This position is located in the USDA, ARS, Plains Area, Office of the Center Director, in Clay Center, NE. In this position, you will serve as the Center Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) and the Herd Health Veterinarian responsible for supervising and overseeing individual animal and flock health programs to plan, develop, and execute the vital veterinary medical aspects for the herd and flock (cattle, sheep, and swine) through preventive medical and treatment programs.

Duties

Serves as a clinician providing daily clinical veterinary care for agricultural (livestock) and small laboratory animal species. Provides supervision to animal husbandry staff and develops protocols that ensure animal care and facility management services are carried out in safe manner. Provides expertise in experimental surgical techniques including pre- and postsurgical care, postmortem evaluations, sentinel program management, prophylactic and disease management and drug management. Applies standard veterinary practices and guidelines from the Guide and Ag Guide for clinical treatment and management that maintain the humane care and handling of animals. Oversees the training of scientists, technicians, animal caretakers, and other personnel, such as international visitors, involved in care, treatment, and use of animals. Serves as a technical expert for the location interacting with Agency leadership and experts from other Federal, State, universities and other organizations. Administers the formulation of short- and long-term plans for a research animal program, and develops and manages detailed operating budgets for the veterinary and animal care units.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• Direct Deposit – Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov
• Supervisory Responsibilities (EEO Statement).
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
• Vaccine(s) Required.
• A current, valid Veterinary license from the State of Nebraska that allows the practice of Veterinary Medicine and to obtain and dispense drugs, and to obtain a Federally controlled substance permit through the Drug Enforcement Agency.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Basic Requirements: 1. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA). The AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org(external link), has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools. OR 2. Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (Refer to AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org(external link)for information about schools in this category) must meet one of the following requirements. Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG). Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT). Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g. residency or graduate program). Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also provide proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE; Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing; OR Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing. Additional Requirements In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above and in the education section below, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-14 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-13 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience providing primary veterinarian care to agricultural livestock; leading an animal care program; performing major and minor surgery on herd and flock (cattle, sheep, and swine); providing veterinary training and supervision to staff personnel; analyzing and understanding regulations (The Guide and Ag Guide) and policies governing animal welfare, and keeping abreast of scientific developments for the proper care and maintenance of animals. Physical Demands: Work requires considerable physical activity in cramped or restricted areas, strenuous effort in handling large animals, and cautious movement in animal pens to prevent and protect against physical attack. Work Environment: Analysis of clinical records is conducted in an office setting; however, clinical diagnostic and postmortem examinations may be conducted under field conditions. The work involves exposure to highly contagious, infectious, or communicable diseases and bacterial agents. The work environment is determined by ambient temperature and weather conditions inherent to South-central Nebraska. Management and restraint of food animal production species and equine under field conditions results in an inherent risk to the safety of the incumbent. The work requires special protective clothing and gear such as hard hats, rubber boots, long medical coats, and medical sanitized garments such as gloves, masks, and gowns and also require coordination of personnel, animal, equipment, and facility safety controls. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 2150 Centre Avenue Building D, Suite 300 Fort Collins, CO 80526 US
• Name: Nelly Wilson
• Phone: (703) 259-9360
• Email: [email protected]