Job Description
Position Title: Executive Director / State of Texas Veterinarian
State Classification/Title/Salary Group: E060 / Executive Director / E6
Salary: $11,741.66 – $15,650.91 per month ($140,900 – $187,811 annually)
Position Location: Central Office, 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas
FLSA Status: Exempt
Veterans, Reservist or Guardsmen with an MOS or additional duties pertaining to the minimum experience requirements may meet the minimum qualifications for this position and are highly encouraged to apply. Additional Military Crosswalk information can be accessed at: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MilitaryCrosswalkGuide.pdf
General Description:
The Executive Director for the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is a licensed veterinarian who serves as the State Veterinarian for Texas and reports to the agency Commissioners. Responsibilities include overall administration of agency operations and accomplishment of the agency’s goals and mission. Provides leadership to staff and serves as the primary liaison to industry groups, as well as the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, the Texas Legislature, and other state, federal, and international government agencies.
Essential Job Functions:
• Provides leadership and administers the day-to-day operations of TAHC and its employees.
• Promotes and maintains consistent communication on agency activities and developments to Commissioners, agency departments and employees.
• Administers the agency’s annual budget.
• Directs the development and implementation of agency regulations, policies, and procedures for approval by the Commissioners.
• Directs the development and implementation of a strategic plan for achieving TAHC’s goals and objectives in managing the health of livestock, exotic livestock, and poultry.
• Provides leadership and oversees the implementation of effective methods and procedures for carrying out animal disease prevention, control and eradication programs.
• Identifies the latest developments and trends in laboratory technology, veterinary medicine, and regulatory animal health activities at the state and national levels, and internationally.
• Reviews results of special investigations, internal audits, research studies, forecasts, and modeling exercises to provide direction and guidance
• Conducts hearings and renders decisions on herd owner protests.
• Serves as primary liaison between TAHC and livestock producers; producer associations; the Texas Agriculture Commissioner and other state, federal, and international agencies; and, members of the Texas Legislature, the Governor, and the Governor’s staff.
• Participates in activities related to the legislative process including responding to legislative requests for information, provides legislative testimony, and oversees the implementation of legislative changes
• Represents the agency at meetings, hearing, conferences, workshops, and seminars.
• Represents the agency on the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials
• Performs ad hoc and other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree.
• Licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Texas and be in good standing (or ability to become licensed in Texas within six months from date of hire).
• Five (5) years of administrative experience at the Director/Commissioner, Assistant Director/Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Director/Associate Commissioner level in an organization related to animal agriculture; OR Three (3) years administrative management experience in regulatory veterinary medicine.
• Experience in in public relations and communication.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Thorough knowledge of domestic livestock, disease control and eradication methods, and epidemiology. Demonstrated leadership skills in planning and directing an organization of comparable responsibilities and complexities. Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, review, and evaluate the agency’s overall operations; to manage professional and paraprofessional staff directly and through managers; to analyze and solve problems in both short- and long-term situations; to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions; to express concepts clearly and logically; to understand, interpret, explain, and enforce regulations and policies; to be on call and to travel as necessary.
IMPORTANT: The TAHC is an emergency response agency. The Executive Director/State Veterinarian position plays a key role in the agency’s emergency management activities. As a first responder, this position is subject to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments away from the regular designated headquarters for up to two weeks at a time. This duty may involve working in adverse conditions; may require irregular working hours and overtime; and, may include duties other than those specified in the standard position description.
Other: Must have a valid Texas driver’s license (or ability to obtain a Texas driver’s license) and safe driving record. Applicants may be subject to a driving record and criminal background check. Employment of selected candidate is contingent upon the receipt of an acceptable criminal background check and an acceptable moving violation record from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Note: Must have reliable transportation. Mileage reimbursed at current allowance rate.
How to Apply: To submit your application for employment, select Apply Online. Create and/or Login to your on- line applicant profile and electronically submit your State of Texas Application for Employment.
All applications must contain complete job histories, which includes job title, dates of employment, name of employer, supervisor’s name and phone number and a description of duties performed. If this information is not submitted, your application may be rejected because it is incomplete. Resumes do not take the place of this required information.
Only interviewed applicants will receive notice of the final disposition of the selection process.
An Equal Opportunity Employer
The Texas Animal Health Commission is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability in employment or in the provision of services. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any requests for reasonable accommodation needed during the application process should be communicated by the applicant to our Human Resources Department (512) 719-0700. For a telecommunications relay service for the hearing impaired, please dial 711. At time of hire, selected applicants must show proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. will be confirmed using E-Verify. All males who are age 18 through 25 and required to register with the Selective Service must present proof of registration or exemption from registration upon hire.