Assistant Veterinary Specialist

University Animal Care at the Universityof Arizona is in search of an Assistant Veterinary Specialist. This is a Continuing-Eligible position at the Assistant Veterinary Specialist faculty rank. The incumbent reports to the Director and participates in the preventive health care and clinical veterinary medicine programs for a wide variety of contemporary laboratory and agricultural species used in research and teaching common to a land grant institution. The incumbent also: participates in training related to animal care and use; oversees assigned animal facilities; consults with investigators on animal model selection, anesthetic/analgesic regimens, and IACUC protocol development; performs primary or veterinary review of IACUC protocols; provides UAC representation on University committee(s) relevant to the animal care and use program; participates in veterinary student and ACLAM resident instruction; and contributes to departmental leadership participating to management decisions, university service, teaching and research.

Compassion for Animals, Hope for People

University Animal Care (UAC) manages multiple centralized animal facilities at the University of Arizona and oversees the campus wide animal care and use program. UAC provides assistance to scientists, physicians, staff, and students who have received Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval to perform research, testing, or educational studies on animal subjects. UAC ensures humane and appropriate animal care and use by providing for the animals daily needs, veterinary care, and monitoring the use of the animals by principal investigators, technical personnel, and students. UAC is devoted to maintaining a safe environment that minimizes the risk of disease or injury to the animals and the personnel who work with them. UAC maintains accreditation by AAALAC International, the gold standard for animal care and use programs.

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Duties & responsibilities:

• Clinical Medicine and Research Support: Provide
  clinical care for contemporary laboratory and agricultural animals,
  with assistance from other UAC veterinarians and technical staff. Participate
  in training of researchers in technical procedures (compound
  administration, surgery, novel model development). Provide veterinary
  and researcher support for one (or more) centralized animal facility. Perform
  clinical rounds and serve on the emergency on-call rotation for
  weekends, evenings, and holidays. Assist with coordination of clinical
  rounds and emergency on-call schedules for provision of veterinary care.
  Maintain, update and approve SOPs pertinent to clinical care and
  husbandry activities. Participate in the large animal experimental
  surgery, agricultural program support, and other UAC programs as needed. Establish
  and maintain positive relationships with members of the UAC user group
  to ensure their animal research support needs are met. Assist
  investigators with selection of animal models, development of humane
  research methods or techniques, or other issues that affect the conduct
  of the research, testing, or educational programs which involve the use
  of animals. Provide training related to animal care and use as
  appropriate.
• IACUC and Investigator Support: Serve as a veterinary reviewer for IACUC protocols. Assist
  investigators with selection of animal models, development of humane
  research methods or techniques, and other issues that affect the conduct
  of the research, testing, or educational programs which involve the use
  of vertebrate animals.
• Departmental
  Management: Provide veterinary leadership for one or more centralized
  animal facilities. Participate in the UAC Management Team. Participate
  in document preparation and site visits for AAALAC accreditation and
  other regulatory agencies. Provide direction to veterinary and husbandry
  technical staff and students.
• Service,
  Teaching, and Research/Scholarly Activities: Participate in
  departmental, university and professional service, which may take many
  forms. Participate in UAC seminars, AALAS certification training,
  technical training of investigators and students, veterinary student
  clinical rotations, and ACLAM residents. Pursue scholarly activities
  that build upon professional and scientific interests and areas of
  expertise, to include independent or collaborative research.
• Other
  duties as assigned: The Position Description will be evaluated and
  adjusted annually based on discussions between the incumbent and the
  Director.

Knowledge, skills & abilities:

• Strong veterinary clinical skills including medicine and surgery in standard lab animal species
• Excellent communication skills across a broad range of audience types
• Strong leadership and personnel management skills
• Ability to work effectively independently and within a cohesive faculty and program management group

• DVM or equivalent from an AVMA-accredited institution;
• Full licensure to practice within one state;
• Willing and eligible to obtain USDA accreditation, DEA registration, and licensure to practice in Arizona upon employment;
• Must have a valid driver's license and ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy;
• Completion of a training program in laboratory animal medicine OR 3 years experience in laboratory animal medicine.

• Board certification by ACLAM/ECLAM or another applicable AVMA-recognized specialty, OR experience commensurate with ACLAM/ECLAM board-eligibility.
• Advanced degree (MS, MPH, PhD) in laboratory animal-related field.
• Experience with management, clinical, and peri-operative care of rodent, large animal, and non-traditional laboratory animal species models.
• Experience with training students and research staff and/or performance of biomethodologies including rodent technical procedures/surgery and large animal anesthesia/perioperative care.