Veterinary Program Specialist II (POULTRY)

State of North Carolina•Wake, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) provides services to promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness, and forests; protect consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources. The Veterinary Division, a part of NCDA&CS, focuses on animal disease programs designed to control, diagnose, and eradicate diseases in livestock and poultry, often in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The division also administers the North Carolina Animal Welfare Act and is comprised of three sections: Animal Health Programs (Poultry, Livestock), Diagnostic Laboratories, and Animal Welfare Programs. This Veterinary Programs Specialist (VPS) II position is assigned to poultry health and holds regional oversight for state and federal poultry disease program facilitation, including the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), Biosecurity Compliance Audit Program (BCAP), and Live Bird Marketing System (LBMS) program. The role also involves ensuring compliance with NCDA&CS Vet Division laws and regulations, which includes investigating complaints and issuing quarantines, as well as managing poultry emergency preparedness and response. VPS IIs are expected to provide expertise for depopulation, disposal, and disease biosecurity assistance during natural disasters or disease outbreaks. Additionally, this position supervises 5-6 geographically dispersed VPS I’s assigned to poultry health within their region, and is responsible for their training and professional growth.

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, as well as implications for National Poultry Improvement Program testing protocols to be followed based upon the company’s desired certifications.
Experience applying on-farm biosecurity principles utilized for the prevention of disease spread in animal agriculture, and a 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 and two years of experience in the farm animal or cat/dog boarding/shelter industry or a supporting industry, university, or regulatory profession; or High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma and six years of experience in the farm animal or cat/dog boarding/shelter industry or a supporting industry, university, or regulatory profession; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Seasonal vaccination against influenza is considered a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) for this position.

Responsibilities

Provide regional oversight of state and federal poultry disease program facilitation, primarily the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and the Biosecurity Compliance Audit Program (BCAP) but also including the Live Bird Marketing System (LBMS) program.
Provide regional oversight of compliance with laws and regulations under the jurisdiction of NCDA&CS Vet Division including, investigation and documentation of complaints and issuance of quarantines.
Provide regional oversight of poultry emergency preparedness, response, and management.
Ensure that, within their region, expertise is available to be called upon for depopulation, disposal, and/or disease biosecurity assistance in the event of natural disaster impacting animal agriculture or disease outbreak response.
Serve as supervisor of 5-6 VPS I’s assigned to poultry health that are spread geographically throughout their region of authority.
Be responsible for the training and professional growth of the supervised VPS I’s.