HEAD OF VETERINARY SERVICES

Head of Veterinary Services

The Head of Veterinary Services will be directly responsible for the recruitment, management, and organization of the Veterinary Services Team including Staff Veterinarians and Contract Veterinary Services. This position is expected to have 4-5 direct reports and interactions with Contract Veterinarians when necessary.

 Expectations of the Director of Veterinary Services:

1. Provide strategic leadership of the veterinary and production teams to improve the performance of live operations.
2. Be an active participant in the field in concert with field vets, contract vets, field managers, production managers, and operations managers.
3. Key decision maker regarding bird health, animal welfare, performance, field research, and food safety.  
4. Be a system level thinker - recognize patterns, identify root causes, and implement cost effective solutions to optimize cost of production.
5. Recruit, mentor, and develop new veterinarians as needed. Maintain a team environment where production veterinarians thrive. Provide career development mapping and continuing education opportunities to foster professional growth.
6. Be committed to the Pilgrim’s Values and Mission.

Minimum Qualifications: 

1. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree
2. Post-doctorate poultry medicine training program
3. Ability to obtain licenses and accreditation in multiple states
4. 5+ years of related poultry health experience
5. Deep understanding of live production and related expertise
6. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
7. Ability to travel at least 50%

Preferred Qualifications: 

• ACPV diplomate preferred
• Direct experience developing and implementing herd health management for large poultry production systems

Location: Ideally located in an area with current Pilgrim’s live production operations.

EOE/Vet/Disabled