What are the responsibilities and job description for the Veterinary Medical Officer (Strategic Planning Analyst) position at USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)?
Find Your Future With Us at USDA – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
Job Summary
The Strategic Planning Analyst serves as a Veterinary Medical Officer and technical authority integrating veterinary medicine, animal welfare science, and advanced data analytics to strengthen regulatory oversight, including compliance assurance, enforcement effectiveness, emergency response outcomes, and program performance. The position is located in the Office of the Deputy Administrator of Animal Care (AC).
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement outlined in the Education section below. FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Analyzing program activities and operations, reviewing data, identifying trends or issues, and recommending improvements to enhance program effectiveness and support organizational goals and objectives Gathering and analyzing information from multiple sources to identify risks, trends, or operational vulnerabilities and recommend solutions. Reviewing inspection or compliance activities to identify trends, develop risk mitigation strategies, and improve program effectiveness. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL: Successful completion of a PhD degree in an area of specialization including, but not limited to: animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or other sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position. OR RESIDENCY/POST GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL. Successful completion of three years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position. Applicants should provide a certificate or letter documenting the completion of this program. OR BOARD CERTIFICATION FOR THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL-Specialty boards that are recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) certify eligible candidates as specialists in specific veterinary medical fields. Veterinarians who successfully complete all requirements for Diplomate status in an ABVS-recognized veterinary specialty organization may qualify for the GS-13 grade level. Applicants should provide a certificate or letter documenting their diplomate status. TRANSCRIPTS are required. This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. this education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college or university. Official transcripts will be required if selected for the position. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Major Duties
The duties may include, but are not limited to:Applies professional veterinary expertise to analyze Animal Care inspection programs under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Horse Protection Act (HPA).Analyzes veterinary program data, operational procedures, inspection activities, and compliance outcomes.Identifies emerging risks, program gaps, and opportunities to improve resource allocation, program performance, and regulatory effectiveness.Evaluates inspection data to detect patterns in noncompliance, animal care issues, facility performance, third-party inspector performance, and species-specific risk factors.Provides information for compliance strategies, program performance, and emergency preparedness and response for animals.Provides analytic support to field leadership by identifying high-risk entities, geographic clusters of concern, and emerging compliance trends relevant to enforcement and outreach activities.
Position Start Date:
07/16/2026
Position Close Date:
07/22/2026
Salary Offered: 118675 - 154280 USD Per Year
You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response
Please see the full announcement on USAJobs by clicking on the APPLY button!
Job Summary
The Strategic Planning Analyst serves as a Veterinary Medical Officer and technical authority integrating veterinary medicine, animal welfare science, and advanced data analytics to strengthen regulatory oversight, including compliance assurance, enforcement effectiveness, emergency response outcomes, and program performance. The position is located in the Office of the Deputy Administrator of Animal Care (AC).
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement outlined in the Education section below. FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Analyzing program activities and operations, reviewing data, identifying trends or issues, and recommending improvements to enhance program effectiveness and support organizational goals and objectives Gathering and analyzing information from multiple sources to identify risks, trends, or operational vulnerabilities and recommend solutions. Reviewing inspection or compliance activities to identify trends, develop risk mitigation strategies, and improve program effectiveness. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL: Successful completion of a PhD degree in an area of specialization including, but not limited to: animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or other sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position. OR RESIDENCY/POST GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL. Successful completion of three years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position. Applicants should provide a certificate or letter documenting the completion of this program. OR BOARD CERTIFICATION FOR THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL-Specialty boards that are recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) certify eligible candidates as specialists in specific veterinary medical fields. Veterinarians who successfully complete all requirements for Diplomate status in an ABVS-recognized veterinary specialty organization may qualify for the GS-13 grade level. Applicants should provide a certificate or letter documenting their diplomate status. TRANSCRIPTS are required. This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. this education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college or university. Official transcripts will be required if selected for the position. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Major Duties
The duties may include, but are not limited to:Applies professional veterinary expertise to analyze Animal Care inspection programs under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Horse Protection Act (HPA).Analyzes veterinary program data, operational procedures, inspection activities, and compliance outcomes.Identifies emerging risks, program gaps, and opportunities to improve resource allocation, program performance, and regulatory effectiveness.Evaluates inspection data to detect patterns in noncompliance, animal care issues, facility performance, third-party inspector performance, and species-specific risk factors.Provides information for compliance strategies, program performance, and emergency preparedness and response for animals.Provides analytic support to field leadership by identifying high-risk entities, geographic clusters of concern, and emerging compliance trends relevant to enforcement and outreach activities.
Position Start Date:
07/16/2026
Position Close Date:
07/22/2026
Salary Offered: 118675 - 154280 USD Per Year
You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response
Please see the full announcement on USAJobs by clicking on the APPLY button!