Assistant State Veterinarian

State of Connecticut - Department of Agriculture; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits overview

Growth opportunities

Work-life balance

Job summary

The State of Connecticut - Department of Agriculture seeks an Assistant State Veterinarian in Hartford, CT. This full-time, hybrid position conducts disease surveillance, reviews regulatory documents, and provides field veterinary expertise to livestock and poultry operations and events.

Applicants must be licensed in CT and have at least two years of large animal veterinary experience, with strong regulatory and collaboration skills for state and federal partners.

Qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience in large animal veterinary practice.
• License to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Connecticut.
• Experience with disease surveillance, control programs, and regulatory documents.

Responsibilities

• Conduct statewide livestock and poultry disease surveillance and investigations.
• Review rabies exemptions, import paperwork, CVIs and movement documents.
• Provide field veterinary expertise to dairy, poultry, livestock and events.
• Issue or support quarantines, movement restrictions, and regulatory actions.
• Coordinate with partners during disease investigations and emergency responses.

Skills

Large animal vet

Epidemiology

Communication skills

Tools

CVIs documentation

Job description

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.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

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.

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

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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.