JOB PROFILE
Position # 00035792
TITLE:
DIRECTOR AND CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER
CLASSIFICATION: STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
MINISTRY:
AGRICULTURE
WORK UNIT: PLANT AND ANIMAL HEALTH BRANCH
SUPERVISOR TITLE: ASSISTANT DEPUTY MINISTER
SUPERVISOR POSITION NO.: 00035644
AGRICULTURE SCIENCE AND POLICY DIVISION
JOB OVERVIEW
A key part of the Ministry’s senior leadership team, the position provides strategic direction to the Plant and
Animal Health Branch and its staff complement of approximately 50 professional scientific and administrative
staff. As senior plant and animal health officer for the Province, is responsible for the development,
implementation and evaluation of policies, strategy and programs to diagnose and monitor; prevent; control;
and manage diseases in the plant; livestock; poultry and aquaculture industries in British Columbia.
ACCOUNTABILITIES

Administers animal health/disease control concerns related to the Animal Disease Control Act and
other animal and plant related legislation and undertakes responsibilities of the Chief Provincial
Veterinarian as defined in legislation.

Provides authoritative advice; provides interpretation of information and makes recommendations for
the Minister, Deputy Minister, and Assistant Deputy Minister on all plant and animal health and
transmissible from animals to humans disease issues.

Acts as the provincial spokesperson on plant and animal health; disease and related areas of concern,
providing and interpreting information and responding to questions from the Government
Communications and Public Engagement Office; Minister’s Office; and other branches of the Ministry,
government and the media.

Collaborates on plant and animal health issues with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, provincial,
state, cross-border, and national government agencies including mandate related ministries such as
Environment and Health; as well as with commodity groups and industry representatives.

Works in close association with the BC Centre for Disease Control and the office of the Provincial
Health Officer to monitor for and report on diseases transmissible from animal to human populations.

Promotes the implementation of bio-security programs by livestock and poultry producers targeting
both enzootic and foreign diseases.

Provides strategic leadership to the Branch and establishes annual Branch service plan including fiscal
plan; delivery structure; performance measures and human resources strategy.

Represents the Ministry at provincial, national and international meetings, discussions and forums on
plant and animal disease concerns.
Date: July 31, 2017
P age |2

Directs the design and implementation of new or major transformations of an organization’s core
business with multiple delivery components (e.g., governance, operations, finance, and customer
service delivery) in accordance with project management standards.

Provides a clear vision and strategic direction that aligns with the direction of Government for the
Branch and leads broad organizational change.

Supervises staff including assignment of work, development and evaluation of performance plans
(EPDP’s), approval of leave, response to grievances and initiation of discipline processes.

Builds and fosters partnerships with a diverse range of senior leaders to ensure the Branch and
corporate goals of government are achieved.

Directs the development of business mandates, overall business direction, strategic plans, governance
structure, and business operations for the project.

Establishes and approves changes to business structure and operations to ensure Branch goals meet
the needs of the business.

Directs negotiations of multi-party contracts for service delivery or infrastructure delivery.

Orders and approves Branch evaluation and post-implementation reviews, including implementation
of business changes.

Responsible for requirements for an accredited veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory (Animal
Health Laboratory) for purposes of maintaining full accreditation with the American Association of
Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc.

Responsible for the management of the plant and animal health laboratories, ensuring adherence to
Quality Standard (AAVLD and ISO accreditation), and providing accountability for diagnostic results

Communicates with livestock and plant industry stakeholders to ensure relevance of diagnostic
delivery mode

Initiates disease surveillance programs and identifies funding sources
JOB REQUIREMENTS

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).

2 years experience in diagnostic laboratory medicine.

Broad knowledge of laboratory disciplines.

Authorized under the British Columbia Veterinarians Act to practise veterinary medicine.

Experience in developing and implementing policy.

Experience in media training.

Experience in leading and directing the work of other program managers, professional employees,
and/or consultants.

Experience in budget management, procurement and conflict resolution.

Experience in developing and leading strategic plans for an organization, including contract
management; financial management; and leading multi-party negotiations.
Date: July 31, 2017
P age |3

Successful completion of security screening requirements of the BC Public Service, which may include a
criminal records check, and/or Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) check, and/or enhanced security
screening checks as required by the ministry (Note: It is important that you read the job posting
carefully to understand the specific security screening requirements pertaining to the position).
PREFERRED JOB REQUIREMENTS

DVM and MS and PhD and Specialty Board Certification.

5 years experience in diagnostic veterinary medicine.

Management training.
BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

Building Partnerships with Stakeholders is the ability to build long-term or on-going relationships with
stakeholders (e.g. someone who shares an interest in what you are doing). This type of relationship is
often quite deliberate and is typically focused on the way the relationship is conducted. Implicit in this
competency is demonstrating a respect for and stating positive expectations of the stakeholder.

Business Acumen is the ability to understand the business implications of decisions and the ability to
strive to improve organizational performance. It requires an awareness of business issues, processes
and outcomes as they impact the client's and the organization's business needs.

Holding People Accountable involves setting high standards of performance and holding team
members, other government jurisdictions, outside contractors, industry agencies, etc., accountable for
results and actions.

Improving Operations is the ability and motivation to apply one's knowledge and past experience for
improving upon current modes of operation within the Ministry. This behaviour ranges from adapting
widely used approaches to developing entirely new value-added solutions.

Leadership implies a desire to lead others, including diverse teams. Leadership is generally, but not
always, demonstrated from a position of formal authority. The "team" here should be understood
broadly as any group with which the person interacts regularly.

Planning, Organizing and Coordinating involves proactively planning, establishing priorities and
allocating resources. It is expressed by developing and implementing increasingly complex plans. It also
involves monitoring and adjusting work to accomplish goals and deliver the organization's mandate.
Date: July 31, 2017