North Dakota State University Hiring for Director of Animal Resources and Institutional Attending Veterinarian at Fargo, North Dakota Full Time

Director of Animal Resources/Attending Veterinarian

North Dakota State University (NDSU) seeks a dynamic, collaborative and experienced person to serve as the Director of Animal Resources/Institutional Attending Veterinarian.  The position resides in the Office of Research and Creative Activity (RCA) and provides oversight and management of the university’s animal care and use program and serves as the institutional attending veterinarian. 

The Attending Veterinarian reports to the Vice President for RCA and serves as a resource to faculty, staff, and students by providing regulatory guidance and veterinary expertise to those utilizing animals in research, teaching, and/or production.  The Attending Veterinarian is a critical component of assurance compliance with USDA and PHS guidelines. The AV works closely with the Animal Care and Use Committee and partners with departments across campus to maintain the highest standards of animal care and use at NDSU.

Outstanding benefits include fully funded health insurance for both individual and family plans, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, a generous retirement plan, and tuition waiver for employee and discounted tuition for spouse/dependents. Candidates may be eligible for both national and state veterinary loan repayment programs.

NDSU is a land grant university, as well as a Carnegie R1 doctoral/very high research activity institution, and is the only R1 in the state of North Dakota as well as one of only four R1s in a six-state region in the Upper Midwest.  NDSU’s impact reaches every county in the state, with extension offices in 53 counties and 7 Research Extension Centers. The University leads all North Dakota higher education institutions in funding from the U.S. Departments of Defense, Transportation, Agriculture, and the National Science Foundation.  NDSU is located in Fargo, North Dakota, recently featured in the New York Times travel section as well as in the Wall Street Journal for its downtown revitalization. The Los Angeles Times calls Fargo “Trendy!” and The Today Show dubbed Fargo “A Hip City!” The Greater Fargo-Moorhead population is just over 180,000, with a low cost of living, thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem, and a vibrant community of New Americans. The state is also home to five sovereign Tribal Nations and five Tribal Colleges. Fargo has two James Beard-nominated restaurants and is a short drive to lakes country in Minnesota. Western North Dakota offers the Badlands and new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora.

Responsibilities:

Leadership:

• Provide leadership and oversight of the NDSU animal care and use program. Has the authority and accountability to make decisions regarding animal treatment and care. Proactively communicates with stakeholders. Works collaboratively with all individuals involved in the care and use of animals used in research and teaching. Inform and advocate to university leadership regarding issues and policies pertaining to animal are and use. 

Veterinary care:

• Utilizing clinical best practice guidelines, provides oversight of the health and welfare of all animals (on and off campus – including Research Extension Centers and off-campus research with wildlife) used in university research and teaching. Maintain and oversee a comprehensive animal biosecurity program including but not limited to: processes and procedures for quarantine, health surveillance, environmental monitoring, internal animal movement, as well as animal imports and exports. Oversees the veterinary care program for research animals including diagnosis and treatment of a variety of health conditions, in multiple species (including rodents used in biomedical research, production livestock, and various species of wildlife, or exotics), as well as euthanasia, necropsy, and tissue collection.
  • Responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining animal care standards and policies to ensure the safe use of animals at NDSU facilities.

Training programs:

• Oversees the program of training for research staff and students on animal handling, proper veterinary care, procedures, pain/distress management and peri-operative care. Ensures appropriate training of all faculty, staff, post-doctoral researchers, and students engaged in animal care and use.

Regulatory:

• Prepares for, and participates in, institutional site visits by external oversight organizations (e.g., USDA, OLAW). Works closely with the IACUC administrator and other Research Integrity & Compliance members in conducting post-approval monitoring of animal care and use protocols. Assists in assuring compliance with all federal regulations (including USDA-APHIS, PHS, OLAW, etc.) and university policies and procedures concerning the care and use of animals in research, teaching and production. Works in direct partnership with the IACUC to include protocol review, semi-annual facility inspections, program review, and investigator support.
  • Provide veterinary support and consultation on IACUC protocols.  Serve as a voting member on the IACUC. Provides individualized consultation to investigators on protocol development. Assists investigators in developing and selecting appropriate animal models. Ensures appropriate facilities and equipment are in place to carry out proposed projects.

  Participate in the development and management of disaster response planning. Ensure the condition and care of the animal facilities are in compliance with institutional standards and policies; local, state, and federal regulations. Work collaboratively with the Research Integrity & Compliance team to ensure federal reports are completed accurately and on time.

Salary: $150,000-$180,000 depending on experience plus excellent benefits

Minimum Qualifications:

• DVM, VMD, or equivalent degree from an AVMA accredited veterinary school, or certification of veterinary training through programs such as ECFVG and PAVE. Current veterinary licensure in one US state and eligible for licensure in ND. A Minimum of six (6) years of post-doctoral clinical and research (agricultural production animal species and/or biomedical animal species, wildlife, and /or exotics) experience OR completion of laboratory animal residency.

Preferred Qualifications:

• American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) board certification or equivalent. A minimum of six (6) years of experience providing veterinary care to animals in a research setting. Experience working as a veterinarian in a university or research environment. Experience serving on an IACUC with agricultural production animal species and/or biomedical animal species, wildlife and/or exotics. Current or past-experience with DEA registration, regulations, and protocols.

Applicant Materials Required:

• Curriculum vitae/resumé Cover letter individually addressing the minimum and preferred qualifications Contact information for three professional references with your application materials.

NDSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes single or family health insurance coverage with premiums paid for by the university – with an effective date for new employees the first of the month following date of hire. Other benefits include: wellness benefits, basic life insurance, retirement plan, tuition waiver, annual leave, EAP, sick leave and holiday pay. Optional benefits include: supplemental life, dental, vision, long-term care insurance, flexible spending account, and supplemental retirement plans.

No Smoking Notice:

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.

EO/AA Statement:

North Dakota State University is an Equal Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable.

Veteran’s Preference Notice:

This position is subject to North Dakota Veteran’s Preference requirements.

Reasonable Accommodation Information:

North Dakota State University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resources at 701-231-8961 or [email protected].

Land Acknowledgement:
We collectively acknowledge that we gather together at NDSU, a land grant institution, on the traditional lands of the Oceti Sakowin (Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda) and Anishinaabe Peoples in addition to many diverse Indigenous Peoples still connected to these lands. We honor with gratitude Mother Earth and the Indigenous Peoples who have walked with her throughout generations. We will continue to learn how to live in unity with Mother Earth and build strong, mutually beneficial, trusting relationships with Indigenous Peoples of our region. (see www.ndsu.edu/inclusioncouncil/native_american_initiatives/ ).