Clinical Veterinarian

About the Job

This University of Minnesota’s department of Research Animal Resources (RAR) is searching for a clinical veterinarian to provide preventative, emergency, and routine veterinary care for laboratory animals used in the University of Minnesota’s AAALAC-accredited animal care and use program. This position reports directly to the RAR Director of Veterinary Services and interacts regularly with a variety of personnel, including students, veterinary residents, RAR staff, research laboratories, faculty, and senior leadership. We are seeking an independent, motivated, and service-oriented team player to join a flexible, fun, and driven group of veterinarians and staff within RAR.

In addition to traditional laboratory animal clinical work, the RAR veterinary team is also directly involved in regulatory compliance, husbandry and operations support, training, research support, teaching, process development and implementation, and a potential for independent or collaborative research. The team works with veterinary students at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine and has a primary role in the Minnesota Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency Consortium. Veterinary faculty are expected to teach, mentor, and support residents within the program. Additionally, the clinical veterinary team has the responsibility and latitude to identify areas for process refinements, develop plans to achieve identified improvements, and to initiate the steps for implementation and completion after consultation with the AV, RAR Executive Director and the Director of Veterinary Services when necessary.

RAR is embarking on an exciting growth phase with development of and upgrades to existing facilities and expanding research. RAR’s team of veterinarians consists of the institution's attending veterinarian, the director of veterinary services, six clinical veterinarians, and up to three veterinary residents. Additionally the veterinarians are supported by a team of 16 veterinary technicians skilled in laboratory animal medicine.

Please note that within the research environment there is the potential for exposure to hazardous and infectious materials including, (but not limited to) chemotherapeutic agents, radioactive substances, allergens, excessive noise,BSL-2, BSL-3 and/or zoonotic pathogens. The ability to move / lift / restrain animals is required.

Location and Work environment: Work location will vary across the vivaria located on Minneapolis and St. Paul campus. Work will be in person. Some travel to satellite locations might be required.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30. On call responsibilities and some weekends, nights, and holidays might be required.

Primary Responsibilities:

Clinical Care (40%)

• Provide or oversee preventative, emergency, and routine veterinary care of spontaneous and experimentally induced diseases and conditions for research animals within the University of Minnesota system.
• As indicated by the medical condition of the individual animal(s): Examine, diagnose, prescribe treatment, perform surgery, and provide methods for humane euthanasia if necessary.
• Perform and interpret antemortem diagnostics (clinical pathology, imaging, EKG, etc.) as needed
• Perform rounds of all animals in assigned clinical areas on a regular basis.
• Provide population medicine and expertise in management of laboratory animal research colonies
• Communicate exam findings and treatment recommendations to veterinary technicians and research personnel as well as keep animal care staff updated on cases.
• Perform necropsies and related post mortem tissue sampling and diagnostics as able or prepare and send collected samples to appropriate veterinary diagnostic vendors.
• Provide emergency veterinary services after normal business hours, weekends, holidays, or other emergency situations on a rotating basis, including responding to housing facility issues in concert with RAR operations staff and UMN facility maintenance staff as it relates to animal welfare concerns.
• Assess and manage pain and distress in common laboratory species via pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions
• Perform USDA Accredited Veterinarian duties by inspecting animals ready for shipping or transport by reviewing, approving, and signing international, interstate and/or internal health certificates for a variety of species that might include (but is not limited to) small animals, common laboratory animal species, livestock, poultry and fish.

Regulatory Compliance and Research Support (15%):

• Perform direct or delegated Attending Veterinarian responsibilities as assigned.
• Serve as a member of an IACUC or consistently attend/participate in IACUC meetings as needed on a rotational basis.
• Ensure that animal transportation, housing, experimental use and disposal comply with and are in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws, including guidance documents such as the PHS policy, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching, AVMA Guidelines for Euthanasia of Animals, the University of Minnesota animal use policies and guidelines, and other guidance documents as appropriate..
• Assist with purchase, use, documentation, and disposal of veterinary medical substances (including DEA controlled substances) and comply with internal processes in accordance with federal and state laws and University policy.
• Provide advice and support to the UMN research occupational health and safety program and provide advice and support on matters related to biological, chemical and radiation hazards in the context of research animals.
• Facilitate or provide research support.
• Directly participate in design and review of research projects and related IACUC protocols, either through direct participation on committees such as (but not limited to) the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee or the Institutional Biosafety Committee, or by request directly from principal investigators and/or their staff.
• Advise and consult with investigators on matters related to their research and the construction of their animal use protocol, advise investigators on model design, including but limited to appropriate species and procedural selections, medications to minimize pain or distress, and best euthanasia methods.

