State Veterinarian

Introduction

Are you an experienced, licensed veterinarian, looking for a new challenge?
If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you

The Department of Agriculture () is hiring for a within the .

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Competitive starting salary Industry leading health , including medical and dental coverage Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings Paid time off including 13 paid holidays per calendar year A culture that encourages  Professional growth and development opportunities On-site low-cost fitness center, on-site cafeteria and Electric Vehicle (EV) charging Ample free parking with easy access from major highways or by public transportation Tuition reimbursement The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer. You may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click for more information. Work for a Forbes top company: - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedules

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

Monday - Friday. Full Time, 40 hours per week. First Shift. Location: Hartford. Hybrid telework schedules available (combination of in office and remote work).

THE ROLE

The State Veterinarian directs the overall responsibility of the Animal Health and Livestock Division, performing administrative, supervisory, financial, technical, and professional duties relative to functions of the Department of Agriculture. This individual educates the public on the prevention, control, and eradication of contagious and infectious diseases, and the regulation of livestock programs within the state. In addition, the State Veterinarian will lead and supervise a team of inspectors and other administrative support staff who will be responsible for:

Administrative Duties: Reviewing rabies exemptions, import paperwork, Certificate of Veterinarian Inspections (CVIs), and other documents for animals in the state.

Animal Health Unit Oversight/Administration: Directing the daily operations performing administrative, supervisory, technical, and professional duties.

Animal Health Program Management: Executing the mission of the department regarding the prevention, control, and eradication of contagious and infectious diseases, and the regulation of livestock programs within the state.

Field Operations: Performing animal health field duties throughout the state.

ABOUT US

The mission of the Department of Agriculture is to foster a healthy economic, environmental and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting, and regulating agricultural businesses; protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources; enforcing laws pertaining to domestic animals; and promoting an understanding among the state's citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage and its contribution to the state's economy.

The Bureau of Regulatory Services enforces certain food safety laws and regulations relating to milk safety, produce safety, small poultry establishments, animal feed including pet food/pet treat manufacturing. The Bureau is responsible for regulating the growing of hemp and registering seed, fertilizer, soil amendment and liming materials. In the domestic animal realm, the Bureau enforces laws and regulations pertaining to animal control, animal population control, importation, and animal health issues. The Bureau plays a critical role in the prevention and control of rabies and other zoonotic diseases in domestic animals. The Bureau also leads the Department’s emergency planning and response activities relative to animal and poultry diseases and natural disasters.

Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of Connecticut employee

Selection Plan

TO APPLY

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.  For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other. Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with , the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system. Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift. All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to .

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING

Please or our Applicant Tips on How to Apply.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AFTER YOU APPLY

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. Read through this helpful link to . The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class. CONNECT WITH US Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Brittney Woodley at .

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Regulation and Inspection this class is accountable for acting as the state's chief livestock health official and epidemiologist for the prevention and control of animal and poultry diseases.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Formulates and recommends animal disease control policies, standards and regulations in conjunction with appropriate federal and state regulations;  Makes decisions on and issues official statewide orders to prevent and control animal disease outbreaks including rabies;  Administers and guides development and management of department's disease control and eradication programs;  Coordinates state and federal agencies and livestock and poultry producers with regard to disease control programs;  Oversees animal import and export regulations and disease testing requirements;  Cooperates with livestock and poultry producers and related organizations interested in control and eradication of animal diseases;  Acts as primary contact person with other operating units, state agencies and outside officials regarding policies and procedures related to cruelty to animals;  Supervises quarantine and disposal of diseased and condemned animals and poultry;  Provides technical and medical field support as needed to municipal, state and federal officials; 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of veterinary medicine with particular reference to diagnosis and control of food animal and companion animal diseases; epidemiology of animal and poultry diseases; Knowledge of food safety and public health with respect to prevention of animal and poultry diseases; recent developments in veterinary medicine; Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of experience in large animal veterinary practice.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience with principles and practices of veterinary medicine, including diagnosis and control of food animal and companion animal diseases. Experience in overseeing animal disease control and eradication programs. Experience with developments in veterinary medicine. Experience collaborating with stakeholders on updating policies and procedures. Experience with supervising and training personnel. Experience with public communication.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Connecticut. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain federal accreditation through the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHIS) within the first six (6) months of employment. Incumbents in this class will be required to obtain federal certification through USDA, APHIS to conduct cervical and comparative cervical tuberculosis tests. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to disease carrying substances and to the risk of injury from animals.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

Overview

Employee Benefits As a State of Connecticut employee you may be entitled to a host of benefits that are not only attractive, but also may be portable should your career bring you to other avenues of state service. From 13 paid holidays to accruing vacation time, being a State of Connecticut employee not only gives you the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, but the time to enjoy your own. Listed below are just some of the benefits the State of Connecticut offers depending on the position you hold: Health & Dental Insurance Accrued Vacation, Personal and Sick Leave (Subject to the appropriate bargaining union contract or state statute and regulations.) Retirement Plan Group Life Insurance Supplemental Benefits Voluntary Defined Contribution Plans Flexible Spending Accounts (Dependent Care Program, Medical Flexible Spending, and Qualified Transportation) Supplemental Benefits Programs (Auto and Home Insurance, plus Short and Long Term Disability) Life Insurance State of CT Tuition Reimbursement Program Holidays

---