Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Veterinary Program Officer

🎯 Role Definition

The Veterinary Program Officer serves as the technical and managerial cornerstone for our organization's animal health and welfare initiatives. This position is responsible for the complete lifecycle of veterinary programs, from initial design and strategic planning through on-the-ground implementation, rigorous monitoring, and final evaluation. This individual will act as the primary veterinary subject matter expert, ensuring all activities are clinically sound, ethically grounded, and aligned with international standards and organizational goals. The role requires a unique blend of veterinary expertise, program management acumen, and strong interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with field teams, government partners, community stakeholders, and international donors to achieve measurable improvements in animal health, livelihoods, and ecosystem resilience.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Field Veterinarian or Project Veterinarian
Veterinary Project Coordinator
Animal Health Specialist in a government or NGO setting

Advancement To:

Senior Veterinary Program Manager
Director of Animal Health Programs or Veterinary Services
Country Director or Regional Technical Advisor

Lateral Moves:

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL) Specialist with a focus on animal health
Technical Advisor for Policy and Advocacy (Animal Welfare)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive veterinary and animal health projects in alignment with organizational strategy and donor requirements, ensuring all programmatic goals are met on time and within budget.
Provide direct technical oversight and guidance to field staff and local partners on all aspects of veterinary service delivery, including clinical best practices, disease surveillance, and biosecurity protocols.
Design and lead animal health assessments and baseline surveys to inform program design and measure long-term impact on livestock productivity and community well-being.
Establish and maintain robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems to track project progress against key performance indicators, ensuring data quality and facilitating adaptive management.
Author and co-author technical reports, donor updates, and scientific publications, effectively communicating program challenges, successes, and lessons learned to a variety of audiences.
Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with government veterinary authorities, academic institutions, private sector actors, and other NGOs to foster collaboration and ensure program sustainability.
Lead the development and delivery of training curricula for community-based animal health workers, veterinary paraprofessionals, and government extension staff on topics ranging from herd health management to zoonotic disease prevention.
Oversee the procurement, storage, and distribution of veterinary pharmaceuticals, equipment, and supplies, ensuring compliance with national regulations and cold chain requirements.
Manage program budgets, including forecasting, expenditure tracking, and financial reporting, ensuring responsible and transparent use of funds.
Conduct regular field visits to project sites to provide hands-on technical support, monitor program quality, and engage directly with beneficiaries and stakeholders.
Represent the organization at national and international forums, workshops, and conferences, presenting program findings and contributing to the global dialogue on animal health and One Health.
Lead the technical design component of new project proposals, contributing to concept notes and full proposals for submission to institutional donors and foundations.
Develop and implement disease surveillance and outbreak response plans, coordinating with government bodies to ensure rapid and effective containment of transboundary animal diseases.
Integrate animal welfare as a cross-cutting theme in all program activities, promoting humane handling, transport, and slaughter practices.
Provide expert analysis and input on national and regional animal health policies, advocating for evidence-based regulations that support smallholder farmers.
Mentor and build the capacity of national staff, fostering a culture of technical excellence, continuous learning, and professional growth within the veterinary team.

Secondary Functions

Provide timely subject matter expertise for ad-hoc inquiries from communications, fundraising, and leadership teams regarding animal health issues and program impact.
Contribute to the development and refinement of the organization's overarching global strategy for animal health, biosecurity, and One Health initiatives.
Collaborate with other sectoral teams (e.g., agriculture, water and sanitation, gender) to design and implement integrated programs that address the complex needs of target communities.
Participate actively in internal working groups and communities of practice to share best practices and promote innovation across the organization's global portfolio.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Veterinary Epidemiology: Deep understanding of disease dynamics, surveillance system design (passive and active), and outbreak investigation methodologies.
Program Cycle Management: Proven ability to manage all phases of the project cycle, from needs assessment and design to implementation and close-out.
Budget & Financial Management: Competency in developing and managing multi-year, multi-donor program budgets and ensuring compliance with financial policies.
Technical Training & Facilitation: Skill in designing and delivering engaging, effective training programs for audiences with diverse literacy and technical backgrounds.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL): Experience with both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods, including the use of M&E software and frameworks.
Clinical Veterinary Medicine: Strong foundation in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases in livestock species relevant to the program context (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats, poultry).
Report & Proposal Writing: Excellent ability to write clear, concise, and compelling technical reports and funding proposals for donors like USAID, EU, and the UN.

Soft Skills

Cross-Cultural Communication: Ability to communicate effectively and build rapport with individuals from diverse cultural, linguistic, and professional backgrounds.
Stakeholder Engagement: A deft touch in navigating complex relationships with government officials, community leaders, and international partners to build consensus and drive collaboration.
Leadership & Mentorship: The capacity to inspire, guide, and develop a team of technical professionals, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
Problem-Solving & Adaptability: Resourcefulness and composure to solve unexpected logistical, technical, and security challenges in remote and resource-limited settings.
Strategic Thinking: The ability to see the bigger picture, connecting field-level activities to broader organizational and sectoral goals.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM, VMD, B.V.Sc.) or an equivalent degree from an accredited university. Must be licensed or eligible for licensure.

Preferred Education:

Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science (MSc) in Veterinary Epidemiology, International Development, or Tropical Animal Health.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Veterinary Science
Public Health & Epidemiology
International Agricultural Development

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-7 years of post-graduate experience in veterinary medicine or animal health program management.

Preferred: At least 3 years of experience managing or implementing animal health projects in a developing country context. Direct experience working with international NGOs and familiarity with the requirements of major institutional donors is highly advantageous.