and control and eradication procedures regarding infectious diseases of livestock;

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

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 lead and coordinate the work of other professional, and technical, administrative and clerical employees;

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 by the American Veterinary Medical Association or its equivalent.

Experience: Three years of full-time post-doctoral experience in Veterinary Medicine.

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 the required 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 the required experience.

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

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

5. 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 assigned to Bargaining Unit E- Health Care Professionals classes. As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series. In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.