USDA Veterinary Medical Officer

USDA APHIS Animal Care; Indiana; On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Animal Welfare Operations is seeking Veterinary Medical Officers to enforce the Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act across designated areas. These federal positions support pre-licensing, inspections, and program improvements while ensuring humane treatment of animals in research and at events.

GS-11/12 level qualifications require a DVM, with options for advanced training or residency. Applicants must meet extensive eligibility and enhance regulatory enforcement efforts nationwide.

Qualifications

• Professional experience identifying, enforcing and documenting compliance with veterinary regulations.
• Liaison with stakeholders, industry and the public.
• Ability to interpret veterinary medicine information in written and oral form for customers.

Responsibilities

• Conduct pre-licensing, routine, follow-up and special investigations inspections.
• Assess animal treatment and facility compliance with the AWA.
• Evaluate qualifications of research facility personnel responsible for animal care.
• Ensure prevention of unnecessary pain or distress in research animals using anesthetics, analgesics, or euthanasia.
• Review facility structures and living conditions and advise officials.

Skills

Regulatory enforcement

Public liaison

Written and oral communication

Investigations

Education

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Master's degree in related field

Residency/Post-graduate training

Job description

Animal Welfare Operations is pleased to announce the opening of the continuous announcement for Veterinary Medical Officer (GS070111/12) positions!

The announcement opens Tuesday, June 30, 2026, and will remain open until Tuesday, June 29, 2027, unless program leadership and HRD determine an earlier closure is necessary.

Veterinary Medical Officers support Animal Care’s Animal Welfare Operations with responsibility for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Horse Protection Act (HPA) within assigned geographic areas.

Key Duties Include

• Conducting pre-licensing, routine, followup, and specialinvestigation inspections.


• Assessing overall animal treatment and facility compliance with the AWA.


• Evaluating qualifications of research facility personnel responsible for animal care.


• Ensuring the prevention of unnecessary pain or distress in research animals through appropriate use of anesthetics, analgesics, tranquilizers, and euthanasia.


• Reviewing facility structures and living conditions, and advising officials on their responsibilities.


• Enforcing the HPA at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions using standardized procedures.


• Evaluating Animal Care and Horse Protection programs and recommending veterinary medical or programmatic improvements.


• Representing the Agency at meetings with industry partners and public or private organizations to promote AWA and HPA programs.

Additional vacancies may occur through the duration of the vacancy. If you are interested in working at a location within the states listed in the vacancy announcement, please apply under location negotiable and select the state you are interested in. Some mobile positions may travel 75% of the time and across state lines. Vacant positions may be added or deleted based on business needs.

Please see the list of vacant positions at the following link: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/careers/now-hiring-veterinary-medical-officers

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.


• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.


• Selectee will be subject to a pre-employment medical statement and/or exam.


• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.


• In accordance with Office of Government Ethics regulations concerning conflict of interest, the incumbent may be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of their effective date of appointment and annually thereafter.


• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.


• The selectee may be required to pass/maintain a medical clearance and use personal protective equipment (PPE).


• Official Government Passport may be required for some positions.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement outlined in the Education section below.

FOR THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants who meet the basic requirements as outlined in the \"Education\" section qualify for this grade level.

FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: In addition to the Basic Requirements, applicants must have one year of professional veterinary medical experienced obtained after receipt of a Doctor of Veterinary Medical degree.

Specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Identifying, enforcing and documenting compliance with relevant veterinary regulations and laws within prescribed guidelines.


• Serving in a professional Veterinary Science position and maintaining liaison with stakeholders, industry and the general public.


• Professional Interpretation of Veterinary Medicine information into written and oral presentations to customers to promote animal health and/or animal welfare.


• OR

Successful completion of a Master's degree in an area of specialization including, but not limited to: animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or other sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position.

OR

RESIDENCY/POST GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE GS-12 GRADE LEVEL: Successful completion of two years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position. Applicants should provide a certificate or letter documenting the completion of this program.

TRANSCRIPTS are required. This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college or university.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.