Husbandry and Operations support (15%)

• Provide support and expertise in the development of animal husbandry programs
• Manage or provide indirect management/oversight of animal husbandry programs.
• Manage or provide indirect management/oversight of laboratory animal facilities and related equipment.
• Identify areas for process improvement within the department.
• Assist with communicating and implementing new processes within the department.
• Review, follow, and provide recommendations for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Standards of Care (SOC) and assist with communicating and implementing updates.
• Provide leadership for departmental subcommittees such as (but not limited to) employee engagement, environmental enrichment, ergonomics, team development, etc..

Teaching/Training (15%):

• Train personnel and research staff in animal care and use
• Provide support and expertise on how to enhance training at the institution and assist with communicating changes as needed.
• Create and offer training in the form of lectures, labs, and seminars etc. for RAR staff, veterinary technicians, area supervisors, and research staff and/or faculty.
• Research, write and amend documents for direct use in teaching researchers,, RAR employees, or other individuals associated with the University.
• Assist in training new veterinary technicians.
• Mentor, train, and support veterinary colleagues and students.
• Provide training for graduate veterinarians in the Minnesota Laboratory Animal Medicine Consortium residency program,, via seminars, journal clubs, and clinical rounds.
• Mentor veterinary residents in the training program to develop and execute research projects as part of their required training, including writing grant proposals to secure project funding.
• Determine how to further enhance educational programs for veterinary students and residents and assist in implementing changes to the program

Professional development (10%)

• Participate in independent or collaborative research projects related to clinical laboratory animal medicine or other fields of study.
• Participate in department, college, and University events, meetings, projects, and initiatives.
• Participate in national meetings, training, and/or committees related to the field of laboratory animals and laboratory animal medicine.

Additional Duties (5%):

• The Director of Veterinary Services, the RAR Executive Director and the AV may change or assign other duties to this position as needed.

This position is defined as an essential role under the University’s State of Emergency policy, and plays a key role in ensuring the health and welfare of RAR’s research animals. During emergencies or other situations that impact normal operations, this position may be required to perform additional duties as assigned to support the team and ensure animal care is not compromised. These duties may include, but are not limited to, animal husbandry, sanitation, feeding, health monitoring, and will be determined at the discretion of the direct supervisor and/or RAR senior leadership based on operational needs. Training will be provided as needed. Unscheduled, mandatory overtime may be assigned by the direct supervisor/leadership as needed to ensure animal health and welfare.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or equivalent degree from an AVMA accredited veterinary school, or certification of veterinary training through programs such as ECFVG and PAVE plus at least two (2) years of experience as a practicing veterinarian (experience as a practicing veterinarian might include residency experience)
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines both independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrated effectiveness in problem identification and problem solving with complex and sensitive issues
• Capable of accepting responsibility with a high level of independent initiative, proactivity, and creativity
• License to practice veterinary medicine in Minnesota is required within 3 months of start date

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1 year or more experience or training in the field of laboratory animal medicine
• ACLAM Certification, ACLAM eligibility, or qualifications leading to eligibility
• Working knowledge of federal laws and regulations governing the use of animals in research, AAALAC-accreditation, and important industry guidelines (e.g. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Ag Guide, Occ Health, etc.)
• Advanced computer skills including experience with spreadsheets/word processing, presentation formats (presentation software and presenting virtually), and ability to learn new clinical and regulatory software systems

Medical, physical, & environmental requirements:

• A current Tetanus vaccine is required
• An annual Tuberculosis screening is required
• An annual Influenza vaccine is required
• A protective measles titer is required or measles vaccination (if never vaccinated) or booster (if titer does not convey protection) is required
• A rabies vaccine or titer is offered unless the employee wishes to fill out a declination form
• Powered Air Purifying Respirator or N95 Masks may be required due to exposure of animal allergens when working in certain environments and conditions.
• An annual hearing test is required due to facilities with noise levels requiring screening and use of hearing protection is required
• Employees may work in wet rooms or around large industrial cage washers
• Employees may work in outside environments in all weather conditions
• Employees should be prepared to lift up to fifty (50) pounds

About the Department

Research Animal Resources (RAR) provides the University of Minnesota research community with animal care, procurement services, veterinary knowledge, and maintenance of housing facilities for animal-related research activities.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $134,673.-$165,800.00; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Time Appointment

Work Profile: This position has been designated as Profile 1 - Office Based. The employee is expected to work primarily in the office. Your office will be located on the Twin Cities campus.

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Application review will begin immediately within the first 7 days from the date of this posting.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).