Description

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Keystone Animal Diagnostic Center (KADC) is being established at The Pennsylvania State University Beaver Campus, to be part of the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS). The PSU Beaver Campus is located in Monaca, PA, on the banks of the Ohio River in the northwest aspect of the Greater Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area.

The KADC is seeking a Veterinary Diagnostician to oversee diagnostic services, in support of the laboratory’s mission to protect the health and productivity of Pennsylvania’s poultry and livestock, ensure food safety, and protect human health. The successful candidate will also serve as the resident director of the KADC. This full-time, 48-week, non-tenure track position will be filled at the Assistant Clinical, Associate Clinical, or Clinical Professor level in the faculty of the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences.

The KADC will be the fourth laboratory in the PADLS. Functionally, the KADC is a branch laboratory of the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (ADL) at Penn State, which provides bacteriology and histopathology services to support the KADC, as well as quality management, and IT support.

This primary responsibility (80%) of this position will be to provide leadership to, and serve as case coordinator for, diagnostic services to be offered at this newly emerging laboratory, including molecular diagnostics, serology, virology and parasitology. The incumbent will:

Oversee receiving, accessioning, and testing of diagnostic samples.
Review and approve diagnostic test results and release reports to clients.
Ensure compliance with the laboratory’s quality management system.
Introduce new diagnostic tests in accordance with the laboratory’s workplan, including establishing necropsy services at the KADC.
Supervise the laboratory’s diagnostic technologists, including conducting annual goal-setting and performance reviews, guiding professional development, and overseeing daily personnel management.
Participate in PADLS’ Scientific Discipline Committees.

The other major responsibility of this position (20%) will be to serve as the resident director of the KADC. In this capacity, the incumbent will:

Serve as prime administrator for this branch laboratory, ensuring implementation of the KADC workplan, including preparing for, and obtaining American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) accreditation, and achieving status as a National Animal Health Network (NAHLN) laboratory.
Oversee financial operations of the KADC, working with Penn State financial personnel and units to acquire and manage funding opportunities.
Participate in PADLS activities, such as the PA Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission meetings, and monthly Resident Director Committee meetings.
Establish and maintain effective relationships with clients and stakeholders.
Provide a vision for the future of the KADC, based on input from clients and stakeholders, in conjunction with the ADL at University Park, and in light of emerging trends and demands in veterinary diagnostics.

Although there are no formal teaching or research expectations with this position, the successful candidate is encouraged to participate in these activities as time and interest allows. Contributions to Penn State’s teaching mission can be made by providing guest lectures in courses at the Beaver or University Park campuses. Opportunities to collaborate with Penn State/ADL colleagues in applied research projects can also be explored by the incumbent.

A DVM, or DVM-equivalent, degree, obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education is strongly preferred, as is post-DVM training and/or board certification in a relevant field. The successful individual must have experience with the range of testing to be conducted at the KADC. Experience at an AAVLD and/or NAHLN diagnostic laboratory is preferred, as is familiarity with common agricultural livestock and/or poultry production systems in Pennsylvania.