Are you looking to make a difference with your passion for health and animals?   We invite you to discover this opportunity to join our team!  

Our Mission:

The mission of the State of Connecticut, Department of Agriculture (DoAg) is to foster a healthy economic, environmental and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting and regulating agricultural businesses; protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources; enforcing laws pertaining to domestic animals; and promoting an understanding among the state's citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage and its contribution to the state's economy. 

Position Highlights:

The Department of Agriculture is seeking a full-time State Veterinarian, as authorized by Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) Sec. 22-26f (“State Veterinarian”), who will act as the state's chief livestock health official, and epidemiologist for the prevention and control of animal and poultry diseases.  

The position is within the Department’s Bureau of Regulatory Services and located at the Department’s main office in Hartford, CT, but the incumbent will have statewide oversight. The incumbent will be under the general guidance of and report directly to the Director of the Bureau of Regulatory Services. 

Work/Life Balance & Employee Value Proposition (EVP): The position is full-time, 40-hours per week. 

The schedule of days and hours may require work on some weekends and holidays, depending on regulatory and inspection needs. The position  requires travel throughout the state to carry out the assigned duties. The position will require travel around the state for inspection purposes. Travel outside of the state may be required for program conferences and training.

What's in It For You - Leading Comprehensive Benefits - Competitive salary structure, excellent health & dental coverage, generous vacation, personal, and sick time, retirement plan options & more!

In order to be considered for this job opening you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. 

Please ensure that your application is complete, you will not be able to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system. 

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error. You must reply by the deadline indicated on the notification or you will be automatically disqualified from consideration

NOTE: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to answer additional questions and/or submit additional documentation, which supports their qualifications for this position. These documents may include cover letters, college transcripts, verification of degree completion, proof of licensure, performance appraisals, employment/supervisor references, etc.

Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies. 

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 

Should you have questions regarding this recruitment please contact Nasreen.Mustafa@ct.gov.

In the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Regulation and Inspection, this class is accountable for acting as the state's chief livestock health official and epidemiologist for the prevention and control of animal and poultry diseases.

The overall duties and responsibilities of the State Veterinarian involve compliance with state and federal laws and regulations relative to the prevention and control of animal and poultry diseases and to reduce the risk to public health from such diseases that may be transmissible directly or from animal derived products.  Specific duties include but are not limited to the following:  

• Act as the official state animal health official and state epidemiologist for contagious and infectious animal and poultry diseases. 
• Issue a list of reportable animal and avian diseases and reportable laboratory findings and amend such list as the State Veterinarian deems necessary. 
• Coordinate state and federal governmental agencies and livestock and poultry producers to prevent and control diseases. 
• Administer and guide the development and management of disease control and eradication programs performed by the Department.  Issue orders to prevent the spread of contagious and infectious diseases among animals and poultry and may protect the public from such diseases as may be transmissible either directly or through the products of such animals.
• Provides technical support and training to other units within the Department included but not limited to disease testing procedures, laboratory sample submissions and animal neglect and cruelty investigations. 
• Serve as the Commissioner’s designee to review for approval dog and cat rabies vaccination exemption applications submitted by veterinarians that meet the requirements prescribed in C.G.S. Sec. 22-339b. 
• Act as liaison with other units in the department, other state and federal agencies and other officials regarding policies and procedures concerning disease surveillance and control; the protection of public health; and animal care and welfare. 
• Supervise the quarantine and disposal of animals and poultry condemned because of disease. 
• Oversee compliance with state and federal animal import and export regulations including disease testing requirements. 
• Advise the Department’s Commissioner of disease threats to domestic animals and the general status of the State’s animal health. 
• Supervise and participate in the preparation and maintenance of a variety of standard records and reports related to assigned program (such as developing and administering animal health programs and policies, including participation in the law and rule making process, as needed). 
• Perform day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining files and processing paperwork and  responding to telephone and email inquiries from veterinarians and the public.
• Provide public outreach in areas such as animal care and animal and poultry diseases, especially zoonotic diseases with a public health significance, and other Department programs to industry stakeholders, youth groups and the public. 

For more information on this job classification, please click here.

Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of veterinary medicine with particular reference to diagnosis and control of food animal and companion animal diseases; considerable knowledge of epidemiology of animal and poultry diseases; knowledge of food safety and public health with respect to prevention of animal and poultry diseases; knowledge of recent developments in veterinary medicine; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills.

Three (3) years of experience in large animal veterinary practice.

• Knowledge of principles and practices of veterinary medicine with particular reference to surveillance, diagnosis, prevention and control of food animal, equine and companion animal diseases;  
• Knowledge of the epidemiology of high impact and reportable animal and poultry diseases;  
• Knowledge of food safety and public health with respect to animal-derived foods;  
• Knowledge of the One Health approach to achieve optimal health outcomes;  
• Experience communicating with diverse populations about animal care, livestock and poultry disease prevention/control programs and zoonotic diseases;   

1. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Connecticut.
2. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain federal accreditation through the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service within the first six (6) months of employment.
3. Incumbents in this class will be required to obtain federal certification through USDA, APHIS to conduct cervical and comparative cervical tuberculosis tests.
4. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to disease carrying substances and to the risk of injury from animals.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.