Job Specification

Purpose :

To provide leadership and scientific expertise in veterinary science, epidemiology, risk assessment, disease prevention and control related to animal health and welfare, public and environmental health.

Key Responsibilities :

1.Program Planning and Development

Collaborates with industry, academic and government stakeholders to develop and coordinate the implementation of program delivery related to the prevention, preparedness, detection of and response to animal health and welfare issues. Consults and collaborates with government and industry partners to improve provincial and national level biosecurity and emergency preparedness plans. Consults with industry and government stakeholders provincially and nationally to identify needs and priorities, assess risks and propose risk management in order to develop appropriate policy, programs, regulations and legislation related to provincial animal health and welfare.

2.Policy Development and Advice

Participates in the policy/legislation/regulation development process; represents the ministry in cross-divisional, inter-ministerial, and external meetings, collaborative projects and working groups related to animal health and welfare issues and related public or environmental health; provides policy advice to manage present and future risks to animals and public health; provides guidance and direction to ministry staff and stakeholders on issues related to the prevention, detection and response to animal health hazards; provides input and support to issues management related to animal health and welfare issues in the province.

3.Data Collection and Analysis

Collaborates with the Lead Veterinarian Epidemiology and other government and industry stakeholders in designing and coordinating the collection, collation, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of animal health surveillance data from multiple sources. Reports results to internal and external stakeholders through provincial and national level surveillance processes.

4.Research and Education

Prioritizes and directs research priorities in the areas of food safety, pathogen risks and animal health and welfare; evaluates research proposals; develops educational materials on animal health hazards, animal welfare, emergency and risk management for industry and veterinarians. Provides program delivery and assists with continuous learning in the area of veterinary science.

Knowledge / Skill :

Licensed as a Veterinarian with the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.

Knowledge of and skills in:

-Application of all aspects of animal agriculture and commodities [from farm to fork], including the management processes, biological hazards, stakeholders involved, provincial, federal and international policy and legislation [food safety, animal health and welfare, trade, public health, environment, wildlife], and skills in their application, in order to plan, develop, organize and administer multiple programs while ensuring compliance with legislation/regulations.

-Assessing the risks to animal and public health from poorly understood or emerging hazards in a complex biological and political context to make decisions on actions, and policy recommendations to manage these risks.

-Disease surveillance, and surveillance systems and methods, in order to ensure essential data is obtained from all relevant sources and risks/hazards are identified early.

-Statistical theory and its application in order to design studies and analyze disease surveillance data.

-Biological systems, the epidemiology of disease in populations and best management practices related to veterinary science in order to formulate and recommend ways and means to manage disease, and conduct disease outbreak investigations.

-Project management, policy development, resource procurement, budget planning, time management, report writing, and technology transfer, in order to adhere to established policy and budgets, lead and plan, develop, and coordinate policy, programs, projects and studies.

-Communications, oral and written, to educate partners through presentations and publications.
Interpreting all related legislation, regulations, and policies associated with disease prevention.

-Use of various computer software programs to write reports and correspondence, and conduct research.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

-Consultation and facilitation skills to work with other ministries, government and industry, to develop and implement programs.

-Negotiation skills to facilitate disease prevention initiatives and regulatory activity with government partners and with a diverse group of stakeholders.

-Advisory skills to serve as scientific/technical expert on committees and working groups engaged in policy review and development.

-Presentation and influencing skills to present convincing explanations on complex disease risk and prevention issues and strategies to other government bodies, to stakeholder groups and to the public.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analyzing and problem solving skills to:

-Lead or conduct scientific studies and perform risk assessment of current and emerging hazards in an uncertain environment.

-Review and evaluate disease surveillance and prevention programs, and to determine appropriate methods of disease surveillance given the risk assessment.

-Review emerging policy issues and identify policy, program or legislation/regulation options for the management of risks to animal and public health and put forward the appropriate option.

-Respond to/recommend resolution of/resolve issues related to any hazard of animal origin (some of which have very little scientific data or certainty).

-Manage significant risks to the province relying on a network of partners and stakeholders to raise awareness and/or provide resources.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:

-Formulating and recommending ways and means to manage disease, and to conduct disease outbreak investigations.

-Reviewing, evaluating and integrating input from stakeholders into policy or program development initiatives, and making recommendations on such input to senior managers within the ministry.

-Assessing the risks to animal and public health from poorly understood or emerging hazards in a complex biological and political context, and making decisions on actions and policy recommendations to manage these risks.

-Surveillance system design to manage current and emerging hazards, which will determine the allocation of resources, and affect priorities.

Has latitude to plan, develop, and implement policies and programs for provincial bio-security, including disease surveillance (e.g., establish provincial level strategies and outreach related to disease prevention).

Decision-making is guided by standards for the profession as set out by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario as well as epidemiological and statistical principles, the Veterinarians Act, government priorities, ministry policy, and emergency management guidelines.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

-Industry, academic and government stakeholders (provincially and nationally) to identify needs and priorities; assess risks and propose risk management strategies; collect, collate, analyse and disseminate surveillance information; discuss the development and implementation of policies, programs, regulations, legislation and activities that make effective use of resources for optimal program results.

-Government and industry partners to improve provincial and national level emergency preparedness and response plans.

-Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to coordinate zoonotic disease surveillance data and programs and to coordinate the management of risks to public health.

Guidance / Supervision :

-Provides leadership by assisting in identification of priorities, program delivery, and mentoring.

-Provides guidance and scientific advice based on professional expertise [e.g., on risks from animal hazards] to ministry senior management, other ministries and industry groups.

-Advises the Chief Veterinary Officer and the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer on animal health and welfare issues.

-Consults with other Ministry divisions and branches to coordinate animal health and welfare programs and emergency management.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

Occasionally represents the ministry at out-of-province meetings. Occasional after-hours work is required on a rotational basis and as issues arise.

Frequent work demands on short notice with tight deadlines; e.g., response to potential disease outbreak, immediate briefing notes and issue responses.

Mental / Sensory :

Concentrated reading of technical information, listening intently at meetings, concentrating on problems with different potential impacts.

Conditions / Environment :

Occasional exposure to diseases and hazards on farms.