The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is dedicated to preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities dependent on viable fish and wildlife populations.  Each day, WDFW employees facilitate fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities for millions of residents and visitors.  WDFW’s employees–field and laboratory biologists, geneticists, research scientists, hatchery professionals, policy experts, fully commissioned law enforcement officers, land stewards, lab technicians, property acquisition specialists, customer service representatives and others work throughout the state.  WDFW employees protect and restore critical habitat, strive to facilitate species recovery when necessary, and manage hundreds of fish and wildlife species.  WDFW employees maintain nearly a million acres of public wildlife lands. They interpret, apply and enforce state and federal laws and collaborate with stakeholders to protect fish and wildlife resources.  Find out more about us and the important work we are a part of at www.wdfw.wa.gov

Applications will be reviewed and interviews will be held as qualified applicants are identified, the position may be filled and the recruitment closed.  Therefore, you are encouraged to submit your application materials as soon as possible.  The first review will be May 30, 2017.

This recruitment is to fill one (1) permanent full-time Aquatic Animal Health Veterinarian position in the Fish Program, Science Division, Genetics and Health Laboratories. The employee will be based in the north Puget Sound area, perhaps in the Arlington or Bellingham area.

This position reports to the Supervisor of the Genetics and Health Laboratories in the Fish Program, and as a licensed veterinarian is responsible for fish health and public health by compiling; maintaining; planning; conducting; analyzing; interpreting; and reporting on issues related to fish health, zoonotic and non-zoonotic fish pathogens, antibiotic resistance associated with therapeutants; and by conducting epidemiological investigations as connected to fish hatchery facilities and related natural origin fish populations.  Specifically, this work addresses current and emerging risks associated with fish diseases, prevalence of pathogens, and associated host response(s) (i.e., immunological changes), environmental variables that affect the disease status of fish populations, and the potential effects of disease status on human populations as it relates to zoonotic fish pathogens.  This position will provide veterinary and epidemiological support when needed to minimize health risks, improve biosecurity protocols, and collect health-based samples involving live fish and provide comprehensive health assessments for fish populations.  As such, this position maintains veterinarian-client-patient-relationships (VCPRs) with the WDFW, and is the Veterinarian of Record (VOR) for a specific set of hatchery facilities within a pre-determined portion of Washington State as needed and in accordance with legal allowances. This position will adhere to state and federal laws concerning the practice of veterinarian medicine; conduct surveillance for regulated and reportable pathogens to meet the requirements of the Salmonid Disease Control Policy of the Co-Managers of Washington State (Policy); monitor hatchery populations for zoonotic and non-zoonotic fish pathogens; provide directions to Fish Program staff, non-veterinary Fish Health Specialists, and aquaculturists regarding compliance with the Policy; and ensure that when prescribing therapeutants antimicrobial resistance and tissue residue withdrawal periods are considered to protect consumer safety.  This position is expected to collaborate with veterinarians and non-veterinary Fish Health Specialists employed by WDFW, Washington Departments of Agriculture and Health, with tribal co-managers, federal government (USDA-APHIS-VS, USFWS, USGS, and NOAA), and with universities, and will maintain open communication with appropriate federal, state, and tribal agencies concerning public health, when necessary.

This position’s assigned facilities are in WDFW Regions 4 and 5, in the Puget Sound and coastal Washington areas.  For clinical health monitoring facilities include: Kendall Cr., Whatcom Cr., Bellingham, Lake Whatcom, Samish, Baker, Marblemount, Whitehorse, Arlington, Glenwood Springs (Orcas I.), Dungeness, Hurd Cr, Morse Cr., Elwha, and related ponds.  This position will also provide veterinary services to the facilities listed above, and the facilities covered by two non-veterinary Fish health Specialist in the south Puget Sound and Olympia Peninsula areas.. This position also will supervise the two non-veterinary Fish Health Specialist.

