State of Maryland

A Veterinarian I, Agriculture is the entry level of professional work in the field of veterinary medicine in the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Employees in this classification learn to prescribe, perform and/or administer a variety of routine assignments in a laboratory program specialty or field service area. In the laboratory, employees learn to 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 a specialty area of regulatory veterinary medicine or a specialty area as defined by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Employees in this classification, as knowledge and experience are gained, receive duty assignments that are expanded in scope, variety and complexity. Employees in this classification may lead Agricultural Laboratory Scientists, Agricultural Inspectors, and other technical, administrative, and clerical personnel.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Veterinarian Supervisor, Agriculture or the Assistant Chief, Animal Health or the Chief, Animal Health. Performance is evaluated through observation of overall job performance and rate of progression in learning and applying the principles and procedures of the job.

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 Agriculture III are differentiated on the basis of the degree 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 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 of field inspection or laboratory 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.

Learns to conduct animal disease investigations, including required tests and postmortem necropsy examinations and/or field investigations;

Learns to select and obtain samples of materials to be forwarded for diagnostic evaluation and make disease diagnosis based on field examinations and laboratory test results;

Learns to conduct and support 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;

Learns to establish, continue or release quarantines as the disease situation dictates;

Learns to manage livestock inspections or laboratory testing for disease problems, sanitation and enforcement of regulations at auction markets, sales, fairs or shows;

Learns to assist in the enforcement of State and federal rules and regulations concerning program operations;

Learns to contact and consult with practicing veterinarians, extension agents, agricultural instructors, and livestock owners as needed for assigned geographical area or program specialty;

Learns to maintain appropriate records and submits required reports;

Learns to prepare technical, written reports;

Learns to review 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 learn to perform laboratory and field inspection duties as assigned;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of regulatory veterinary medicine;

Knowledge of the elementary concepts of gross pathology, microbiology, parasitology, toxicology, zoonosis, epidemiology of animal diseases and food plant physical and equipment sanitary requirements;

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;

Ability to effectively perform basic laboratory procedures, test and examinations;

Ability to assign appropriate priorities among a variety of disease control and/or testing activities and 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, 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 or recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association or its equivalent.

Experience: None.

Note: 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.

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.