Position Announcement: Assistant State Veterinarian

April 23, 2024 — Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is currently seeking a dedicated individual to fill the role of Assistant State Veterinarian. As an integral part of our team, the Assistant State Veterinarian will play a crucial role in planning, directing, and managing production animal programs within the Division of Animal Health, while providing essential support to the State Veterinarian. This position, based in the Wallace Building in Des Moines, Iowa, will involve both office-based responsibilities and fieldwork, including supervision of district veterinarians. Candidates must possess a valid driver's license for statewide travel and hold a current Iowa veterinary license.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate, supervise, and manage production animal programs within the Division of Animal Health, focusing on cooperative disease eradication initiatives targeting various diseases, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and requirements.
• Provide field supervision for all district veterinarians, overseeing their activities and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Direct the brucellosis and tuberculosis funds and vaccination program in Iowa, including supervision of associated staff.
• Manage and supervise the Iowa Premise Identification Program and Animal Disease Traceability Program, ensuring compliance and efficient operation.
• Oversee importation regulations and procedures, including the issuance of entry permits and compliance with USDA requirements.
• Assist in managing foreign animal disease investigations and act as a trained official Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician.
• Coordinate and oversee the disposition of complaints against livestock facilities, ensuring compliance with animal health regulations and assisting law enforcement in investigations.
• Undertake miscellaneous duties including State Fair participation, public speaking engagements, staff training, contested case hearings participation, and leading field staff meetings.
• Act as a statewide administrative coordinator for the Johnes Program, overseeing district veterinarian activities and grant implementation.

Preferred Candidate Qualifications

• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Experience in veterinary practice and/or public health.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Commitment to upholding the highest standards of animal welfare and public health.

Benefits

At the State of Iowa, we are committed to your well-being. As a valued team member, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Paid leave, including holidays, vacation, sick leave, military leave, and jury duty leave.
• Low out-of-pocket, high-quality family medical insurance.
• Dental insurance for single coverage at no cost, with affordable family coverage options.
• Exceptional retirement package including IPERS (Iowa Public Employee Retirement System) and a state-matched deferred compensation plan.
• Basic life insurance, voluntary supplemental life, and long-term disability insurance.

To learn more about the benefits of working with the State of Iowa, visit our benefits webpage.

Join us at IDALS and contribute to the vital work of protecting Iowa's agriculture and animal health while enjoying a rewarding career.

This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and experience equal to six years of full-time management-level work in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
2. Ten years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
3. All of the following:
   • a. Six years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and
   • b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
4. All of the following:
   • a. Four years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and
   • b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and
   • c. A combination of a total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
5. Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Public Service Manager 1 or comparable specific management-level position.

To Apply

Submit cover letter and resume with the online application available here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/4477648/assistant-state-veterinarian