Veterinary Assistant

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A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We're looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us. Apply Now!

Your Opportunity

Coordinates and assists Veterinarian with responsibilities to maintain animal health status.

Core Responsibilities:

• Interact with regional and system veterinarians to develop and integrate health programs.

• Communicate Health Program schedules, conduct vaccination trainings, and oversee vaccination implementation.

• Assist and participate with farms on whole herd vaccination programs as needed.

• Available to assist with laboratory procedures as needed.

• Prepare and ensure submissions to diagnostic labs are correct and meet Best Practice requirements to lower costs and communicate results.

• Maintain and communicate all OBR forms submitted for applicable region location to applicable veterinarians.

• Create and update vaccination charts and guidelines for vaccinating.

• Create and update biosecurity matrix for applicable region location.

• Complete the biosecurity self-assessments quarterly at all sow farms.

• Provide assistance during trials outlined by veterinarian.

• Responsible for annual state PR herd monitoring

• Responsible for communicating any changes in company supply and feed delivery schedules due to health reasons.

• Tracks all farm prescription orders.

• Updates medication and vaccination protocol

• Assists Biosecurity Manager with training, audits, documentation and PQA assessments.

• Implements new processes to improve pig quality and system efficiencies per company veterinarian.

• Prepares and trains staff for implementation of completed SOP with assistance of company trainers/production training as it relates to heard health.

• Monitors selected SOPs for possible revisions.

• Ensures vaccinations schedules are in place and monitors documentation for all facilities.

• Prepares training information for managers meeting on techniques and products.

• Assists investigations when animal health problems occur.

• Responsible for planning monitoring processes and implementation of serum exposures.

• Completes monthly blood work and communicates information to farm managers/production manager per company Veterinarian instruction.

• Repair technician/coordinator for the Pulse Needle free systems.

• Responsible to ensure supplies (ordering vaccines, CO2, equipment) are on hand for whole herd vaccinations.

• Participates in all whole herd vaccinations.

• Monitors captive bolt gun maintenance, usage, and process for euthanizing animals where captive bolt gun is used.

• Monitors process for using CO2 for euthanasia of piglets, ensures equipment is up to standards and is maintained, monitors CO2 usage.

• Ensures the operation is functioning in an environmentally responsible way by adhering to state and federal requirements and practicing approved land and nutrient management techniques. Functions as a company steward of land resource.

• Performs all duties as assigned by staff veterinarian or supervisor.

• Must be willing to assist with general office and production needs.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from an accredited four-year college or university and 2+ years swine experience or equivalent.

• Current and valid driver's license with acceptable MVR

• Be able and available to work weekends and periodically hours outside of 8-5 when necessary.

• Must be available for occasional travel.

• Must understand that Smithfield Hog Production is a producer of high-quality pork for human consumption and must be supportive of the mission of raising swine for meat.

• Computer skills in Excel, Word and PowerPoint

• Analytical skills

• Ability to follow instructions.

• Certified in PQA Plus

• Ability to do hard physical labor.

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.

• Bilingual skills favored.

• Good math skills

• Ability to make decisions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Will supervise the training of employees and implementation of health programs, no direct reports.

EEO Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.