Veterinary Program Specialist I (POULTRY)

State of North Carolina•Durham, NC

9d•$41,206 - $47,380•Hybrid

About The Position

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides services that promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness, and forests; protect consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources for the prosperity of all North Carolinians. The Department employs approximately 2,000 employees. All veterinary services fall under the jurisdiction of the Veterinary Division. It has a very specific mission that focuses on providing animal disease programs designed to control, diagnose and eradicate diseases in livestock and poultry. Most of these animal disease control programs are cooperative efforts with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services and animal industry groups. The Veterinary Division also administers the North Carolina Animal Welfare Act. The Veterinary Division is currently comprised of three sections: • Animal Health Programs (AHP) o Poultry o Livestock • Diagnostic Laboratories • Animal Welfare Programs As a Veterinary Programs Specialist (VPS) I assigned to poultry health, this position has three primary responsibilities: 1) Facilitation of state and federal poultry disease programs, primarily the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and the Biosecurity Compliance Audit Program (BCAP), via independent flock scheduling/testing and corporate audits/inspections. 2) Oversight of compliance with laws and regulations under the jurisdiction of NCDA&CS Vet Division including, investigation and documentation of complaints with the authority to draft official warnings and civil penalties for instances of improper disposal. 3) Animal emergency preparedness, response, and management duties. VPS I’s should expect to be called upon for expertise surrounding depopulation, disposal, and/or disease biosecurity in the event of natural disaster impacting animal agriculture or disease outbreak response. In the process of carrying out these responsibilities, this position is expected to build relationships within the poultry industry that can allow them to function as a point of contact during emergency response situations.

Requirements

Ability to speak to the structure of the poultry industry within the United States including different species operation types (e.g. turkeys v. broilers v. layers) and product flow within each.
Experience applying on-farm biosecurity principles utilized for the prevention of disease spread in animal agriculture, and nuanced understanding of frequent biosecurity pitfalls within the poultry industry given its structure.
Working knowledge of common animal disposal methodologies/technologies and of the practical implementation of these within the poultry industry.
Demonstrated skill in conflict resolution
Demonstrated ability to work independently and self-schedule, as programmatic audits and test visits are routinely coordinated and scheduled at the VPS I level.
Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution; or High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma and four years of experience related to the area of assignment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Seasonal vaccination against influenza is considered a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) for this position.

Responsibilities

Facilitation of state and federal poultry disease programs, primarily the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and the Biosecurity Compliance Audit Program (BCAP), via independent flock scheduling/testing and corporate audits/inspections.
Oversight of compliance with laws and regulations under the jurisdiction of NCDA&CS Vet Division including, investigation and documentation of complaints with the authority to draft official warnings and civil penalties for instances of improper disposal.
Animal emergency preparedness, response, and management duties.
Build relationships within the poultry industry that can allow them to function as a point of contact during emergency response situations.