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About This Role

• The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is actively recruiting for the position of Resident Director for our Canyon, TX lab. This position is responsible for daily oversight of the laboratory operations, including budgetary matters, routine testing, test development, client communications, quality assurance, safety, and employee well-being.
• In addition to directing the work of the Canyon lab, the Resident Director serves as a member of the TVMDL Executive Committee, providing input on agency rules, policies and procedures and works cooperatively with other agency leadership, ensuring the four TVMDL laboratory locations function as one unit by promoting communication and interrelationships. The Resident Director is responsible for ensuring effective supervision, management and leadership of all Canyon section staff and operations and will lead and support continuing efforts to improve laboratory workflows, physical operations, and business operations. 
• Externally, this position will develop and maintain positive working relationships with veterinary practitioners, animal industry associations, and livestock and pet owners. The Resident Director resolves complex, confidential, or sensitive diagnostic case issues with clients, contracting agencies, and other TVMDL customers. This role also provides leadership for case coordination, complaint management and overall client relations for the Canyon laboratory.
• Read more about the duties here.

About TVMDL

• As part of the Texas A&M University System, TVMDL includes two full-service laboratories and two poultry laboratories serving veterinarians, livestock producers, and government agencies across the state and world. TVMDL has proudly served Texas as the state veterinary diagnostic laboratory for over 50 years. In addition to our history of excellence, TVMDL has also made positive contributions to diagnostic testing, veterinary medicine, and disease surveillance, ensuring future Texans and other stakeholders are safe for years to come. Annually, TVMDL performs over 1 million tests from every state and approximately 17 countries. 
• Located in the Texas Panhandle, the Canyon laboratory is a full-service diagnostic lab that performs an average of 95,000 tests annually. The lab's primary clientele are beef cattle producers.  Thee region also has a strong, growing dairy industry, serves a healthy equine industry, a growing swine industry, and has a modest service to small animals and exotics. TVMDL is a Level 1 laboratory in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.

 Working at TVMDL

As part of the Texas A&M System, TVMDL offers an array of programs to ensure its employees maintain a healthy work/life balance. These programs include health, dental, vision and System paid life insurance with a financial incentive to offset the cost of health benefits for the employee and their family.

Other standard benefits include:

• Generous retirement plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave
• Opportunities to earn state compensation time
• Wellness Release Program offering paid leave to exercise
• Continuing education opportunities
• Discounted diagnostic testing, veterinary care, and pet supplies
• Staff appreciation events throughout the year
• Salary Step Program
• Formal career ladder
• Annual dues in two professional associations

TVMDL's Canyon laboratory was completed in 2020 and resides on the campus of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. The laboratory is a secured, state-of-the-art facility with natural lighting in all spaces and ergonomic furniture. 

How to Apply 

• See the full job description and apply online; search for job requisition R-055707. 
• For additional information, contact Dr. Amy Swinford, TVMDL Director at 979.845.3414.  All inquiries are confidential. 
• All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.
• TVMDL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer

Required

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or advanced degree in a relevant field of study. Veterinary pathologists are encouraged to apply.
• Five or more years of veterinary diagnostic laboratory experience or other relevant veterinary work experience and at least five years of experience directing/supervising personnel.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred 

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and advanced degree (e.g. M.S., PhD, MBA, etc.) in relevant field of study. Veterinary pathologists are encouraged to apply.
• Five or more years of veterinary diagnostic laboratory experience or other relevant veterinary work experience and at least five years of experience directing/supervising personnel.
• Understanding of basic functions and daily operations of a veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Knowledge of standard laboratory safety procedures.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively to ensure understanding.
• Veterinarian license in Texas or eligible for Veterinarian Special License.
• Specialty board certification (ACVP, ACVM, etc).

About TVMDL

The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is a member of The Texas A&M University System and is composed of two full-service laboratories, located in College Station and Canyon, and two poultry laboratories, located in Center and Gonzales. With its strategic locations, TVMDL is uniquely positioned to serve the animal industries of Texas. TVMDL performs an average of 1 million tests per year. Submissions received in the laboratory originate from Texas, neighboring states, and around the world. TVMDL’s primary clients are Texas animal owners and veterinarians; state and federal agencies, including the Texas Animal Health Commission; Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and the state’s food animal industries. TVMDL provides service to these clients by conducting laboratory tests on specimens from live or deceased animals and their environments. In addition, the laboratories facilitate commerce of Texas livestock by providing tests required for international, intrastate, and interstate movement of animals. TVMDL also provides critical laboratory data necessary to identify disease outbreaks..., including emerging, reemerging, and zoonotic diseases, and provides appropriate warnings to individuals and governmental agencies. Accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) as a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory, TVMDL is committed to providing state-of-the-art, quality diagnostic services concentrated on maximum testing accuracy, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness. TVMDL is also a Level 1 of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), a group of state and regional laboratories performing surveillance testing for high-consequence agricultural and zoonotic pathogens, organized by USDA APHIS. TVMDL staff receive annual training, follow nationwide standard operating procedures, and stand ready to perform surge capacity testing in the event of an animal disease outbreak. As a member of the NAHLN, TVMDL performs testing and surveillance for avian influenza, H1N1 influenza, foot and mouth disease, vesicular stomatitis, contagious equine metritis, classical swine fever (hog cholera), scrapie, and chronic wasting disease in deer. While maintaining traditional service to the food animal industries and companion animal owners of Texas, TVMDL is dedicated to developing new diagnostic tools, incorporating state-of-the-art technology, increasing efficiency, and continuing to provide clients with professional expertise to help them solve difficult cases. The laboratory’s success can be attributed to a dedicated and skilled professional, technical, and administrative staff and to the professional relationships developed with practicing veterinarians, industry leaders, academics, researchers, and the general public.

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