Assistant State Veterinarian

State of Connecticut•Hartford, CT

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Agriculture is now seeking an Assistant State Veterinarian within the Bureau of Regulatory Services Division in Hartford, CT. This is a full-time, 40 hours/week position with a Monday-Friday schedule and a hybrid work opportunity, located in Hartford, CT. The role involves conducting statewide livestock and poultry disease surveillance and investigations, including sampling, diagnostic assessments, laboratory results, and epidemiological follow-up. The Assistant State Veterinarian will support and enforce disease control programs for various regulated diseases such as TB, Brucellosis, Avian Influenza, Salmonella Pullorum, and rabies. Responsibilities include reviewing and approving rabies exemption requests, import documentation, Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs), and other interstate movement documents. The position provides field-based veterinary expertise to various stakeholders including dairy, poultry, livestock, and backyard flock owners, as well as fairs and agricultural events. The role may involve issuing or supporting the issuance of quarantines, movement restrictions, and other official regulatory actions. Additionally, the Assistant State Veterinarian will compile and report surveillance and testing data for USDA cooperative agreements and may act for the State Veterinarian during absences to ensure continuity of regulatory authority, emergency response capacity, and program management. Collaboration with federal, state, and municipal partners during disease investigations, emergency responses, and foreign animal disease preparedness activities is a key aspect of this role. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg), Bureau of Regulation services, is responsible for safeguarding the health of Connecticut’s livestock and poultry populations, supporting agricultural producers, and protecting public health through regulatory oversight, disease surveillance, and enforcement of state and federal animal health laws. The Bureau’s Regulatory Services Division oversees animal and poultry disease control, foreign animal disease preparedness, import/export compliance, livestock welfare standards, and statewide epidemiological investigations. Staff work closely with producers, accredited veterinarians, USDA APHIS, laboratories, municipalities, and agricultural partners to maintain a healthy, resilient, and economically vibrant agricultural sector.

Requirements

Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Connecticut.
Incumbents in this class will be required to obtain federal certification through the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHIS) to conduct cervical and comparative cervical tuberculosis tests.
Incumbents in this class will be required to obtain federal certification through USDA, APHIS as a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician.
Two (2) years of experience in large animal veterinary practice.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with livestock or poultry species in a clinical, regulatory, or field based setting
Experience conducting on farm disease investigations or diagnostic sampling
Experience working with state or federal animal health regulations, including import/export and interstate movement
Experience working with accreditation programs such as USDA APHIS Veterinary Accreditation or NPIP
Experience preparing or reviewing Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs) or similar regulatory documents

Responsibilities

Conduct statewide livestock and poultry disease surveillance and investigations, including sampling, diagnostic assessments, laboratory results and epidemiological follow up.
Support and enforce disease control programs, including TB, Brucellosis, Avian Influenza, Salmonella Pullorum, rabies, and other regulated diseases.
Review and approve rabies exemption requests, import documentation, Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs), and other required interstate movement documents.
Provide field based veterinary expertise to dairy, poultry, livestock, backyard flock owners, fairs/exhibitions, and agricultural events.
Issue or support issuance of quarantines, movement restrictions, and other official regulatory actions.
Compile and report surveillance and testing data in support of multiple USDA cooperative agreements.
Act for the State Veterinarian during absences to ensure continuity of regulatory authority, emergency response capacity, and program management.
Collaborate with federal, state, and municipal partners during disease investigations, emergency responses, and foreign animal disease preparedness activities.
Assists the State Veterinarian in coordinating with federal, state, and municipal partners regarding disease surveillance and response activities.
Supports oversight of livestock and poultry import, movement, and export compliance by reviewing documentation and conducting field verification.
Provides veterinary guidance to producers, accredited veterinarians, fairs/exhibitions, and agricultural partners regarding disease prevention and regulatory requirements.
Delivers veterinary care and consultation regarding the prevention, control, and eradication of contagious and infectious diseases, and the regulation of livestock programs within the state.
Performs Animal Health field duties throughout the state.
Conducts field investigations of animal and poultry diseases, including data collecting, sample testing, and diagnostic assessments.
Reviews rabies exemptions, import paperwork, Certificates of Veterinary Inspection and other documents for animals in the state.
Facilitates disease control and eradication programs, including vaccinations quarantine protocols, and disease surveillance efforts.
Assists the State Veterinarian with compiling and reporting disease testing and surveillance activities for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and reportable diseases.
May perform duties of State Veterinarian in their absence.
Performs related duties as required.