USDA Veterinary Medical Officer

Animal Welfare Operations is pleased to announce the opening of the continuous announcement for Veterinary Medical Officer (GS070111/12) positions! The announcement opens Tuesday, June 30, 2026, and will remain open until Tuesday, June 29, 2027, unless program leadership and HRD determine an earlier closure is necessary. Veterinary Medical Officers support Animal Care’s Animal Welfare Operations with responsibility for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Horse Protection Act (HPA) within assigned geographic areas. Key Duties Include: Conducting pre-licensing, routine, followup, and specialinvestigation inspections. Assessing overall animal treatment and facility compliance with the AWA. Evaluating qualifications of research facility personnel responsible for animal care. Ensuring the prevention of unnecessary pain or distress in research animals through appropriate use of anesthetics, analgesics, tranquilizers, and euthanasia. Reviewing facility structures and living conditions, and advising officials on their responsibilities. Enforcing the HPA at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions using standardized procedures. Evaluating Animal Care and Horse Protection programs and recommending veterinary medical or programmatic improvements. Representing the Agency at meetings with industry partners and public or private organizations to promote AWA and HPA programs. Additional vacancies may occur through the duration of the vacancy. If you are interested in working at a location within the states listed in the vacancy announcement, please apply under location negotiable and select the state you are interested in. Some mobile positions may travel 75% of the time and across state lines. Vacant positions may be added or deleted based on business needs. Please see the list of vacant positions at the following link: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/careers/now-hiring-veterinary-medical-officers