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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50655229 |
Description Activated On: 11/12/2025 2:22:18 PM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. Collaborates with state and federal veterinarians, other health professionals, and stakeholders to ensure compliance with Bureau laws and regulations, to investigate and mitigate regulatory disease events, and to implement domestic animal disease control programs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, and Somerset Counties. |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Conducts epidemiological investigations to determine domestic animal exposure, disease source/risk factors, and potential spread related to diseases including, but not limited, to rabies and avian influenza. Has working knowledge of PDA rabies law and of rabies virus. Able to explain the laws and the disease epidemiology to stakeholders, veterinarians, and other health professionals, and able to conduct a thorough rabies investigation. Handles, submits, and advises regarding proper submission of domestic rabies suspect cases. Quarantines and ensures compliance with quarantines associated with domestic animals potentially exposed to rabies. Vaccinated with pre-exposure prophylaxis for rabies and submits to periodic rabies titer testing and booster vaccination as per departmental policy. Investigates and documents complaints concerning the disposal of domestic animals, domestic animal parts, products, and waste. Re-inspects as necessary to ensure compliance with Domestic Animal Law Subchapter E. Identifies, investigates, and documents violations of the Domestic Animal Law/Act 100, works with regulated entities to create, and implement plans to come into compliance with the domestic animal law and associated regulations/quarantine orders. Pursues regulatory action when warranted after consulting with supervisor. Imposes quarantines to restrict the use, movement, or other disposition of domestic animals, domestic animal products, equipment, facilities, vehicles, buildings, and other articles as required to eradicate, contain, or otherwise control a dangerous transmissible disease or to control or prevent contamination by a hazardous agent. Issues criminal citations, provides evidence and appears at legal proceedings as a representative of the Department. Assists Veterinary officers in legally obtaining and carrying out warrant searches when required. Supervises cleaning and disinfection of premises, equipment, materials, and trucks as directed. Trains livestock and poultry owners/workers in biosecurity. Reviews and approves biosecurity plans for livestock and poultry operations. Performs on-farm and virtual biosecurity audits for state and federal programs. Explains requirements of mandatory and voluntary programs for livestock/poultry and assesses operations for compliance with program rules. Examples include cervid livestock operation participation, federal herd certification program for cervids, state herd monitoring program for cervids, National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program (PEQAP), Swine Health Improvement Plan. Establish daily activity priorities based on departmental need and be able to triage and refocus planned schedules and direction to properly address time urgent and critical matters that arise. Conducts inspections and records checks for licensed domestic animal dealers and haulers (DADHs). Assists DADHs with plans to establish and maintain compliance with applicable state and federal regulations, tag accountability, and animal traceability requirements. In the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak, including but not limited to highly pathogenic avian influenza, foot and mouth disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, responds to high-risk areas to assist veterinary officials with epidemiological investigation, depopulation, disposal, quarantine, biosecurity, and the maintenance of a safe perimeter. Assists state and federal veterinarians in carrying out animal health and disease control programs. Assists Foreign Animal Disease Diagnosticians with foreign animal disease investigations and sample collection when requested, which may include emergency assistance outside the normal working hours. Processes, handles, and transports collected samples for submission to the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System for laboratory analysis. Analyzes, tracks, and reports on data when Incident Command System (ICS) is mobilized during Emergency Operations. Work hours and duties during Emergency Operations may change to 12 hour shifts on weekdays, holidays, and weekends. Participate in and supervise functional units during emergency Incident Management Team (IMT) activation, which may include assigning activities to and supervising state and federal employees, overseeing operations, including maintaining biosecurity and delivery schedules for incoming and outgoing supplies on affected premises as a site manager, coordinating between premises/business owners and the incident command team as case manager, arranging and overseeing functional units, including disease surveillance teams, sample collection site establishment, operation and disassembly, enforcing laws and regulations related to poultry/livestock conveyances, creating systems for assessing, reviewing and tracking incident documents. Performs humane euthanasia and depopulation under the supervision of veterinarian. Uses respiratory personal protective equipment as required and subject to medical clearance and fit testing. Enrolls cervid herds in Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Monitoring or Certification Program. Educates cervid owners