Executive Director
Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

Responsibility

To provide leadership to the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory which serves the animal industries of Texas by addressing animal and public health issues, diagnosing animal diseases, and helping to prevent outbreaks of catastrophic foreign animal or zoonotic disease through early detection.  The Director coordinates diagnostic services among the various laboratory disciplines and branch laboratories and provides leadership and direction in the areas of resource management, quality assurance, safety and all other aspects of lab operations.

Duties

Oversees diagnostic services provided by TVMDL and maintains quality control systems and standard operating procedures.

Works closely with Texas A&M University System, legislative liaisons and directly with elected officials to ensure effective communication of agency priorities and needs and ensures timely and accurate responses to requests for information from legislators.

Formulates and implements long and short range plans for the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL).

Implements and communicates policies of TVMDL, The Texas A&M University System and The United States Department of Agriculture to agency personnel.

Maintains liaisons with key administrators, scientists, and veterinary diagnosticians throughout The Texas A&M University System, federal, state and county governments, and the private sector.

Directs and oversees the presentation of a myriad of reports of varying frequency which are submitted to System, federal, and state entities. Included are annual reports which quantitatively and qualitatively assess program accomplishments from year to year.

Directs the preparation of annual and legislative budgets and makes presentations to System, State, and Federal officials.  Works to ensure current and future streams of revenue and funding for TVMDL.

Pursues new methods of financial support for the agency. Allocates federal, state and fee income to appropriate segments of the agency.

Supervises the fiscal, general business, and human resource functions of the agency to assure the efficient and effective management of agency financial and human resources as well as compliance with all applicable System, federal, and state regulations and procedures.

Provides leadership in establishing and maintaining an organizational culture and work environment supportive of affirmative action, diversity, and equal employment opportunity goals.

Ensures that all agency programs and operations are in compliance with applicable federal and state statutes and Texas A&M University System policies/procedures.

Ensures that TVMDL functions in an effective partnership with the animal industries in Texas.

Directs efforts in strategic, long range planning to ensure excellent diagnostic service that will assist the animal industries of Texas in maintaining disease free herds and flocks, thus providing a wholesome food supply for Texas and the nation.

Assures that all members of the organization have a clear understanding of the TVMDL vision, mission, scope, objectives, and core values.

Other duties as required

Reporting Relationships

The Executive Director reports to the Vice Chancellor for Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Texas A&M University System, and provides direct and indirect supervision of the 150+ employees of TVMDL.

Qualifications

Required

• DVM degree
• Ten years of related experience, including five years in a diagnostic laboratory setting
• Broad knowledge of laboratory disciplines
• Excellent communication, administrative, interpersonal and organizational skills

Preferred

• Board certification in a laboratory-related specialty
• Administrative experience in a diagnostic laboratory setting