State Veterinarian

Announcement Number: 1049969851

JOE LOMBARDO STATE OF NEVADA J.J. GOICOECHEA, DVM
Governor Director

Las Vegas Office: Elko Office:
2300 East St. Louis Ave. 4780 East Idaho Street
Las Vegas, NV 89104-4211 Elko, NV 89801-4672
(702) 668-4590 (775) 738-8076
Fax (702) 668-4567 Fax (775) 738-2639

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
405 South 21st Street
Sparks, Nevada 89431-5557
Telephone (775) 353-3601 Fax (775) 353-3661
Website: http://www.agri.nv.gov

UNCLASSIFIED JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
POSTED October 28, 2024
STATE VETERINARIAN, DIVISION OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY
NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Recruitment Open To:
This is an open competitive recruitment, open to all qualified applicants. This position is appointed by and
serves at the pleasure of the director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA).

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION:
The NDA's mission is to preserve, protect and promote Nevada agriculture. Through its five divisions
Administrative Services, Animal Industry, Measurement Standards, Food and Nutrition, and Plant Health and
Compliance and 225 dedicated employees, the NDA supports agriculture and food manufacturing industries
while also ensuring a safe food supply, protecting, and promoting the livestock industry of the state of Nevada,
worker safety through regulatory and administrative practices, and public and environmental health. The NDA
also provides oversight for the United States Department of Agriculture's school and community nutrition food
distribution programs, ensuring food security for all Nevadans.

THE POSITION:
The state veterinarian serves under the direction of the NDA's Division of Animal Industry Administrator.
The State Veterinarian is in the unclassified service of the State and serves at the pleasure of the Director and
works to develop and execute a strategic vision for animal and public health and safety in Nevada. This
position is responsible for the development, evaluation and improvement of programs and operational activities
designed to prevent or eliminate threats to Nevada agriculture from emerging or newly introduced diseases of
domestic or wildlife animals. The Veterinary Medical Services program is responsible for statewide disease
traceability, surveillance, epidemiology, outreach, and enforcement related to livestock and domestic animal
laws. The position provides leadership, direction, and oversight of programs for the control and eradication of
certain infectious, contagious and/or parasitic diseases of livestock. The State Veterinarian also works
collaboratively with county, state, federal and industry partners to provide public health and wildlife education
and advisement and serves as the authority on all potential quarantine matters in Nevada. Duties and
responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Manages a diverse professional staff by directing staff on organizational goals; provides coaching and
development to division employees and evaluates performance of direct reports.
• Directing and supervising the administrative and technical activities of the dairy and animal disease
laboratories and related programs
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• Collaboratively assists in establishing strategic direction for Department programs, including recognizing
future policy requirements, potential legislative change and the impact on the organization and Nevada
animal health
• Establishes, implements, and monitors department goals, objectives, policies, and procedures
• Assists in development of bureau budget, approves expenditures, and oversight and monitoring of animal
health programs' revenue and expenditures
• Monitoring of current state and federal cooperative agreements and grants
• Provides animal health consultation to department personnel, the public, varied interest groups and other state
and federal agencies regarding animal disease and health matters, program requirements, laws and
regulations
• Promote Nevada's emergency response and preparedness capabilities to enhance responses to animal
emergency events through collaboration with livestock industries
• Represents the Department in meetings with various state, regional and national regulatory groups,
agricultural commissions, marketing associations and commodity groups
• Responsible for assisting in review and recommendations to the Department and determining advisability of
legal actions and recommendations in relation to managed programs
• Provides direction, guidance, and training to NDA Veterinary Medical Services staff, NDA Agricultural
Police Officers and support staff in animal health emergency management procedures, and animal health
programs
• Drafts and proposes program changes in laws and regulations for review by Administrator, Director and
Legal. Provide testimony at legislative committees, then delegate memorandums-of-understanding and
agreements related to programs managed.
• Frequent travel throughout the state, as well as periodic travel to out-of-state conferences and training
• Other duties as assigned

TO QUALIFY:
Applicants must be a graduate of a veterinary school or college approved by the American Veterinary Medical
Association and have 3 years of experience in official work for regulating and controlling diseases in livestock
(NRS 561.205).

