Senior Veterinarian - Meat & Poultry Inspection Program

Job Location: Statewide

Why you’ll love this position:

The Missouri Meat & Poultry Inspection Program (MDA’s MPIP) is dedicated to ensuring that the commercial supply of meat and poultry products within the State of Missouri are safe, wholesome, accurately labeled, and secure as required by the State/Federal Meat and Poultry Inspection laws. By providing inspection service and guidance to Missouri processors, the program continues to endorse the mission of the Missouri Department of Agriculture -- to serve, promote, and protect the agricultural producers, processors, and consumers of Missouri's food, fuel, and fiber products.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health, Meat and Poultry Inspection Program has a full-time Senior Veterinarian position available.

Salary Range: $83,000.16 - $90,000.00 annually plus full state benefit package (see benefits section below)

Did you know, your total compensation is more than just your salary? State provided benefits can equal 50% or more of your actual wages! For example, if your salary is $83,000.16, the State of Missouri would provide an additional $47,000 worth of fringe benefits! That’s almost 64% of your annual wages!

This position is responsible for ensuring state inspected and reviewed facilities within the state of Missouri produce safe, wholesome meat and poultry products. This position also includes supervisory duties of program personnel stationed in areas throughout the state. Supervision of the staff will include, but not be limited to, scheduling assignments, training new employees, evaluating performance, implementing new policy, and providing inspection coverage. The person in this position may conduct official and exempt inspections of slaughter and/or processing to ensure compliance with state and federal statutes and regulations and identify violations and recommend corrective measures to owners and/or managers, or initiate enforcement, when necessary. Conduct humane handling assessments of establishment personnel handling livestock and poultry before and during slaughter and oversee the enforcement activities when necessary. Conduct veterinary dispositions of product in the event the condition of the animal or its parts upon ante-mortem or post-mortem inspection are of a concern to inspection personnel. Conduct complaint investigations, gather evidence, develop investigative reports, and maintain documentation in a secure database. Ensure all necessary livestock tags, blood and tissue samples are collected from slaughter establishments and forwarded for laboratory analysis. Manage the custom exempt program and be the point of contact for outreach, enforcement, inauguration of new facilities, and protocol. Interpret and apply animal health statutes and regulations relating to disease identification, control and/or eradication; provide input and feedback to superiors concerning the development and implementation of regulations, policies, and procedures. Conduct or attend meetings with slaughter and processing establishments, private veterinarians, livestock owners and producers, market operators, dealers, and other interested groups to explain and promote state and federal animal health statutes, regulations, and programs. Provide assistance, when necessary, to the State Veterinarian in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak and attend Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician Training to acquire certification. Prepare and submit activity and other reports, maintain state vehicle, and assigned veterinary and office equipment. Performs other work as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited College of Veterinary Medicine
• Must have, or have the ability to obtain, a license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Missouri
• Must have, or have the ability to obtain, federal accreditation to perform animal regulatory work within the time frames established by the Missouri Dept. of Agriculture

AND at least one of the following:

• • Two (2) years of experience as a veterinarian involving the care and treatment of livestock
  • Be currently employed with United States Department of Agriculture/Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) as a District Veterinary Medical Officer (DVMO)
  • One (1) year experience as a Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (sPHV) with USDA/FSIS
  • Two (2) years’ experience as a Public Health Veterinarian (PHV) with USDA/FSIS
  • Two (2) years’ experience as a Veterinarian with the Missouri Department of Agriculture
  • Possess a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree
• Must possess a valid MO Driver’s License

Preferred Qualifications:

• Considerable knowledge of Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS) regulations, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP.)
• Considerable knowledge of the principles and practice of veterinary medicine.
• Considerable knowledge of the different species of domestic and exotic animals and poultry typically marketed and slaughtered/processed in Missouri.
• Ability to interpret and apply statutes and regulations relating to animal health programs
• Ability to communicate effectively and prepare complete and concise reports
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, livestock and poultry producers and businesses, private veterinarians, other state and federal officials, and the general public.

• Benefits Include:

• 3 weeks paid vacation AND 3 weeks paid sick leave annually
• 13 paid holidays per year
• Insurance: health (medical, dental, vision) and free life insurance
• Retirement: including up to a $75.00 per month match on savings plan
• Up to 6 weeks paid parental leave for birth or adoption
• And several additional resources including the SELF program (formerly EAP), discount websites, and healthy living incentives

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here .

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• State of Missouri

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