Job Specification
ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN
DEFINITION:
Under the close supervision of a Principal Animal Health Technician or other
supervisory official in the Department of Agriculture, within designated areas,
does technical work needed to detect and control the spread of infectious
and contagious diseases in New Jersey’s livestock, poultry, and other animal
species; performs detailed field and/or laboratory examinations, investigations
and tests; issues quarantines as needed; does other related duties as required.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only.
A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this
job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be
listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Inspects licensed garbage feeding swine farms to ensure compliance with state
and federal sanitation requirements and observes the taking of temperatures
of cooked garbage to prevent the spread of disease transmitted through
improperly cooked food; may observe swine to detect diseases that may
exist; may assist in educating producers on a regular basis to detect potentially
infectious diseases including foreign animal diseases such as African Swine
Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease.
Draws blood samples from cattle, swine, and poultry according to United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Uniform Methods and Rules, for (brucellosis,
pseudorabies, pullorum, etc.) testing.
May assist in conducting epidemiological investigations of disease outbreaks,
including diagnostic testing, analyses, and comprehensive reports that may
include recommendations for action and preventive measures to reduce the
risk of similar outbreaks in the future.
Performs various types of microbiological examinations, investigations, and
postmortem examinations to aid in determining the disease of livestock and
poultry. Assists in related laboratory and/or fieldwork.
Issues quarantines on diseased animals to prevent the spread of disease
to healthy stock.
Assists veterinarians in appraising, destroying, and disposing of infected
livestock in eradicating diseases.
Collects milk samples from cows and goats at assigned farms and milk
processing plants for tests to ensure that animals are free from diseases.
Performs poultry testing in the Division of Animal Health for pullorum to
make flocks eligible for interstate movement and hatching purposes.
Trains private industry poultry people for certification to conduct pullorum
tests where necessary.
Inspects the health condition of livestock assigned to auction markets to
prevent the potential spread of disease to the state’s livestock industry.
Assists veterinarians in epidemiology examinations to control and
eradicate the outbreak of diseases in infected herds or flocks.
Inspects flocks to make certain that all reactor (disease carrier) birds
are removed before the flocks are certified relative to breeding and
standardization under the national poultry improvement plan rules;
also inspects the condition of poultry in quarantined areas to prevent
the spread of disease to the state’s poultry industry.
Inspects transported (intrastate and interstate) quarantined animals
and poultry for identification purposes to ensure freedom from disease
and to verify their compliance with state standards for importation.
Inspects livestock dealers’ record books to determine they are kept in
compliance with state and federal guidelines and approves livestock
dealers’ premises for issuance of renewal of licenses.
Organizes assigned field and other inspection work to carry out
regulatory activities and analyzes problems arising therein to
develop effective work methods.
Performs veterinary medical diagnostic tests, veterinary microbiological
analyses, animal serologic tests, molecular tests, parasitic animal
examinations, virologic analyses, and assists in necropsy (postmortem)
examinations to aid in the determination of diseases of a wide variety
of animal species, including livestock, poultry, companion animals,
zoo animals, and wildlife; determines the need for confirmatory testing
based on initial results/findings and performs other related laboratory
work.
Assists in securing, dissecting, grossing, and disposing of animal
carcasses to examine gross lesions and diagnose diseases.
Assists in interpreting veterinary diagnostic laboratory examinations
and test results and preparing records of observations, tests, values,
raw data etc.
Performs Equine Infectious Anemia testing and signs-off on official
Coggins test certificate to prevent the spread of disease in the state’s
equine industry.
Performs testing and examination of samples from imported equine for
the presence of infectious bacteria that cause Contagious Equine Metritis
(CEM) disease and prevent the introduction of the bacteria in New Jersey
and the US in compliance with the federal and state regulations.
Participates in Emerging and Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) testing and
necropsy examinations, including but not limited to highly pathogenic
avian influenza (HPAI), Classical Swine Fever (CSF), Foot-and-Mouth
Disease (FMD), African Swine Fever (ASF), etc.; complies with the USDA
National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) rules and agreements.
Participates in surveillance testing in support of the state and federal
regulatory programs.
Assists in acquisition, accession, chain of custody, storage, and disposal
of various sample types, including blood samples, body fluids, carcasses,
swabs, milk samples, food samples, etc., to ensure the integrity of
specimens and samples.
Performs animal tissue collection, grossing, processing, and staining
(including special staining) for animal disease diagnoses by a veterinary
pathologist.
Performs veterinary clinical chemistry and toxicology analyses, interprets
findings, and communicates findings to stakeholders.
Participates in the preparation of proficiency testing specimens for
monitoring veterinary diagnostic test performance; prepares and
standardizes reagents and standard solutions, culture media and
stains, and antigens used; maintains inventories.
Assists in training laboratory employees in the performance of tests,
examinations, and analyses.
Adheres to all laboratory safety requirements.
Assists in research on veterinary diagnostic related problems and emerging
issues, and analytical validation and verification studies, designed by research
scientists and veterinarians.
