OPS VETERINARIAN - 41509016

Florida; Florida; On-site; USD 78,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel expense reimbursement

Job summary

The Florida Gaming Control Commission is seeking a veterinary professional to work at the State Detention Barn in Hallandale Beach, FL, overseeing the health and welfare of racehorses and collecting post-race specimens. You will ensure proper sample handling and regulatory compliance in a high‑stakes racing environment.

This OPS role requires a Florida veterinary license and at least one year of relevant experience, with a flexible schedule including afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Qualifications

• Current Florida license in veterinary medicine in good standing.
• One year of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Serves as Blood Collection Officer for post-race samples from racing animals per guidelines.
• Observes post-race horses for distress, injury, or unsoundness.
• Conducts pre-race inspections and notifies Stewards of unfit horses.
• Oversees collection of samples and maintains chain-of-custody procedures.
• Maintains compliance with safety and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Knowledge of Florida statutes and FGCC

Attention to detail

Ability to work in barn environment

Flexible schedule

Ability to maintain documentation

Education

Florida veterinary license

1 year of relevant experience

Job description

Requisition No: 876719

Position Number: 41509016

Salary: $75.00 hourly

Pay Plan: Seasonal

Posting Closing Date: 11/28/2026

Agency: Florida Gaming Control Commission

Division: Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering

Overview:

The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) is responsible for exercising all regulatory and executive powers of the state with respect to legal gaming, including pari-mutuel wagering, cardrooms, slot machine facilities, oversight of gaming compacts, and other forms of gambling authorized by state law, excluding the Lottery, as well as directly enforcing Florida’s gaming laws and combatting illegal gambling activities.

The agency is overseen by five Commissioners who are appointed by the Governor, with Commissioners appointing an Executive Director who leads a team of nearly 200 staff members. The mission of the Florida Gaming Control Commission is to preserve and protect the integrity of gaming activities through fair regulation, licensing, effective criminal investigation, and enforcement.

The Commission offers a supportive work environment that fosters growth and collaboration.

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

Commission-employed veterinarians work in the State detention barn, located at a licensed racetrack in the State of Florida. These positions are responsible for monitoring the health, safety, and welfare of racehorses subject to specimen collection during racing operations. The duties are as follows:

• Serves as the Blood Collection Officer for the collection of post-race specimen samples, including blood and other requested biological samples, from racing animals, in accordance with the guidelines and protocols established by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) and Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit’s (HIWU) guidelines;
• Observes post-race horses presented to the detention barn for signs of physical distress, medical compromise, injury, or unsoundness;
• As needed, conducts pre-race inspections of potential starters on race days, observing horses for overall health, soundness, injury, or illness, and notify the Stewards of any horse determined to be unfit or unsafe to race;
• As needed, observes and evaluates the overall condition of horses presented for removal from the Veterinarian’s List and oversee the collection of required specimen samples associated with that process;
• andMaintains strict compliance with all chain-of-custody procedures, safety standards, regulatory requirements, and detention barn operating protocols.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of, and ability to consistently interpret and apply, applicable Florida Statutes and all relevant FGCC, HISA, and HIWU rules, policies, procedures, and operating protocols.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate documentation and specimen handling procedures.
• Ability to recognize and appropriately respond to important indicators of animal behavior, including aggressive, fearful, distressed, or abnormal behavior.
• Ability to work effectively in a barn or stable environment, including prolonged walking and standing on uneven surfaces such as dirt, straw, and shavings.
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors and in varying weather conditions, including heat, rain, and humidity.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule based on racing operations, including afternoons, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime on short notice when necessary.
• Ability to adapt to changing operational needs, work effectively under pressure, and manage frequent interruptions, schedule changes, delays, and unexpected situations while maintaining professionalism and procedural compliance.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Current State of Florida license in veterinary medicine in good standing;
• One (1) year of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications, not required:

• Experience working with thoroughbred racehorses, other equine breeds, or other large animals preferred.
• Familiarity with racing regulations, rules of racing, and/or anti-doping organizations preferred.

Where you will work:

This position is located in Hallandale Beach, Florida at the State Detention Barn at Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino.

Employees traveling more than 50 miles from their residence may be eligible for work-related travel expense reimbursement. Work-related travel, when required, will be reimbursed in accordance with State of Florida travel reimbursement policies (s. 112.061, F.S.).

IMPORTANT NOTICES:

• This is an Other Personal Services (OPS) position.
• This position does not accrue leave or paid holidays. OPS employees are required to participate in the Florida FICA Alternative Plan and are automatically enrolled. The Florida FICA Alternative Plan offers OPS employees an excellent opportunity to help accumulate money for a secure retirement.
• The Florida Gaming Control Commission has employment restrictions for all commission employees referenced in sections 16.713 and 16.715, Florida Statutes.
• This position requires a Level 2 background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.
• You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) and date of birth in order to conduct this background screening.

Special Reminders:

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending on the date of your retirement.

We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. Our agency participates in the E-Verify System which is a federal government electronic database available for employers to use to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

The Florida Gaming Control Commission is committed to increasing recruitment and hiring of individuals with disabilities and improving employment outcomes.

The Commission values the service veterans and their family members have given to our country and supports the hiring of returning service members and military spouses. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center. Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.