Regulatory experience, as a licensed veterinarian, includes but is not limited to, regulating, and/or controlling
disease in livestock, s; background in large animal medicine, epidemiology, and livestock production;
background in and comfort with livestock field necropsy or post-mortem examinations, participation in
federal/state regulatory programs such as issuing health certificates, equine infectious anemia sampling, rabies
vaccination programs, and Trichomoniasis testing. Additional qualifications may include, knowledge of
zoonotic diseases and the ability to address public health concerns, knowledge and understanding of programs,
statutes, and regulations relevant to animal disease prevention, testing, and diagnosis, having the ability to
plan, organize and direct work of multi-disciplinary staff and integrate activities of diverse programs,
experience in implementing public awareness and education programs to facilitate outreach communication to
both medical and non-medical groups, and knowledge of Animal Disease Traceability (ADT).

LICENSE:
Possession of a valid license to practice veterinary medicine as issued by a United States licensing agency.
Requires a valid Nevada Driver's License

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ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Please respond to the following questions and limit your response to one page per question. Responses should
include timeframes; reference to specific regulation or statute, when applicable; and level of responsibility in
each position as it relates to experience in the question.
1. Describe, in detail, your official work in regulating and controlling diseases in livestock inclusive of s,
equine, bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine, or poultry.
2. Describe, in detail, your response, as the Nevada state veterinarian, to a single unintentional introduction of
classical swine fever in a swine operation.
3. Describe your experience working with diverse industry groups to build consensus regarding an unpopular
or difficult problem (i.e., Trichomonosis, ADT, or other serious issues.)
4. Describe your experience as a supervisor and knowledge of management practices which include planning,
organizing, and leading a team.
5. Describe your experience in writing and/or managing federal cooperative agreements, the budgeting
process, and any other financial management experience.
6. Describe your background in large animal medicine, epidemiology, and livestock production. (Typically
gained by at least one year of work experience primarily involved with large animal medicine,
epidemiology, and livestock production.)

Position Location:
The NDA headquarters is located in Sparks, Nevada. The NDA will consider applications for the NDA
headquarters as well as offices in Elko, NV and Las Vegas, NV.

APPROXIMATE Annual Salary:
Up to $155,034 plus benefits * (Salary range reflects retirement (PERS) contributions by both the employee
and employer. An employer paid contribution plan is also available with a reduced gross salary.)

Benefits:
Medical, dental, vision care, life and disability insurance programs are available; eleven paid holidays per year;
three weeks of annual leave; three weeks of sick leave; state defined benefit retirement plan; tax-sheltered
deferred compensation plan available. State employees do not contribute to Social Security; however, a small
Medicare deduction is required. Long-term employees enjoy additional benefits. For additional information,
please visit the Department of Administration's Division of Human Resource Management, the Nevada Public
Employees Benefits Program, and the Public Employees Retirement System of Nevada.

SELECTION PROCESS:
Submittals will be reviewed to determine those with the most appropriate qualifications to be invited for an
interview. In person interviews will be conducted at the Sparks headquarters. All interview related expenses
are the responsibility of the applicant. No stipend is available for candidates not currently in Nevada state
service. The NDA Director will make final selection.

APPLICATION SUBMITTALS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL POSITION IS FILLED
All applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Hiring may occur at any time during the
recruitment process. To be considered, all submittals shall include: a cover letter, response to the questions
above, resume and/or curriculum vitae, and the name, address, email, and telephone number for five
professional references. The successful applicant will be required to undergo a background investigation and
are responsible for this expense.

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SUBMIT APPLICATION/DIRECT ALL INQUIRIES TO:
Elizabeth Smith, Administrative Assistant IV
e.smith@agri.nv.gov

PLEASE REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING IN THE SUBJECT LINE:
Last Name/Position Title/How you heard about this position.

The State of Nevada is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action in recruitment of its
employees and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or belief, age,
disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, domestic partnership, genetic
information (GINA), or compensation and/or wages.


Closing Date/Time: Until recruitment needs are satisfied

• 

• State of Nevada

• 775-684-0151

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