This position is located within the Research Service at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. The Veterinary Medical Officer (Laboratory Animal Medicine) serves as the Attending Veterinarian and is responsible for providing veterinary medical support and serving as an expert consultant with regard to laboratory animal medicine and regulatory compliance for the VA medical facility's animal research program.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: all applicants must meet the basic education and licensure requirements below: Education: 1. Possess a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a college or school of veterinary medicine accredited by the AVMA Council on Education; ~OR~ 2. Graduate from a foreign veterinary medical school not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education possessing one of the following: (a) Proof of certification of final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG); or (b) Current, permanent, full and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT); or (c) Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the AVMA Council on Education. Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program or training program (e.g., residency or graduate program). and (d) Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also provide proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language include (a) Test of English as a Foreign Language, or (b) Academic Testing (listening, writing and speaking), or (c) Canadian Academic English Language Testing System. ~AND~ Licensure: Possess a current, permanent, full and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the NAVLE or its predecessors, the NBE and the CCT. In addition to the Basic Requirements and Licensure, to qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, you must meet one of the following requirements: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized veterinary experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Veterinary Medical Officer (Laboratory Animal Medicine) and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Only experience gained after completing the basic education requirements described above and in a biomedical research setting in which Public Health Service Policy and United States Department of Agriculture Animal Welfare Act Regulations were applied under the jurisdiction of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee is creditable. Experience gained at a pet veterinary clinic with species commonly used in research does not count towards meeting the specialized experience requirements. ~OR~ Education: Possess a Ph.D. degree in laboratory animal medicine, laboratory animal science or an area directly related to the practice of laboratory animal medicine. This degree must be from an accredited college or school in the area of specialization of laboratory animal medicine, laboratory animal science or in an area directly related to the practice of laboratory animal medicine. The advanced degree must have been earned in addition to the basic education described above or earned in a dual DVM/ graduate degree program. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Residency/Post-Graduate Training Programs: Successful completion of three years of progressively responsible post-graduate training program which must be an ACLAM (American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine) approved internship, residency program or fellowship training program to meet the requirements for this GS-13 grade level. The discipline or specialty of the residency or post-graduate training program must be laboratory animal medicine, laboratory animal science or in an area directly related to the practice of laboratory animal medicine. ~OR~ Board Certification: ACLAM Diplomate status and 1 year of specialized veterinary experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level or ACLAM Diplomate status and 3 years of progressively responsible training in an ACLAM-approved internship, residency program or fellowship training program. Board certification for the laboratory animal medicine specialty is demonstrated by ACLAM Diplomate status. ACLAM Diplomate status is creditable with specialized experience or residency and post-graduate training towards meeting the grade level requirements. ACLAM Diplomate status is awarded to individuals who have completed a rigorous post-graduate training or residency program or who have gained specialized laboratory animal experience. ACLAM Diplomates must also meet publication requirements and pass certifying exams. The certifying exams cover laboratory animal biology, laboratory animal resources management, clinical laboratory animal medicine and surgery, laboratory animal pathology and animal experimentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Education and Training Product Evaluation Research IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Requirements: Applicants must be physically and mentally able to safely and efficiently perform the full range of duties of the position without creating hazards to themselves or others. In most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. Reasonable accommodation may also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** NOTE: This is a part-time position (10 hours/week). The salary listed represents full-time employment and will be pro-rated based on the actual number of hours worked each pay-period. Likewise, benefits and time-off accrual will also be prorated and based on your part-time work schedule The major duties include but are not limited to: Direct the operation of the animal facility to ensure local program compliance with current animal welfare laws, regulations and policies and to support R&D programs using animal subjects; Provide professional guidance, services and technical support to investigators at VA medical centers in planning, executing and directing R&D activities using animal subjects. This includes guidance and consultation on comparative biology and medicine, zoonotic disease, technology, husbandry, medical and surgical care and the selection, procurement, preparation, and use of laboratory animals; Conceive and conduct independent and collaborative research including studies designed to gain new knowledge about laboratory animals, which will improve the quality of animal care and promote humane aspects of research through the selection of proper and new biological models, research environments and techniques; Establish and maintain programs of appropriate veterinary medical care that include the use of methods to prevent, control, diagnose and treat diseases and injury and that will ensure the provision of adequate pre-procedural and post-procedural care; Provide education and training for scientists and technicians on humane methods of animal care and experimentation; Serve as the Attending Veterinarian on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee; Contribute to the promotion of favorable community relations and increased public appreciation of the importance of animal studies in improving patient care and the quality of Veterans' lives; Serve as a subject matter expert by contributing to efforts by VA Central Office intended to improve animal research through the support of R&D programs throughout the VA health care system, by assisting in the development of policies and guidance that pertain to animal research, and by participating in activities that assess animal research activities within VA; Provide policy and regulatory guidance and oversight to VA animal research programs; and Perform other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Part-Time, 10 hours per week. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.