Zoo Chief Veterinarian

Class Concept

The Zoo Chief Veterinarian serves as the director of the Hanes Veterinary Medical Center and as the chief veterinary medical officer at the North Carolina Zoological Park and the Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Position is responsible for the overall medical management of the animal collection and the operation of the Veterinary Medical Center at the North Carolina Zoo. Develops and maintains a preventative medicine program, medical management of the zoo's animal collection, clinical pathology, pathology, and neonatal nursery. The Chief Veterinarian is a Division Head reporting to the Director of the Zoo and a Liaison to North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSU-CVM), USDA, NCDA, DEA, NCDEA, and other appropriate state and federal agencies. Position administers the Zoological Medicine Residency Program in Conjunction with NCSU-CVM at the zoo. Responsibilities include developing policies and procedures for the section; training and developing employees; and managing the section's budget priorities including medical expenditures. Position develops and participates in conservation-oriented field programs, develops funding sources and partnerships, and produces scientific papers and reports to conservation programs; interacts with the public and the media to promote educational aspects of the zoo; and collaborates with other departments and state agencies on mutual goals. Performs additional duties as assigned.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the principles and techniques of veterinary medicine with a large, diverse animal collection.
• Thorough knowledge of the related laboratory sciences such as virology, microbiology, serology, and toxicology as applied to the diagnosis of animal diseases, and of the equipment and practical procedures employed in these sciences.
• Skill in the clinical and post-mortem examination of specimens of animals commonly kept in AZA accredited zoos.
• Ability to apply state and federal laws pertaining to a public health veterinary program.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with staff members, the public and the media.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
• Ability to direct and supervise staff in regulatory activities.
• Ability to diagnose a variety of animal diseases and prescribing medical treatment or management methods which will control or eradicate the condition.

Minimum Education and Experience

Licensed or eligible for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in the State of North Carolina and three years of full-time experience as a veterinarian in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoo including the supervision of employees.

Must be certified by the American College Zoological Medicine (ACZM) to be able to teach residents in the Zoo's residency program.

Eligibility to obtain a Controlled Substance Registration Certification by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in order to purchase veterinarian drugs within 6 months of hire.

Eligibility to obtain a U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal, and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) category II accreditation within 3 months of hire.