Temporary VPH Consultant

Primary Responsibilities:

• Responding to new and emerging issues and the delivery of public practice services in the areas of Animal Health and Food Safety.

• Collaborate with Veterinary Public Health (VPH) faculty in teaching

• VPH curriculum

• Participate in applied research activities in the areas of disease surveillance, risk analysis, public policy, health education and epidemiologic investigation of important food safety and zoonotic pathogens.

• Residents work on a variety of projects and through experiential activities gain a broad range of experiences in public health.

• Residents spend approximately 75% of time on projects, with 25% time reserved for MPH courses and training.

• Occasional travel for meetings and conferences is required.

Teaching, Training, and Academic Responsibilities

Residents will contribute to the teaching and training mission of the veterinary public health curriculum by:

• Collaborating with veterinary public health faculty in the delivery of curriculum content for veterinary students.

• Assisting in teaching activities coordinated by the Ecosystem Health Division, including the second-year Veterinary Public Health course, fourth-year Veterinary Public Health clinical rotations, and mentorship of junior residents transitioning into advanced stages of the residency.

• Participating in structured board examination preparation activities, including leading assigned review sessions, facilitating discussions, and delivering presentations to fellow residents.

• Developing and strengthening professional communication skills through formal and informal teaching, presentations, and mentoring activities.

Applied Public Health Practice and Experiential Learning

Residents will participate in and progressively assume leadership roles in applied public health projects. These experiential activities provide broad exposure to veterinary public health practice and support the development of independent professional competencies.

Residents will:

• Contribute to applied epidemiologic investigations, surveillance activities, and preventive medicine initiatives addressing animal health, zoonotic diseases, and food safety.

• Participate in the design, implementation, and evaluation of animal health programs, including surveillance systems, risk-based monitoring strategies, and disease control interventions.

• Analyze and interpret epidemiologic and surveillance data using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods to inform risk assessment, policy development, and decision-making.

• Contribute to technical reports, scientific manuscripts, and presentations for scientific, governmental, and professional audiences.

• Collaborate with faculty, governmental agencies, academic partners, and international organizations on veterinary public health initiatives.

• Participate in capacity-building activities and technical support efforts aimed at strengthening veterinary services and public health systems.

• Develop professional skills in scientific communication, critical thinking, project management, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Residents will assume increasing levels of responsibility over time, transitioning from supervised participation to greater independence in project leadership, analysis, communication, and program implementation.

Core Competency Development

All residency activities are designed to support the development of core competencies defined by the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACVPM), including:

• Epidemiology and epidemiologic methods

• Disease surveillance and outbreak investigation

• Risk analysis and risk-based decision-making

• Biostatistics and data analysis

• Preventive medicine and population health

• Public health program design and evaluation

• Food safety and zoonotic disease prevention

• Leadership, communication, and professional development

• One Health and interdisciplinary collaboration

Residents will develop and apply these competencies through direct involvement in applied public health practice and mentored training activities.

Administrative and Program Responsibilities

Residents will:

• Perform residency-related administrative duties as assigned.

• Maintain accurate documentation of training activities and competency development to support board certification requirements.

• Participate in program meetings, professional development activities, and training workshops.

• Maintain effective communication with supervisors, faculty mentors, and program leadership.

Professional Conduct and Workplace Expectations

Residents are expected to:

• Maintain a professional, respectful, and collaborative attitude toward peers, supervisors, faculty, staff, students, and external partners.

• Demonstrate accountability, initiative, and professionalism in all assigned activities.

• Effectively manage multiple concurrent projects and responsibilities.

• Contribute positively to a collaborative and interdisciplinary training environment.

Travel and Field Activities

• Domestic and international travel may be required to support applied training activities, research projects, and collaborations with governmental agencies, academic institutions, and international partners.

• These activities may include participation in field investigations, surveillance programs, training workshops, and capacity-building initiatives.

Anticipated Work Enviornment and Schedule

• 20-30 hours per week

• 67 days appointment duration

• Hybrid, between 1-2 days in the office

• Work located at the

  ABLMS Suite 136. Office 136 F.

Required Qualifications:

The candidate must have a DVM degree (or equivalent foreign degree) by start date, plus at least one year of experience in either a private practice, corporate, or government setting in one of the following areas:

wildlife or domestic animal preventive medicine; infectious disease diagnosis and treatment; food animal production, food safety, harvesting or processing; public health infectious disease surveillance and outbreak investigation.

In addition, candidates must possess a valid US driver's license, or obtain a license within the first six months of residency.

If candidates do not already have a graduate degree in public health they must also have academic qualifications for admission to the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota.

Preferred Qualifications:

MPH degree completed prior to hire.

Two or more years of relevant experience as described above in either a private practice, corporate, or government setting.

Excellent oral/written communication, leadership and interpersonal skills.

Demonstrated ability to work in teams, strong time management skills, and a high level of experience with a variety of computer software programs.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires the ability to perform standard office duties, including extended periods of computer work, reading and reviewing documents, and verbal and written communication.

The position may require international and domestic travel.

Starting Pay Rate: $21.15/hr

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.