Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Agriculture is now seeking an Assistant State Veterinarian within the Bureau of Regulatory Services Division in Hartford, CT.

POSITION DETAILS

• Full-time, 40 hours/week
• Monday-Friday
• Hybrid work opportunity
• Located in Hartford, CT

THE ROLE

• 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.

ABOUT THE AGENCY AND BUREAU

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.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing [email protected].
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the 'Apply' or 'Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates- such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links-please check your Personal Status Board regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select "Update My Contact Information".
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay Connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

QUESTIONS? WE'RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Brittney Woodley at [email protected]. Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Agriculture this class is accountable for performing the most complex responsibilities in livestock and poultry health and epidemiology. The position acts for the State Veterinarian in their absence.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• 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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of experience in large animal veterinary practice.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 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

SPECIAL 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.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and maintain relevant registration(s) and/or certification(s).
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

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

Conclusion