Complies with laboratory quality system and the ISO 17025 standard /AAVLD
requirements to obtain accreditation.
Performs acquisition, storage, preservation, maintenance, recording, and
proper use of laboratory equipment, materials, and supplies to ensure
compliance with the quality system.
Reviews SOPs, literature, practices, and new developments in the field of
veterinary diagnostic laboratory science.
Assists in addressing client requests and complaints related to laboratory
services and ensures client satisfaction.
Maintains and disposes of veterinary diagnostic laboratory records,
reports, and files to ensure compliance with the quality system and
ISO 17025 standard.
Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports
of veterinary diagnostic laboratory tests, inspections, analyses, and
examinations containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Maintains essential records, reports, and files.
Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or
manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office,
or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
EDUCATION:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate
degree with fifteen (15) credit hours concentration in Animal Science,
Animal Science Technology, Veterinary Technology, or other related
Biological Sciences.
EXPERIENCE:
One (1) year of laboratory examination, analysis, and testing experience
on a wide variety of animal specimens in a veterinary diagnostic laboratory
or clinic and/or of technical experience inspecting and controlling livestock
and poultry diseases and conducting field and laboratory tests concerning
these diseases in a regulatory agency or private industry.
NOTE: Applicants who possess fifteen (15) credit hours concentration in
Animal Science, Animal Science Technology, Veterinary Technology, or
other related Biological Sciences without the required Associate degree
may substitute the indicated experience on a year for year basis, one (1)
year equals thirty (30) credits.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in
New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee
mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the habits and behavior of livestock and poultry.
Knowledge of the husbandry procedures as they apply to livestock
and poultry.
Knowledge of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Federal Swine Health Protection Act and the procedures to inspect
and/or coordinate inspections of licensed garbage-feeding swine
farms under the Act.
Knowledge of the Federal laws concerning the importation and shipment
of poultry and livestock.
Knowledge of the prevention and control of contagious diseases of poultry
and livestock and their application to specific cases.
Knowledge of how to draw blood samples from cattle, swine, goats, and
horses according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Uniform Methods and Rules.
Knowledge of the field tests for various livestock and poultry diseases.
Knowledge of the laws of New Jersey and the rules and regulations of
the Department of Agriculture concerning the importation and shipment
of poultry and livestock.
Knowledge of the principles and application of livestock and poultry
quarantines.
Knowledge of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory examinations, tests,
and analyses.
Knowledge of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory-related federal and
state rules, regulations, methods, and policies.
Knowledge of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory accreditation and
ISO 17025 standard.
Knowledge of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory biosafety and
biosecurity to ensure safe operations.
Knowledge of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory equipment, reagents,
and techniques.
Ability to communicate lab results to clients and resolve client complaints.
Ability to perform veterinary diagnostic laboratory examinations, tests,
and analyses of varied types following standard and prescribed
procedures in compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements.
Ability to use, maintain, and calibrate veterinary diagnostic laboratory
equipment and supplies in such a manner as to avoid unnecessary
breakage and comply with the quality system.
Ability to assist in the operations of the necropsy (animal autopsy) and
histology processing.
Ability to read and follow methods, procedures, and SOPs.
Ability to organize assigned work, analyze routine lab problems, and
develop appropriate work methods.
Ability to maintain laboratory areas in a clean, orderly, and safe condition.
Ability to assist in addressing client complaints and ensuring client
satisfaction with the laboratory services.
Ability to recognize and identify abnormal health conditions and
behavior of livestock and poultry.
Ability to comprehend and carry out written and verbal instructions
and field procedures.
Ability to draw blood samples from cattle, swine, goats, poultry, and
horses according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Uniform Methods and Rules.
Ability to perform field tests for various livestock and poultry diseases.
Ability to work effectively with associates, veterinarians, superior officers,
farmers, stockmen, poultrymen, and others interested or concerned
with the Division of Animal Health activities.
Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the laws of New Jersey and
the Federal government, and the rules, regulations, policies, and
procedures of the Department of Agriculture concerning the importation
and shipment and the prevention, control and eradication of contagious
and infectious disease of poultry and livestock.
Ability to act as a witness in court and give testimony under oath.
Ability to assist in planning and conducting training programs.
Ability to develop educational and technical assistance materials for
use in training programs.
Ability to assist with epidemiological follow-up investigations,
examinations, and analyses of livestock and poultry disease outbreaks.
Ability to make presentations regarding animal disease control
information and/or veterinary diagnostic laboratory information.
Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative
reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Ability to maintain essential records, reports, and files.
Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or
manual recording and information systems used by the agency,
office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in
English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American
Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable
forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can
perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable
accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it
would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not
be eligible.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code: | | Job
Spec
Code | Variant | State,
Local or
Common | Class of
Service | Work
Week | State
Class
Code | Local
Class
Code | Salary
Range | Note | | 00893 | | S | C | NE | 17 | N/A | A17 | - |
This job specification is for state government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.
1/01/2022 |
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