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Veterinarian (Various Classes) Series

Veterinarian (Various Classes) Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established February 1, 2011

Scope

This series specification describes four classes that perform professional veterinarian work for the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the Department of Fish and Game. Incumbents work in the prevention, control, and eradication of livestock, poultry, and wildlife diseases.

 

Veterinarian (Various Classes) Series Specification - Class Titles and Codes
Schem Code Class Code Class
AT58 0177 Veterinarian (General)
AV57 0176 Veterinarian Specialist (General)
AV18 0181 Veterinarian (Meat Inspection)
AV17 0180 Veterinarian Specialist (Meat Inspection)

Definition of Series

Positions in the Veterinarian (General) classifications perform pathologic and epidemiologic investigations of zoonotic diseases, epizootic diseases, disease outbreaks, and animal die offs potentially associated with environmental contamination, feed contamination, regulated livestock and poultry diseases, and/or introduction of new or emerging disease that may cause significant losses of wildlife, domestic livestock, and/or domestic poultry, or cause human health threats or severe trade restrictions; research, recommend, implement, and/or maintain measures to prevent spread of zoonotic, epizootic, and/or emerging diseases; plan effective methods of prevention and eradication of such diseases; respond during emergency disease control efforts to any location in California and implement disease control measures; conduct necropsies on wildlife and/or domestic livestock and poultry specimens; conduct physical examination and treatment of live wildlife and/or domestic livestock and poultry; and comply with employee safety policies of the hiring agency up to and including medical evaluations. Incumbents may also conduct research on the effects of petroleum and/or other pollutants and toxicants on wildlife and/or domestic livestock and poultry health; perform surgery; perform laboratory analyses on biological specimens taken from sick, injured, captured, or dead animals; conduct research on pertinent wildlife and/or domestic livestock and poultry health problems; provide veterinary medical support during wildlife capture, testing, drug dispensing, and training and during any large-scale disaster as directed by the Governor; serve as a technical or subject-matter expert; consult with other agencies and institutions involved in related research; write reports and technical publications; and review legislation, regulations and policy, and provide recommendations.

 

Positions in the Veterinarian (Meat Inspection) classifications perform the professional responsibilities which assure the exclusion of unwholesome meat and poultry and meat and poultry food products from human food channels. Incumbents make antemortem and postmortem inspections of animals; inspect slaughtering and processing establishment facilities and establishment processes and equipment; reject equipment and condemn meat, poultry, and related food products to assure compliance with State laws; train and evaluate licensed Livestock Meat Inspectors and Poultry Meat Inspectors; write reports; research emerging food safety issues; and trace and recall regulated products unfit for consumption.

Definition of Levels

Veterinarian (General)

Under close to general supervision, incumbents at the entry, training, and first working level conduct routine veterinary tests making veterinary inspections. Incumbents perform progressively more difficult and responsible assignments with a minimum of supervision as experience and competence are gained; however, they are not regularly assigned the full range of journey level work, including the more difficult assignments. Incumbents work independently, follow general work instructions and standardized practices, and learn the regulations, laws, philosophy, field procedures, medical management of wildlife and domestic livestock and poultry, surgical or necropsy procedures, epidemiology, diagnosis and disease control, and eradication procedures.

 

Under general direction, incumbents at the full and advanced journey level exercise a high degree of initiative and independent judgment. Incumbents plan, organize, and coordinate professional veterinary work in the identification, prevention, treatment, control, and eradication of diseases and environmental toxicology problems in wildlife and/or domestic livestock and poultry populations statewide or within a specific geographic area.

 

Incumbents may act in a lead capacity and provide technical guidance and train lower level professional and sub-professional staff. Incumbents provide technical assistance to regional and division staff and to local veterinarians, and coordinate the activities of contract veterinarians through field visits; evaluate the effectiveness of programs; determine applicability of established procedures for disease prevention, control, and eradication; develop and recommend new practices and procedures; and prepare reports and perform as principal investigator on specific wildlife and/or domestic livestock or poultry investigation projects requiring medical expertise.