and veterinarians about CWD programs and regulations. Provides licensure information and applications for Cervidae Livestock Operators. Inspects CWD Program premises for all requirements of current CWD program and other applicable laws and regulations including inspection of fencing, identification, and record keeping requirements. Identifies new and unlicensed cervid premises. Documents non-compliance, works with stakeholder to return to compliance, issues Notices of Violation and/or files citations when needed after consulting with supervisor. Trains veterinarians and cervid owners in the appropriate usage of chain of custody and sample submission forms and in proper sample collection procedures for chronic wasting disease surveillance. Trains certified CWD technicians in collecting and submitting proper samples, sample submission, and communicates program requirement standards. Educates the agricultural community about USDA and PDA BAHDS programs to gain participation, cooperation, and support. Provides private veterinary practitioners with regulatory information and official supplies. Interviews domestic animal dealers and domestic animal market personnel and utilizes their records to trace origin or disposition of animals suspected of being exposed to diseases of regulatory concern or hazardous substances or to trace the movement of animals that have entered the state without required import testing or documentation. Determines if records are adequate to meet regulatory standards. Read, comprehend, and maintain a working knowledge of the Bureau’s regulations, laws, and quarantine orders. Analyze individual agricultural production systems, apply the proper regulations, and effectively communicate the requirements to regulated entities to obtain compliance. Inspects poultry farms participating in the Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program for compliance with program requirements and educates producers about those requirements. Inspects and samples, as required by the Bureau, National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP,) hatcheries and NPIP flocks to ensure compliance with NPIP standards. Inspects domestic animals at select public fairs for signs of contagious disease, required identification and applicable documentation as covered under the Domestic Animal Law and or applicable Quarantine Orders. Checks for compliance with the Exhibition and Sanitation Act. Inspects garbage feeding swine operations for signs of contagious disease, to verify the source of the garbage, and ensure that appropriate records are kept and that the temperature of the cooked garbage is adequate to meet federal standards for the prevention of various Dangerous Transmissible Diseases, including Classical and African Swine Fever and foot and mouth disease. Inspects pet stores for general sanitation, signs of contagious disease, and adequate record keeping to allow the prompt traceback of a diseased animal. Provides pet store owners and employees with information regarding licensure, applicable laws and regulations, biosecurity recommendations, and zoonotic disease concerns. Inspects other licensed domestic animal dealers and haulers for compliance with sanitation, record keeping, and licensure requirements. Identifies suspected domestic animal dealers and haulers for licensing compliance action. Provides information regarding licensure and applicable requirements, biosecurity recommendations, and animal traceability requirements. Inspects dead animal disposal businesses, and plants and ensures their licensure and compliance. Collects environmental samples, blood, urine, feces, milk, and tissue samples and cloacal and tracheal swabs from domestic and wild animals for laboratory evaluation as part of surveillance and regulatory programs and in response to suspicion of dangerous transmissible diseases. Performs or assists with classroom and field training of prospective certified poultry technicians to ensure compliance with regulations, proficiency in avian venipuncture as well as cloacal and tracheal swab sampling, biosecurity comprehension, and sample handling and laboratory submission. Restrains domestic animals for regulatory testing or examination. Places animal identification as required and records the identification appropriately. Provides husbandry care for, monitors health of, and collects and forwards specimens from domestic animals involved in epidemiology programs and disease surveillance programs. Implements appropriate biosecurity measures before, during and after entering a premises to prevent the spread of disease agents. Completes weekly activity reports to keep the VMFO and Bureau advised of activities. Meets training and continuing education requirements to maintain a pesticide applicator's license, category 17 regulatory pest control when required by the Bureau. Performs other related duties as assigned. Applies LEAN tool(s) to day to day tasks when a process has been identified for improvement. Essential Functions Continued: May not own or house poultry on the property on which you reside while holding this job title/position. |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, determining pass or fail ratings for inspections, placing of quarantines based upon investigations, making appropriate decisions based upon investigations and issues regarding laws pertaining to animal health issues. Questions concerning any regulatory activity based upon animal health laws may be submitted to the supervisor for clarification or further action. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. Class C Driver's License 2. N/A 3. N/A 4. N/A 5. N/A 6. N/A |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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