Animal Health Specialist

Animal Health Specialist

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: Animal Health Specialist is assigned to the BOAH Animal Health and Stewardship Division and works in the BOAH central office in Indianapolis. This position supports multiple programs.

Salary: The salary for this position traditionally starts at $42,900.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience.

A Day in the Life: The essential functions of this role are as follows:

• Access, update, and maintain animal health databases and create reporting documents.
• Communicate, educate, and present program information to a broad range of audiences.
• Evaluate information and action on applications and reports as required by animal health statute and rules.

Field Position Additional Functions:

• Conduct animal health investigations and prepare reports for professional review.
• Assist in tissue and other biological sample collection, coordination, and submission.
• Perform animal management tasks under the supervision of a veterinarian or scientist.
• Conduct inspections of approved livestock facilities, disposal plants and other licensed entities.
• Inspect equipment, barns, milk houses and cow lots for general sanitary conditions and physical construction.
• Observe cows for general health status, primarily external cleanliness, and physical abnormalities.
• Inspect milk pick-up procedures and aseptic sampling techniques by bulk milk haulers.
• Observe daily waste storage facilities and disposal methods.
• Perform organoleptic examination of milk, including temperature and sediment tests.
• Inspect individual water supply and residential sewage disposal facilities.
• Collect samples for laboratory evaluation and review laboratory results.
• Prepare and maintain technical reports of inspections, document findings and make recommendations.
• Investigate reported food poisonings and hazardous events to ensure dangerous, contaminated, and substandard products are eliminated from distribution channels.
• Interpret state and federal laws and regulations governing foods utilizing written communications and public information materials.
• Review blueprints and specifications of proposed construction and remodeling projects.

Central Office Additional Functions:

• Address and track issues such as invalid or non-compliant animal health record submissions.
• Collaborate with stakeholders on animal movement issues and traceability.
• Communicate with private veterinary practitioners and conduct training on new animal health reporting technologies.
• Deliver technological solutions to help improve efficiencies of the animal health programs division.
• Process and maintain animal health records such as certificates of veterinary inspection, test charts, import permit requests, and vaccination records.
• Review and issue permits for animal movements into Indiana.
• Issue animal identification to producers and industry partners and provide support for animal traceability exercises.
• Draft, review, and help update animal programs training documents and SOPs.

Essential functions of this position require travel on most workdays to inspect, audit, examine, survey, or investigate clients, customers, or other regulated entities and write reports at those sites or employee's home. Employee reports to the agency's office for occasional meetings or events. Number and timing of work hours may vary daily or weekly to accommodate operational needs and staffing concerns at the client's or customer's worksite, minimize expenditures for repeated visits to complete the work, and allocate resources to complete assigned work effectively.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

What You'll Need for Success: Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following:

• Specialized knowledge normally acquired through a combination of post-secondary education (associates or bachelor's degree or relevant certification) and work experience.
• Thorough knowledge of state and federal laws, rules, and regulations regarding animal health.
• Specialized knowledge of livestock and poultry breeds, management, nutrition, development, behavior, welfare and health.
• Ability to apply biological and chemical security principles.
• Ability to manage and control individual or groups of animals.
• Ability to tactfully gain the cooperation of livestock producers and animal industry partners and other agencies on Board of Animal Health programs.
• Be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office suite such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint as well as Outlook and Adobe Reader.
• Ability to communicate with people and obtain their maximum voluntary cooperation.

A degree is not required. However, at least 2+ years of experience applying the outlined knowledge, skills, and abilities in a similar role may be considered. 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.