Veterinarian Specialist (General)

This is the staff specialist and expert level in the series. Under general guidance, incumbents plan, organize, and may lead a complex statewide disease veterinary program; lead field investigations; consult with and advise entry level through managing veterinarians related to area of subject-matter expertise; conduct and/or oversee research by contractors into the causes of health problems of wildlife and/or domestic livestock and poultry; study unusual or exotic diseases; develop new or improved measures to control or eradicate diseases; prepare scientific articles and other training and outreach material for publication; consult with other agencies and institutions involved in related research; write reports and technical publications; testify as experts; review legislation, regulations, and policy and make recommendations; and represent the Department in contacts with other government agencies, and/or with professional and business organizations.

Veterinarian (Meat Inspection)

Under close to general supervision, incumbents at the entry, training, and first working level learn and apply the principles, techniques, and methods of meat and poultry inspection. As trainees gain experience and competence, incumbents are expected to perform progressively more difficult work with a minimum of supervision; however, they are not regularly assigned the full range of journey level work, including the more difficult assignments.

 

Incumbents inspect slaughtering and processing establishments and livestock and poultry processed for food to ensure compliance with State and Federal laws. Incumbents perform antemortem and postmortem livestock and poultry slaughter inspections for compliance with State and Federal laws; provide technical assistance to Meat Food Inspectors in meat and poultry processing establishments; and monitor the activities of Livestock Meat Inspectors and Poultry Meat Inspectors in licensed plants.

 

Under general direction, at the full and advanced journey level, incumbents perform the full range of duties authorized by the meat inspection provisions of State and Federal laws in an assigned geographic area, or assist in conducting special technical studies and projects in connection with the administration of specific statewide programs. Incumbents train and evaluate the performance of Livestock Meat Inspector and Poultry Meat inspector applicants or licensed inspectors and conduct compliance investigations regarding purported violations of the Food and Agricultural Code. Incumbents may act in a lead capacity and provide technical guidance and training to lower-level professional staff.

Veterinarian Specialist (Meat Inspection)

This is the staff specialist and expert level in the series. Under general direction, incumbents plan, coordinate, and administer special technical studies and projects in connection with the administration of specific statewide programs relating to meat and poultry inspection activities. Incumbents research emerging statewide issues and develop food safety policy to mitigate potential human health risks; support product recalls and act in a lead capacity during a food contamination emergency; and review legislation, regulations and policy, and make recommendations.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Level, variety, and complexity of work assignments; independence of action; degree of supervision received; degree of interagency and public contact; geographic area of responsibility; administrative responsibilities; consequence of error; and degree of responsibility for policy formulation and implementation.

Minimum Qualifications

Veterinarian (General)

Veterinarian Specialist (General)

Possession of a valid license issued by the Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine for the State of California to practice as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. [Applicants who do not possess a valid California license but who are eligible to take the next scheduled State Board Examination (California Practical), or the next scheduled Reciprocity Exam as determined by the Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine for the State of California may be appointed, but must secure the required license within 12 months of the date of appointment.]

and

 Education: Graduation with a Doctorate Degree in Veterinary Medicine from an institution of recognized standing.

Veterinarian (Meat Inspection)

Veterinarian Specialist (Meat Inspection)

Graduation with a Doctorate Degree in Veterinary Medicine from an institution of recognized standing. [Registration in such an institution in the academic year in which the degree will be granted will admit applicants to the examination, but evidence of possession of the degree must be produced before they can be considered eligible for appointment.]

Veterinarian Specialist (General)

Either I

Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a class equivalent in level and responsibility not less than that of a Veterinarian (General), Range D.

Or II

Experience: Four years of experience in veterinary medicine involving animal disease and/or environmental toxicology identification, prevention control, and eradication. Three years of which shall have been in field work in livestock or poultry disease regulatory work or wildlife veterinary medicine. Experience in the California state service applied toward this requirement must include one year performing professional veterinary duties of a class with a level of responsibility not less than a Veterinarian (General), Range D. (Possession of an additional advanced degree or Board certification in a related field beyond a Doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine may be substituted for one year of the required experience.)

Veterinarian Specialist (Meat Inspection)

Either I

Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a class equivalent in level and responsibility not less than that of a Veterinarian (Meat Inspection), Range D.

Or II

Experience: Four years of experience in veterinary medicine involving animal disease prevention, control, and eradication. Three years of which shall have been in meat inspection work. Experience in the California state service applied toward this requirement must include one year performing professional veterinary duties of a class with a level of responsibility not less than a Veterinarian (Meat Inspection), Range D. (Possession of an additional advanced degree or Board certification in a related field beyond a Doctorate Degree in Veterinary Medicine may be substituted for one year of the required experience.)

