Forensic Veterinarian

Forensic Veterinarian

Requirements

• Familiarity and experience with evidentiary issues related to the prosecution of animal cruelty and neglect cases.
• Experience in animal cruelty and neglect investigations a plus.
• Excellent, organizational, written, and oral communication skills.
• Detail oriented; organized and willing to take ownership of project-critical tasks in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
• Ability to work on a team as well as independently; ability to lead as well as follow instructions.
• Membership in peer-evaluated veterinary and forensic professional organizations.
• Experience with veterinary issues associated with common types of cruelty including neglect, physical abuse, organized animal abuse, and animal sexual abuse.
• Experience in conducting clinical forensic examinations.
• Experience in conducting forensic necropsies.
• Experience in working cooperatively with law enforcement or other regulatory agencies.
• Experience in evidence handling and analysis.
• Experience in developing education programs and teaching.
• Experience in courtroom testimony in animal cruelty cases a plus.
• Board certification in Pathology a plus.
• Research experience and prior publications a plus.
• License to practice veterinary medicine in the state of Florida. Additional State licensure a plus.
• Willingness to obtain multiple state licenses to practice veterinary medicine.
• Must be able to obtain a certificate or master’s degree in Veterinary Forensics within 3 years of hire. Current certification or degree is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an ASPCA Forensic Veterinarian for AVFSC criminal cases. Consulting and providing case assistance as necessary.
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Veterinary Forensic Sciences to ensure performance and facilitation of forensic veterinary services for AVFSC criminal cases.
• Assist with planning of AVFSC criminal case responses and participate in scene investigations.
• Serve as an animal medical examiner and provide forensic analysis of evidence (e.g., necropsies).
• Responsible for performing clinical forensic exams, gross necropsies, completing reports for law enforcement, and expert witness testimony, as needed.
• Utilize appropriate chain of custody, evidence transfer and disposition procedure for forensic evidence.
• Utilize current accepted and standardized scientific procedures for the analysis and reporting for scientific findings.
• Create and implement veterinary forensic sciences training/education for veterinarians, law enforcement, attorneys, and veterinary students/residents.
• Develop, update, and implement forensic protocols and procedures for AVFSC criminal cases.
• Assist with training, mentoring, and assisting other veterinarians who are involved in AVFSC cases.
• Produce administrative reports and communicate progress updates and status as needed.
• Serve as an ASPCA Forensic Veterinarian for national criminal cases. Consulting and providing case assistance as necessary.
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Veterinary Forensic Sciences to ensure performance and facilitation of forensic veterinary services for national criminal cases.
• Assist with planning of national criminal case responses and participate in scene investigations.
• Serve as an animal medical examiner and provide forensic analysis of evidence (e.g., necropsies).
• Responsible for performing clinical forensic exams, gross necropsies, completing reports for law enforcement, and expert witness testimony, as needed.
• Utilize appropriate chain of custody, evidence transfer and disposition procedure for forensic evidence.
• Utilize current accepted and standardized scientific procedures for the analysis and reporting for scientific findings.
• Create and implement veterinary forensic sciences training/education for veterinarians, law enforcement, attorneys, and veterinary students/residents.
• Develop and implement forensic protocols and procedures for national criminal cases.
• Assist with training, mentoring, and assisting other veterinarians who are involved in national criminal cases.
• Produce administrative reports and communicate progress updates and status as needed.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Veterinary Forensic Sciences and others on research.
• Lecture at national and regional conferences and provide of other lectures.
• Obtain courtesy faculty appointments, as needed, and develop and teach both graduate and undergraduate courses.
• Contribute to ongoing changes in forensic protocols and procedures.
• Facilitate and assist with the implementation of a veterinary forensic internship/externship program.
• Be available to all ASPCA departments, specifically; ASPCA Animal Hospital, Humane Law Enforcement, Legal Advocacy and Investigations, Cruelty Recovery Center, National Field Response, Legal Department, and Animal Relocation and Placement, to answer any questions or address any concerns regarding animal cruelty.
• Other duties as requested.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in courtroom testimony in animal cruelty cases a plus.
• Board certification in Pathology a plus.
• Research experience and prior publications a plus.