VETERINARIAN ADVANCED, AGRICULTURE

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive Branch.  Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services to include marketing and lab services, plant and pest management and resource conservation.  As the number one industry in Maryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continue to expand and grow.

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2722 Nanticoke Road, Salisbury, Maryland 21801

The main purpose of this position is to manage the resources and activities of the Salisbury Animal Health Laboratory large animal necropsy area and provide pathology services (perform necropsies and interpret test reports) for domestic animals, primarily livestock and poultry, in order to provide accurate and timely diagnostic services and guidance to farmers, private and public animal health professionals. Large Animal Necropsy Director plays a key role in fulfilling the Department of Agriculture's mission to protect and foster the development of agriculture by identifying diseases that could cause economic injury to the state's vital animal industries or pose a threat to public health. The diagnoses provided by the Director are critical to guiding field veterinarians, the State Veterinarian, and the Secretary of Agriculture in determining the appropriate course of action to take with regards to quarantine restrictions and implementation of animal disease emergency response plans.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Actively directs and oversees professional and technical activities of large animal necropsy areas by assigning cases to appropriate veterinary, scientific, or technical staff, tracking progress of associated work, and review of reports before delivery to submitters or referring veterinarians. 
• Directs and oversees administrative and clerical activities of large animal necropsy area including but not limited to fee determination, budget requests, procurement, staff scheduling and attendance monitoring personally and/or by delegation to Lab Scientist, Administrative Specialist or Office Secretary. 
• Provides animal diagnostic services and guidance to the public, private veterinarians, state and federal animal health officials, and the Secretary of Agriculture as appropriate based on findings.  Collects history (signs, age, breed, size of herd, percentage of animals affected or dead, previous treatments, vaccinations); performs gross necropsy on all species (postmortem exam); records pathological lesions (abnormalities observed); selects and collects appropriate tissues for testing; interprets results; reads (microscopic) slides. 
• Consults with other MDA veterinary pathologists as necessary to confirm diagnosis.  Prepares and provides reports of diagnosis or health status of herd, or findings to referring veterinarians, field personnel, submitters of animals or specimens to the laboratory, and/or other animal health officials as appropriate. 
• Determines needs for physical, technological, human, and other resources to maintain or improve accuracy, timeliness, affordability, and appropriate availability of diagnostic services and makes corresponding requests and recommendations to management. 
• Serve as mentor for candidates for veterinary pathology board certification, junior veterinary pathologists, veterinary college externs, pre-veterinary students, and work study students from local secondary schools. 
• Other duties as assigned or required such as court appearances as expert witness, outreach activities to animal related interest groups, consultation with peers in other MDA Animal Health Laboratories. 
• May involve work outside usual business hours and scheduled on call status. Employee is designated as an Emergency Essential Employee.

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: Four 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 specialized 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 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.

Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following preferred qualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your application regarding your qualifications.

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

May involve work outside usual business hours and scheduled on call status. Employee is designated as an Emergency Essential Employee.

Please make sure you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not accept information submitted after this date. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be considered for this position. Therefore, it is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Report all education and experience related to the essential functions and qualifications of this position.

Your application is part of the examination process. The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of this position. The rating will be based on the information provided on your application. Therefore, it is important you detail all experience and education related to this position completely and accurately.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

The online application is strongly preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may submit a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to: Maryland Department of Agriculture  Human Resource Office, Room 304, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway,  Annapolis, MD  21401. The Human Resources unit is not responsible for applications sent to any other address.