What are the responsibilities and job description for the Veterinary Diagnostician II - Veterinary Services position at Texas A&M AgriLife?
Job Title
Veterinary Diagnostician II - Veterinary Services
Agency
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
Department
College Station - Veterinary Services
Proposed Minimum Salary
Commensurate
Job Location
College Station, Texas
Job Type
Staff
Job Description
Job Description Summary
The Veterinary Diagnostician II provides excellent customer service to laboratory clients and serves as a member of the TVMDL Veterinary Services Section by providing consultations with TVMDL clients in the areas of test selection and testing strategies, interpretation of results, and disease prevention, surveillance, and control programs.
Responsibilities
Diagnostic Services: Provides input on determining diagnostic priorities as well as emerging issues. Monitors livestock, companion animals, and public health disease management programs applicable to TVMDL clientele. Provides leadership on issues related to diagnostic veterinary medicine to ensure the service needs of TVMDL’s diverse clientele and stakeholders are met.
Proactively explores methods to increase revenue and decrease expenses when appropriate. Liaises with agency management on all projects, providing timely and relevant updates on progress, challenges, opportunities, and needs. May represent agency on internal or external task forces, committees and work groups as designated by agency management. Assists or leads the monitoring and record keeping for legal cases. Testifies in legal and administrative proceedings on behalf of the agency, as requested. Interprets industry policies as well as state, national and international law as applicable.
Provides guidance and direction to clients on diagnostic tests requested, case development, and case reporting. Coordinates multi-assigned cases to ensure consistency and appropriate interpretation of test results. Resolves complex, confidential, or sensitive diagnostic case issues with clients, contracting agencies, and other TVMDL customers. Facilitates investigation of complex cases. Utilizes professional training in veterinary medicine to provide expert guidance to testing section personnel.
Outreach: Works with public and private partners in the development and implementation of agency initiatives. Represents TVMDL at conferences, trade shows, and exhibitions to promote TVMDL services and expertise. Represents TVMDL within relevant professional societies, and at scientific and industry meetings, promoting the overall national/ international reputation of the laboratory system.
Contributes to scholarly articles, publications, and presentations. Works in close collaboration with the TVMDL Communications Coordinator to develop marketing materials. Collaborates with TVMDL staff to develop and implement client education, recruitment, and retention strategies.
Designs, leads, or participates in educational programs, teaching, and training for students, veterinarians, producers, and allied industry groups at the state, national, and international levels. Works in close collaboration with Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases (IIAD), Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, and other outreach and training partners.
Client Communication: Serves as a point of contact for clients needing consultation on test selection and interpretation of test results. Assists with the development of client education materials concerning testing strategies, test interpretation, and disease information.
Serves as a liaison with key administrators, veterinarians, and scientists at partner organizations, including the US Department of Agriculture, Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas Department of State Health Services, Centers for Disease Control, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and others. Coordinates reporting of reportable diseases to regulatory agencies as appropriate.
Data Entry, Interpretation, Results: Coordinates progress of multi assigned cases. Provides analysis and review of unexpected results or results of significance. Provides diagnostic interpretation to clients based on test results and clinical histories. Reviews results from testing sections, clarifies conflicting results, and provides interpretation as necessary. Reviews and releases results to clients in a manner consistent with TVMDL's published turnaround times. Maintains precise and accurate records.
Quality Assurance & Safety: May serve as document manager for SOPs, procedures, forms, workflows, and other quality assurance documents for the section. May write, review and/or edit quality assurance documents for section procedures, ensuring proper formatting, content and compliance with quality assurance requirements. Is responsible for the timely identification, resolution, and implementation of process improvement protocols. Identifies the need to edit or update SOPs, procedures, forms, and other documents related to the work in the section. Prepares reports for special assignments.
Ensures adherence and compliance with the TVMDL Quality Assurance Manual and associated quality assurance procedures. Actively participates in quality assurance and safety programs, cross-training, and skill development as applicable. Performs work to avoid exposing oneself or others to avoidable hazards by reasonable and approved methods.
SOPs, Procedures, Forms, Other Documentation: Performs work in accordance with validated test methods, SOPs, procedures, employee training and proficiency, and equipment standards, as applicable. Performs work with adherence to federal, state, Texas A&M University System, and TVMDL safety rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Position Details
- This position is required to work onsite during normal business hours M-F 8 AM to 5 PM.
- This position is eligible for a partially remote work arrangement for up to 16 hours per week.
- TVMDL is located on the campus of Texas A&M University (TAMU). Parking permits are available from TAMU at the expense of the employee.
- All veterinarians employed at TVMDL are required to obtain either a full license or a special license from theTexas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME).
- Incumbent will be required to take a pre-exposure rabies vaccination series; TVMDL will cover all costs.
- TVMDL is considered an essential component of the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) and remains operational for several “open holidays” during which overtime or compensatory time may be earned.
Qualifications
Required Education and Experience:
- Veterinary degree from an AVMA accredited university
- Five years of experience as a practicing veterinarian, including supervisory experience.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of quality assurance and safety programs.
- Ability to use laboratory equipment, scientific apparatus and computers.
- Experience working with a laboratory information management system.
- Attention to detail.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Knowledge of veterinary diagnostic principles, concepts, practices and established methodologies.
- Texas Veterinary License or specialty license or ability to obtain within one year of employment.
- Ability to multitask and work collaboratively with others.
Preferred Education and Experience:
- Experience in small animal or mixed animal practice.
- Experience in teaching and/or public speaking.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Professional knowledge of veterinary diagnostic principles, concepts, practices, and established methodologies sufficient to provide technical knowledge on a full range of veterinary analytical testing programs.
- Working knowledge of veterinary diseases that affect livestock, exotic/wildlife, and companion animals.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, work independently, network within the community, and respond positively to policy, administration, and supervision.
- Computer competency, especially with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Preferred Certifications:
- Board certification in a veterinary specialty.
Special Instructions
A cover letter, resume/CV, and contact information for three professional references (to include at least one previous supervisor) are required to successfully apply for this position. You may upload all three on the application under CV/Resume, pre-populate the online application using a LinkedIn profile, or attach the documents. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application.
Upon invitation to interview, candidates will be asked for 2-3 professional recommendations (to include at least one previous supervisor). Closed-toed shoes and long pants are required attire for the Laboratory environment.
All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.
All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.