Additional Desirable Qualifications

In addition to possessing the above requirements, preference may be given to veterinarians who possess the following department-specific requirements prior to appointment into a position with that department:

 

Department of Food and Agriculture: Possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles; a post D.V.M. Master's Degree in Preventative Veterinary Medicine, Public Health, Board Certification in a specialty area of veterinary medicine, or a Ph.D. in a related field.

 

Department of Fish and Game: Possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles; a Master's Degree in Wildlife Management, a post D.V.M. Master's Degree or Board Certification in a specialty area of veterinary medicine or a Ph.D. in a related field.

Department Specific Knowledge

Department of Fish and Game: Knowledge of Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Wildlife Interpretation, and Wildlife Management.

Special Medical Requirement

Veterinarian (Meat Inspection)

Veterinarian Specialist (Meat Inspection)

Color Vision adequate to successfully perform the job as measured by the Ishihara Pseudo-Chromatic Plate Test, or for persons failing the Ishihara, the Farnsworth D-15 Arrangement Test.

Special Personal Characteristics

All Levels:

Willingness to travel and work under difficulties involved in preventing and combating epizootics of wildlife, livestock, and poultry diseases.

General and Technical Competencies

Includes both General (knowledge, skills, abilities, and on-the-job behaviors that can be applied across different jobs and organizations) and Technical Competencies (knowledge and technical skills specific to each job that are usually developed through education or professional training) that are required for all classifications within the series specification.

General Competencies

The following general competencies apply to ALL Veterinarian classifications:

 

The following general competencies are in the State of California Scientist Rank and File General Competency Model. This Model also provides examples of the successful behaviors associated with each defined competency. These competencies are the basis for a number of personnel management practices including, but not limited to, the development of selection methods, training, individual development plans, and performance management.

 

Maintaining Scientific Expertise  - Applies technical expertise to tasks and professional development

 

Applying Science for California's Benefit and Protection - Analytical thinking, decision making, diagnostic information gathering, forward thinking, and planning and organizing

 

Displaying Personal and Professional Credibility - Ethics and integrity, initiative, personal credibility, stress management, and thoroughness

 

Conveying Scientific Information - Oral communication and written communication

 

Building Collaborative Working Relationships - Flexibility, interpersonal skills, and teamwork

Technical Competencies

Following are the technical competencies that apply to each classification within the Veterinarian series specification.

All Levels:

Knowledge of: Animal science; bacteriology; biochemistry; biology including basic concepts of microbiology and virology; current issues and literature of subject-matter area; epidemiology; laws, rules, and regulations as related to veterinary programs; parasitology; pathology; pharmacology; physiology; public health; toxicology; veterinary emergency response; and veterinary medicine.

Veterinarian (General)

Knowledge of: In addition to what all levels require, data collection, coding, and processing; immunology and serology; and research methodology, interpretation, and reporting.

Veterinarian Specialist (General)

Knowledge of: In addition to what all levels require, chemistry including basic concepts of analytical chemistry; conservation biology; data collection, coding, and processing; ecology; financial management and program budget administration; hazardous substances; immunology and serology; project management; research methodology, interpretation and reporting; and technical scientific documentation.

Veterinarian (Meat Inspection)

Knowledge of: In addition to what all levels require, food production; food science; integrated pest management (IPM); and workplace safety principles and practices.

Veterinarian Specialist (Meat Inspection)

Knowledge of: In addition to what all levels require, chemistry including basic concepts of analytical chemistry; conservation biology; ecology; food production; financial management and program budget administration; food production; food science; hazardous substances; immunology and serology; integrated pest management (IPM); project management; technical scientific documentation; and workplace safety principles and practices.

Class History

Veterinarian (Various Classes) Series History - Dates Established, Revised, and Title Changed
Class Date Established Date Revised Title Changed
Veterinarian (General) 02/01/2011 -- --
Veterinarian Specialist (General) 02/01/2011 -- --
Veterinarian (Meat Inspection) 02/01/2011 -- --
Veterinarian Specialist (Meat Inspection) 02/01/2011 -- --
  Updated: 7/5/2013
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