• Conducts zoonotic and non-zoonotic fish disease investigations for hatchery or wild morbidity and mortality events at designated hatcheries and watersheds within designated region.
• Recognize and detect non-zoonotic and potentially zoonotic fish pathogens.
• Recognize environmental factors or fish culture practices that may cause or contribute to fish disease.
• Collect the appropriate samples for detection, confirmation, and prevalence testing, ensuring that sampling is consistent with at least the Co-Managers Salmonid Disease Control Policy.
• Train hatchery staff to correctly obtain samples when this position is absent. Directs hatchery staff to maintain compliance with the Policy when carrying out their fish culture duties.
• Ensure that all stocks are sampled at a minimum of annually, samples are taken properly, and they are packaged correctly for transport to the laboratory.
• Determines appropriate preventive or corrective actions needed to mitigate fish morbidity or mortality which may include vaccination and/or fish care procedural changes.
• Prepares study plans and budgets and serves as the principal investigator on health surveillance and works with federal and tribal co-managers.
• Communicate with hatchery staff and federal or tribal co-managers when regulated or reportable pathogens, as defined by the Policy, are detected and confirmed, and with appropriate state and federal public health agencies, including, but not limited to WSDA, WDOH, and USDA-APHIS, when known zoonotic pathogens are detected and confirmed.

Veterinary support to the Fish Program. Serves as an expert in the specialized field of fish diseases, monitoring non-zoonotic and zoonotic fish pathogens and disease at assigned facilities, identifying and diagnosing disease by determining when the presence of fish pathogens is detrimental to a specific stock and determines if treatment is warranted, and when the presence of zoonotic fish pathogens may affect human health; when necessary determines fish treatment or prevention plans.  Institute veterinary-client-patient-relationships (VCPRs), established by personal examination of fish and maintained by regular visits, at the assigned hatchery facilities as needed and in accordance with legal allowances.  Ensure that all therapeutants are administered responsibly with full consideration of antimicrobial resistance within targeted pathogen or environmental microbes and drug residue withdrawal periods as it relates to the release of treated fish into legal fisheries.
Tasks include:

• Develops and implements agency policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure the safe, humane, legal, and effective use of drugs/chemicals in WDFW aquaculture facilities.
• Maintains expertise on state and federal regulations and procedures for handling, storage, transport, and use of drugs/chemicals in WDFW aquaculture facilities.
• Provides prescriptions and Veterinary Feed Directives (VFDs) for assigned facilities as needed and in accordance with their professional discretion and legal allowances.
• When providing prescriptions or Veterinary Feed Directives (VFDs), make certain that microbial resistance to the therapeutants is considered.  This is particularly important if the class of therapeutant used is also used when treating human disease.  When antimicrobial resistance is detected, ensure that appropriate federal, state, and tribal fish and public health agencies are notified.
• When recommending treatments or overseeing the use of chemicals and therapuents for the control of fish disease, sedation, or other medical need, ensure the guidelines regarding drug residue withdrawal periods (that specify the amount of drug legally permitted in the edible tissue of fish), are effectively communicated to hatchery staff who are responsible for compliance to protect against premature release of tainted fish into public fisheries.
• For all facilities for which this position is the Veterinary of Record (VOR), maintain records of all prescription and Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), and other therapeutants within an Agency-approved database.
• Serves as INAD Monitor for the facilities assigned and works with the USFWS AADAP Program in conducting studies recognized by the FDA to support approval of New Animal Drugs in fish
• Completes all the required obligations to maintain Veterinary License in Washington State.

Epidemiological research and monitoring.
Gross anatomical and molecular-based health research on fish in Washington to evaluate health, disease, prevalence of zoonotic and non-zoonotic fish pathogens, genetic effects (immunological gene expression) associated with survival, and changes in environmental and fish microbiomes as they relate to population health.
Tasks include:

• Compiles, maintains, and analyzes fish health data and reports and identifies causative agents or conditions resulting in adverse fish health conditions.
• Proposes, plans, coordinates, and implements epidemiological studies of morbidity and mortality in fish.
• Analyzes, interprets, and applies findings from disease surveillance programs; formulates and justify conclusions and recommendations based on current scientific principles.

Communication
Tasks include:

• Provides expertise and response to concerns from the public, WDFW staff, and other agencies on issues related to fish health or the potential for zoonotic diseases associated with aquaculture.
• Work with the Washington Department of Health (Zoonotic Disease Epidemiologist and Public Health Veterinarian) to develop and maintain a list of fish pathogens or antimicrobial resistance that when discovered would be reported to the Washington Department of Health.
• Give presentations to scientific community and to the public.
• Represents WDFW by attending at least one fish health or aquaculture conference per annum.
• Write scientific reports and submit for peer review and publication if appropriate.

