Veterinarian (onsite)

About the Job

The Attending Veterinarian (AV) reports to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development and is responsible for a wide range of services that support the use of animals in research and teaching. The AV is responsible for providing adequate veterinary care and for the general oversight of animal care and use at the University of California, Merced. The AV works closely with the IACUC staff and committee members and participates in developing and implementing policies and procedures, assuring the humane treatment and stewardship of animals and maximizing the benefits of animal research to human and animal health. The AV is responsible for leading the institution's animal care program, maintaining exceptional animal welfare standards, and ensuring rigorous regulatory compliance. The AV oversees a highly specialized team that provides and supports direct animal care, ensuring compliance with regulations. The AV applies advanced professional veterinarian concepts to perform highly difficult general medical, surgical, and diagnostic work; and provides consultation on problems or difficult cases. Collaborates with researchers, staff, and students, and ensures activities adhere to animal use protocols;

Key Responsibilities: 

1. Provides consultation or clinical case management as needed. Consults on more difficult cases to review clinical records and determine if appropriate treatment is being given.
2. Has advanced understanding to be able to perform complex examinations, complete analyses, discuss special diets, and write prescriptions. Reviews reports and has the skill to interpret advanced results. 
3. Competent in maintaining animal health records, including both manual and computerized health data. Oversees operational animal care functions. Performs audits of completed clinical work. Oversees animals and monitors animal health on experimental protocols.
4. May present at educational conferences or informal case management conferences on area of specialization. 
5. Demonstrates advanced communication skills addressing sensitive issues with animals, clinical team members and staff.
6. Communicates with researchers, students and the community regarding the use of laboratory animals in research projects.
7. Serves on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, provides veterinary review on all animal use protocols. Provides expert guidance in animal care policy creation and revision.

*LI-RM1

Qualifications

• Doctorate D.V.M. / V.M.D. or equivalent veterinary degree and 5 years of related experience (required); and
• ACLAM diplomate (American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine) (preferred); and
• Five (5) years of directly related, progressively responsible experience as a veterinarian (required); and
• Must be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of California if performing direct animal care with a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (required); and
• For Clinical Facilities: Board certified or Board eligible in a specialty area preferred, e.g., ABVT, ACVP, ACVM. If Board eligible, must become Board certified within three years of hire (preferred); and
• California State Veterinary License (required); and
• USDA National Veterinary Accreditation (preferred).
• Knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of advanced Veterinarian duties. Advanced clinical and diagnostic skills. Demonstrate broad knowledge of traditional laboratory animal species, and willingness to work with non-traditional species. 
• Must be able to communicate with owners / handlers, researchers and clinical staff members regarding variety of complex clinical care issues. Demonstrates interpersonal and oral communication skills to interact with all clients, students and residents. 
• Must be able to work in a collaborative manner. Must have advanced diagnostic and decision making skills in more difficult cases. Must be able to diagnose animal condition and make associated treatment recommendations. 
• Must be able to influence and interact well with others. Experience to teach basic animal handling and husbandry skills to students. 
• Requires knowledge of electronic / medical records systems. Must be computer literate. 
• Demonstrated ability to provide instruction and oversight of professional DVM students, residents and animal health technicians. 
• Knowledge and ability to manage and/or over see breeding and management of genetically engineered rodents. 
• Knowledge and ability to manage and/or over see management of genetically engineered fish. 
• Knowledge and ability to manage and/or over see biosafety level 3 research and animal facilities. 
• Knowledge and/or experience with field research. 

Working Conditions: Exercises the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.