Research Veterinarian - Higher Ed. jobs in Santa Rosa, CA

SIGN ON BONUS

This position may qualify for a Sign-On incentive. The appropriate Department Head with the County of Lake can request a Sign-On Incentive payment of 10% of the annual rate of pay to a newly appointed employee not to exceed $10,000.00, if the position meets qualifications. The hiring incentive will be made in two (2) payments (the total amount to be split in half). The first payment will be made to an employee within the next available pay period following the initial, first time hire of the employee with the County of Lake. The second payment will be made upon successful completion of employment probation.

Employee must remain employed with the County for two (2) years or repay the hiring incentive; the employee shall authorize such repayment as a payroll deduction from the final paycheck, and/or repay any shortage not covered in the final paycheck with a personal check payable to the County of Lake within 15 days of termination. 

Licensing and Certification: 

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California driver's license.

Valid California Veterinary License.

Possession of a valid Controlled Substance Registration Certificate as issued by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Education and Experience:

Graduation with a Doctorate in veterinary medicine.

Additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted.

VETERINARIAN

Under general direction, to provide medical services dealing with the prevention, treatment, and control of diseases and injuries in animals; to inspect, investigate, diagnose, prevent, control, and eradicate contagious and infectious diseases of animals; to perform spay neuter services on adoptions, qualified low income applicants, and community cats; to enforce applicable laws and regulations; and to do related work as required.

This is a single-position, management classification which has responsibility for the health and well-being of shelter animals cared for at County facilities, all spay/neuter clinic programs, and medical oversight of the County animal foster care program, including supervision of technical and/or support staff. Incumbents must exercise a knowledge of current, advanced, or specialized veterinary medical arts and science principles and practices of the profession and have the ability to apply that knowledge in Animal Control programs. 

This is a discrete classification.  The incumbent in this management position serves at the pleasure of his/her appointing authority, which means the employment relationship is at-will, and that the County of Lake or the employee may terminate the relationship at any time, with or without cause.

Receives administrative direction from the Animal Care and Control Director.  Exercises direct supervision to Registered Veterinary Technician and other staff, as assigned.

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the scope of duties performed by employees in this class and are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

• Investigates, prevents, controls, and eradicates infectious diseases of animals including those transmissible to man.
• Investigates rabies suspects and animal bites of people.
• Imposes quarantines on biting domestic animals.
• Collects samples for rabies testing.
• Issues quarantines and hold orders in disease outbreaks and supervises the enforcement of these orders.
• Collects data and laboratory samples, such as blood, tissue, parasites, when indicated for disease investigations and forwards to appropriate diagnostic laboratory.
• Consults with department, private, and other public veterinarians and animal owners on disease problems.
• Prepares required records and reports.
• Consults with the Animal Control Director in developing, implementing, and evaluating County veterinary programs.
• Operates a spay/neuter clinic to help reduce and control the animal population of the County.
• Examines, diagnoses, and gives emergency treatment to animals within the animal care shelter.
• Supervises personnel assigned to the clinic and the care shelter staff regarding the care of sick animals.
• Advises the public and department employees on matters within the field of veterinary medicine.
• Conducts vaccination clinics, provides medical consultations and services during special events.
• Directs the purchase of and maintains in-house shelter medical supplies and medical equipment.

Knowledge of:

• County and state ordinances and laws relating to the licensing, quarantine, impounding, care, and treatment of animals.
• Care and feeding of various breeds of dogs, cats, and other domestic animals.
• Animal behavior, common diseases, sanitation practices, animal anatomy, first aid, animal capture and handling techniques.
• California Animal Laws Handbook.
• California Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.
• Public personnel management.
• Principles, techniques, and practices of effective program administration.
• Principles of supervision, training, work coordination, planning, and work evaluation.

Ability to:

• Participate in process management and evaluation of results.
• Examine and test livestock/animals for diseases communicable to humans.
• Perform postmortem examinations of animals that died of unknown causes and make diagnoses based on pathological findings.
• Examine animals in bite cases and establish and maintain quarantines when necessary.
• Work with field officers in conducting investigations.
• Consult with other public agencies and public and private groups to prevent and control the outbreak of animal related diseases.
• Enhance adoption programs.
• Maintain charts/records and prepare correspondence and reports.
• Analyze, interpret, explain, and apply a variety of State and County laws, ordinances, policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.
• Effectively represent the Animal Care and Control Department in contacts with the public, community organizations, other County staff, and other government organizations.
• Provide testimony regarding animal control issues in court.
• Exercise good judgment in handling potentially hostile individuals and situations.
• Deal tactfully and courteously with the public when providing information and carrying out veterinarian activities.
• Regularly work well under pressure, meeting multiple and sometimes conflicting deadlines.
• Constantly demonstrate cooperative behavior with colleagues, supervisors, and customers/clients.

Licensing and Certification: 

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California driver's license.

Valid California Veterinary License.

Possession of a valid Controlled Substance Registration Certificate as issued by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Education and Experience:

Graduation with a Doctorate in veterinary medicine.

Additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted.

The County of Lake is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with its obligations under the law to provide equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities.   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. 

Incumbents generally work partially in an office environment with moderate noise levels and controlled temperature conditions and partially in the field.  As such, incumbents may have occasional exposure to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, and direct exposure to hazardous physical conditions. 

Incumbents may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.  Incumbents may also be subject to clients or members of the public afflicted with behavioral disorders or who are under emotionally stressful conditions.  

Positions in this class typically require: sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.  

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.  Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.  Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.  If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Positions in this class may require local and statewide travel as necessary.

A successful candidate will be required to submit to and pass a background check prior to the appointment.  Depending upon the position and/or assigned department, the background check may include but is not limited to civil and criminal history check, reference check, Live Scan, and/or credit check (as allowed under state law).

Disaster Service Workers: As members of the County of Lake Emergency Services Organization, all Lake County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to perform certain emergency services at the direction of the department and / or County.

The contents of this class specification shall not be construed to constitute any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee, nor shall it constitute a contract of employment.   The County of Lake assumes no responsibility beyond the general accuracy of the document, nor does it assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained herein.  The contents of this specification may be modified or revoked without notice.  Terms and conditions of employment are determined through a “meet and confer” process and are subject to the Memorandum of Understanding currently in effect.