Veterinarian - Emergency Programs Director

Veterinarian - Emergency Programs Director

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About the Board of Animal Health: Creating a healthy, disease-free environment for Indiana's 31 million animals is no small feat. BOAH's team of veterinarians and animal health inspectors travel to all corners of the state to investigate possible outbreaks of disease and advise animal owners about disease prevention.

Role Overview

The Director of Veterinary Emergency Programs leads BOAH's strategic and operational efforts in planning, preparedness, prevention, response, recovery, and resiliency for events impacting animals, animal diseases, food products derived from animals, and animal-related natural disasters. This role coordinates BOAH's participation in Secure Food Supply (SFS) plans, manages agency-wide training for emergency animal health operations, and holds primary responsibility for BOAH's Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead BOAH's enterprise strategy for animal health emergency management, covering prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, and resilience.
• Develop and maintain multi-year program roadmaps and performance indicators aligned with BOAH's mission.
• Chair or co-chair cross-functional working groups to integrate emergency readiness activities.
• Design and maintain hazard-specific emergency plans.
• Establish biosecurity standards and guidance for agencies and industry partners.
• Conduct risk assessments and capability analyses.
• Serve as BOAH Incident Commander or Technical and Subject Matter Lead during animal health emergencies.
• Coordinate field operations, staffing surge, movement control, epidemiologic investigations, and recovery.
• Lead after-action reviews and improvement planning.
• Coordinate Indiana's Secure Food Supply plans across livestock and poultry sectors.
• Engage stakeholders including producers, processors, transporters, and federal partners.
• Develop job aids, communications, and decision-support materials.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive training for emergency animal health operations.
• Plan and execute exercises such as workshops, tabletops, drills, and functional exercises.
• Maintain readiness records and deployable personnel qualifications.
• Lead BOAH Continuity of Operations planning, updates, and validation.
• Identify essential functions, alternate facilities, reconstitution procedures, and risk mitigation.

Required Qualifications

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). License to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Indiana. USDA National Veterinary Accreditation Program accreditation. Salary: The salary for this position traditionally starts at $80,600.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life: Animal Health Oversight

Ensure that private veterinarians are properly testing, inspecting, and vaccinating animals. Perform a variety of inspections and tests on animals to ensure that the livestock meet state and federal animal health standards. Order the rejection of sale of diseased animals or animal products. Assist other veterinarians in diagnosing and treating problem cases. Issue quarantines for animals and ensure compliance with state livestock quarantine requirements. Collect samples from livestock and prepare specimens for shipment and laboratory testing. Make epidemiological studies to trace diseased animals back to the farm of origin. Provide information on livestock diseases and their control to farmers and other interested organizations to promote cooperation with the state program. Inspect laboratories and markets for conformity with Indiana Board of Animal Health laws and regulations. Create and maintain a variety of records and reports on all phases of veterinarian activities. Work with law enforcement agencies to evaluate the care of animals and provide expert advice and testimony on the condition of animals and circumstances surrounding animals. Work with animal owners to improve the care of animals to conform to minimum legal standards. Travel from home office on most workdays to inspect, audit, examine, survey, or investigate clients, customers, or other regulated entities and document activities and findings. Report to the agency's office for occasional meetings or events. Adjust number and timing of work hours daily or weekly to accommodate operational needs, minimize expenditures for repeated visits, and allocate resources effectively.

What You'll Need for Success

Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following: Broad knowledge of the principles and practices of veterinary medicine and the ability to identify animal diseases and symptoms. Specialized knowledge of animal pathology and ability to perform procedures on animals in the diagnosis of livestock diseases. Ability to prepare clear and concise technical reports. Extensive knowledge of pertinent federal and state laws and regulations and the principles and practices governing the control and eradication of communicable and infectious diseases in livestock. Extensive knowledge of livestock industry practices in the state. Ability to make epidemiological investigations in disease outbreaks. Ability to secure compliance with laws and regulations firmly, tactfully, and impartially. Ability to communicate tactfully and firmly with a variety of different people encountered on the job. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, farmers and livestock operators, federal government representatives, and the general public. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree from an accredited veterinary college. Must be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Indiana, and accredited by the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports

This role may be utilized in a supervisory capacity based on agency needs.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes: Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to: 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years Education Reimbursement Program Group life insurance Referral Bonus program Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Free Parking for most positions Free LinkedIn Learning access Equal Employment Opportunity: The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role.