Other duties as assigned

Working Conditions
Generally, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday with some evening and weekend work possible. Work hours may extend beyond the core hours of 8 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday, including evenings and weekends. This is primarily (60-80%) field work (weather, trips, falls, etc.) requiring site visits, travel to meetings, and workshops, and forums throughout the State, driving (accidents) and secondarily (20-40%) office work (ergonomics).

Provide technical direction to internal and external program and Agency professional staff involving complex or controversial studies or projects; May have policy level negotiation, interaction and discussion with other Agencies at both the State and Federal level. Complete required administrative paperwork in an accurate and timely manner. Responsible for legislative, contentious issue resolution and leaders of major stakeholder interaction. Excellent personal interaction and diplomatic skills.

Must be willing to work during inclement weather, in difficult terrain, and with potentially diseased or dangerous animals. Must be willing to safely handle potentially dangerous animal drugs. Will be required to safely handle contaminated sharps (needles, darts, scalpel, blades) and other medical waste.  Laboratory work may also be required, working with hazardous chemicals and pathogens (Biosafety Level 2).   Travel on a frequent basis to hatcheries or field areas approximately 3-4 days per week, and will require travel to meetings, site visits, and workshops and forums throughout the State.

• Conduct surgical and other veterinary procedures.
• Conduct necropsies; collect, process, and submit appropriate specimens; and interpret findings from fish and wildlife morbidity and mortality investigations.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with governmental and private organizations and groups concerned with wildlife health issues.
• Provide professional veterinary consultation.
• Effectively communicate in writing and orally on both technical and non-technical levels.
• Develop and conduct training.
• Prepare work plans and budgets.
• May be required to euthanize animals using methods approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
• Maintain field vehicle in good and clean working condition.
• Complete paperwork for paying bills; ordering supplies; and packaging and shipping diagnostic specimens.

Union
This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish and Wildlife Professionals (WAFWP).  As a condition of employment you must either join the union and pay union dues, or pay the union a representational or other fee within 30 days of the date you are put into pay status.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with license in good standing in Washington State, or obtain license within the first month of WDFW employment.
• Expertise in conducting necropsies and collecting diagnostic samples in fish.
• Knowledge of fish pathogens that are known to cause zoonotic disease and that are known to occur in Washington State waters.
• Experience working with:
  • anadromous fish both in natural and aquaculture environments;
  • comprehensive understanding of pathogens including current issues in fish health, including the identification, transmission, prevention, clinical signs, and control of fish diseases and parasites, including those important to public and wildlife health;
  • approval process for new government policies relating to veterinary drug use and fish health (specifically for anadromous fish);
  • and expertise in surgical and other veterinary procedures;

Knowledge of: modern epidemiologic principles and practices including the symptoms, causes (common diseases faced by fish in Washington, including the identification, transmission, prevention, clinical signs, and control of such disease caused by pathogens and environmental conditions), means of transmission and methods of control of communicable, non-communicable, and chronic diseases; basic medical terminology.

Ability to: apply laws and departmental rules and regulations to problems of disease control; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with governmental, voluntary, and private organizations, and groups concerned with public health services; communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing on both technical and non-technical levels.

Experience is based on full time equivalency (i.e., 40 or more hours/week). Part time work is prorated (e.g., 20 hours/week for 6 years = 3 years of experience). Do not count experience that was a part of your educational requirements.

Preferred candidate will have experience in the following:
Doctor of veterinary medicine and at least one year experience in practice of aquatic veterinary medicine.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Veterinary Accreditation

• Experience preparing grant proposals and budgets.
• Experience prioritizing and making independent decisions on diverse issues.
• Experience with microbiology and pathophysiology.
• Experience with modern research procedures including bio-statistical methodology; computers and programming in database management and statistical software.
• License to practice Veterinary medicine in the State of Washington.
• Washington State Driver’s license.
• First Aid Training.

A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (generic cover letter will not be accepted)

A current resume (please make it succinct)

Three professional references (personal references do not count as professional)

Please note:  Failure to follow the above application instructions will lead to disqualification.  E-mailed documents will not be accepted in lieu of attaching your documents to the online profile.
Upon submission of your online application, you will immediately receive a confirming e-mail.  You will then be notified via e-mail of your status during the process.  In addition to the e-mail notifications, you can check the status of your application at any time by visiting your online profile at www.careers.wa.gov.  Due to the high volume of applications that we receive, we ask your understanding and encourage you to use the online process and avoid calling for information.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer.  We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity.  Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.  Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 902-2276 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (800) 833-6388.