Chief Veterinary Officer

Responsible for managing strategic initiatives for the U.S. dairy industry’s social responsibility program overseeing animal care, antibiotic stewardship, biosecurity, and workforce development.

Requirements

FARM Program Leadership

·       Lead the on-farm social responsibility program for the U.S. dairy industry for supply chain assurance in partnership with cooperatives, processors, dairy farms, and allied industries.

·       Facilitate engagement and relationships with national cooperatives, checkoff board of directors and governance committee structures.

·       Oversee management of on-farm crises alongside industry leadership to maintain the credibility of the dairy industry to customers and consumers.

·       Establish timelines for version revisions and ensure timely releases of new program versions.

·       Respond to routine incoming inquiries from dairy farmers, cooperatives, processors, and dairy customers.

·       Draft, review, and maintain oversight of communications to ensure positive FARM and NMPF reputation throughout various stakeholder audiences.

·       Budget and contract management.

Animal Health and Welfare

·       Monitor national and state-level animal health and welfare regulatory frameworks to ensure awareness of areas that would impact FARM program participants and NMPF membership.

·       Monitor global animal welfare regulations and quality assurance programs’ focus areas to maintain the international competitiveness of U.S. dairy.

·       Monitor animal welfare research, customer and consumer interest trends, and topics of relevance to FARM program participants and NMPF membership.

·       Provide subject matter expertise on animal health and welfare, antibiotic stewardship, biosecurity, and other on-farm management area topics on behalf of the industry to internal stakeholders, external stakeholders and regulatory agencies.

·       Maintain federal agency connections related to animal health and welfare topic areas and serve as an additional point of contact for agencies' needs of NMPF.

·       Support the staff lead and chair of the Animal Health and Well-Being Committee with agenda development, securing speakers/invited guests, and communicating topics for the NMPF Board of Directors.

External Relations

Dairy Community

·       Ensure an adequate understanding of the dairy industry’s social responsibility efforts throughout the supply chain.

·       Represent the successes of U.S. dairy’s social responsibility through presentations to farmers, cooperatives, processors, and dairy consumer-facing customers.

Allied Industry

·       Support of NMPF and USDEC Regulatory and Trade Teams in international regulatory and trade discussions and connections where animal health and welfare, antibiotic stewardship, biosecurity, and other on-farm management is in consideration.

   Internal Industry

·       Lead relationship for the FARM Program with Dairy Management Inc. and the Innovation Center regarding on-farm social responsibility initiatives.

·       Routinely participate in dialogue with dairy customers related to inquiries about the FARM Program, cooperative/processor supplier expectations, and general dairy industry awareness.

·       Position U.S. dairy competitively within animal-focused areas of Sustainable Agriculture Initiative/Sustainable Dairy Platform, Dairy Sustainability Framework, and U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment.

·       Staff lead of Innovation Center Animal Care Committee, responsible for facilitating the vision for animal care pre-competitively for the U.S. dairy industry through bi-annual meetings of C-Suite industry leaders, including agenda development, securing of speakers, guests and communication of committee discussions to Innovation Center Board of Directors.

Education

o   10+ Years of experience in dairy preferred

o   Doctorate in animal science or veterinary medicine is required.

o   Excellent public presentation skills.

o   Strong written and oral communication.

o   Ability to navigate multiple interests for the advancement of dairy farmers and the industry

o   Deep knowledge of on-farm dairy production systems and ability to stay abreast of current issues impacting the industry

o   Ability to motivate and coach team members.

o   Project and time-management skills and the ability to prioritize work in an environment with multiple and competing interests.
o   Proficient in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Teams)

o  Ability to travel up to 30% of the time.

Benefits

• 7.5 hour work day
• Hybrid position, 2 remote days per week
• Retirement contribution with an 11% maximum contribution
• Generous vacation, sick and personal leave
• Office closure between Christmas and the New Year
• Free Parking or Metro Benefits
• Exceptional health, vision and dental
• Short-term, long-term, life and disability insurance
• On-site gym

We regret it is not possible to communicate with candidates except those who most closely match our current business needs. Thank you.

The National Milk Producers Federation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, or any other characteristic protected by the law.