Executive Veterinary Pathology Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive Branch. Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services, marketing and laboratory services, plant and pest management, and resource conservation. As the number one industry in Maryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continues to expand and grow.

MDA’s Vision: Achieving excellence in programs and services that preserve and protect agricultural resources and the environment, promote profitable agriculture and consumer confidence, and enhance the quality of life for all Marylanders.

MDA’s Mission: Providing leadership and support to agriculture and the citizens of Maryland by conducting regulatory, service, and educational activities that assure consumer confidence, protect the environment, and promote agriculture.

The Animal Health Program prevents and controls infectious and contagious diseases in Maryland livestock and poultry, with particular emphasis on those diseases that threaten public health, endanger food supplies, or threaten the economic security of the animal industries.

Join our team and make a difference in preventing contagious and infectious disease in Maryland livestock.

GRADE: 22

Location of Position: MAICS, Salisbury Animal Health Laboratory, 27722 Nanticoke Road, Salisbury, MD 21801. Employees may be required to work outside usual daytime hours and be available for on‑call assignments. The work can involve periodic emergency duty any time, night or day. Employees are designated as essential personnel under the Maryland State Foreign Animal and Emergency Disease Response Plan. Some weekend and evening duty may be required.

The main purpose of this position is to manage the resources and activities of the Salisbury Animal Health Laboratory necropsy area and provide pathology services (perform necropsies and interpret test reports) for domestic animals, primarily livestock and poultry, to provide accurate and timely diagnostic services and guidance to farmers, private and public animal health professionals. The Necropsy Director plays a key role in fulfilling the Department of Agriculture’s mission to protect and foster the development of agriculture by identifying diseases that could cause economic injury to the State’s vital animal industries or pose a threat to public health. The diagnoses provided by the Director are critical to guiding field veterinarians, the State Veterinarian, and the Secretary of Agriculture in determining the appropriate course of action with regard to quarantine restrictions and the implementation of animal disease emergency response plans. This position also serves as the MDA Animal Health Laboratory liaison to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Veterinary Medicine (UMES). This position is considered an essential employee for continuity of operations purposes.

• Necropsy Director – Salisbury Animal Health Lab (SAHL)
  Provides animal diagnostic services and guidance to the public, private veterinarians, state and federal animal health officials, and the Secretary of Agriculture as appropriate based on findings. Collects history, performs gross necropsy on all species, records pathological lesions, selects and collects appropriate tissues for testing, interprets results, reads microscopic slides, consults with other MDA veterinary pathologists as necessary to confirm diagnosis, and prepares and provides reports to referring veterinarians, field personnel, submitters of animals or specimens to the laboratory, and other animal health officials. Actively directs and oversees professional and technical activities of the large animal necropsy area, assigns cases to appropriate veterinary, scientific, or technical staff, tracks progress of associated work, reviews reports before delivery, and directs administrative and clerical activities including fee determination, budget requests, procurement, staff scheduling and attendance monitoring.
• MDA/UMES Vet School Liaison
  Serves as the MDA Animal Health Laboratory Liaison with the UMES School of Veterinary Medicine. Coordinates with vet school administration and faculty, assists in the development of pathology curriculum and rotations, and serves as mentor for candidates for veterinary pathology board certification, junior veterinary pathologists, veterinary college externs, and pre‑veterinary students.
• Diagnostic Services Program – Salisbury Animal Health Lab
  Determines needs for physical, technological, human and other resources to maintain or improve accuracy, timeliness, affordability, and availability of diagnostic services and makes corresponding requests and recommendations to management.
• Other duties
  Includes court appearances as expert witness, outreach activities to animal‑related interest groups, consultation with peers in other MDA Animal Health Laboratories, performing job functions at other sites across the state as needed and directed by the State Veterinarian.

• Education: A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or Veterinary Medical Doctor’s degree from a college or university accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association or its equivalent.
• Experience: Four years of full‑time postdoctoral experience in Veterinary Medicine, three years of which must have been in a Veterinary diagnostic laboratory specialty area or equivalent.
• Candidates may substitute:
• Possession of a Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Science degree in veterinary pathology, microbiology, or board certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists or Veterinary Microbiologists for three years of the required specialized experience.
• Board certification in American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Equine, Bovine, Food Animal, Dairy, Swine, Avian), American College of Internal Medicine (large animal), American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and American College of Poultry Veterinarians for three years of the required specialized experience.
• Possession of a Master of Science degree in veterinary pathology, microbiology, or animal science, or a Master of Public Health for two years of the required specialized experience.
• Possession of a PhD in Public Health for three years of the required specialized experience.
• U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in veterinary preventive medicine classification or veterinary preventive medicine specialty codes in the veterinary medical science field of work on a year‑for‑year basis for the required education and experience.

• Current Board‑Certified Veterinary Pathologist
• Current Board‑Certification status in a specialty area of veterinary pathology
• Experience interacting with state and federal government agencies regarding regulatory diseases

• Employees may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle and must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license in the State of Maryland.

Not Applicable

State of Maryland Benefits

As an equal‑opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to the country.