How to hire a public health veterinarian

How to hire a public health veterinarian, step by step

Here's a step-by-step public health veterinarian hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a public health veterinarian job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new public health veterinarian
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a public health veterinarian, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A public health veterinarian's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, public health veterinarians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of public health veterinarians.

   Type of Public Health Veterinarian	Description	Hourly rate
   Public Health Veterinarian	Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to improve public health. They diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and other animals.	$13-65
   Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine	A Veterinary Medicine Doctor is responsible for studying animal nature, diagnosing animal illnesses, and developing treatment plans and medications. They analyze an extensive scope of animal conditions to identify care programs that would keep them healthy... Show more	$31-133
   Emergency Veterinarian	An emergency veterinarian is responsible for providing quality care services for animals at veterinary clinics and hospitals. Emergency veterinarians diagnose the animal's condition and administer treatment plans and medications... Show more	$22-90

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Plant Management
   • EEO
   • HACCP
   • Public Health Professionals
   • Animal Handling
   • Disease Control
   • SSOP
   • Processing Operations
   • Public Speaking
   • Animal Health
   • USDA
   • Human Consumption
   • FSIS

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage wildlife rehabilitation program for native species, including state and federal rehabilitation licenses for the practice.
   • Plan, coordinate and conduct USDA inspections at various plants.
   • Guide new facilities transitioning to USDA inspection in developing programs that comply with federal regulatory requirements.
   • Manage wildlife rehabilitation program for native species, including state and federal rehabilitation licenses for the practice.
   • Advance services include enucleation, fracture fixation, Ultrasonography, chemotherapy and others.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your public health veterinarian job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A public health veterinarian can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, public health veterinarians' average salary in oklahoma is 59% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level public health veterinarians 80% less than senior-level public health veterinarians.
   • Certifications. A public health veterinarian with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a public health veterinarian's salary.

   Average public health veterinarian salary

   $62,550yearly

   $30.07 hourly rate

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   Entry-level public health veterinarian salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 24, 2026

4. Writing a public health veterinarian job description

   A job description for a public health veterinarian role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a public health veterinarian job description:

   Public health veterinarian job description example

   Primary Location: United States of America-OHIO-Franklin County-ColumbusWork Locations: Health Department Building 246 North High Street 1st Floor Columbus 43215Organization: HealthClassified Indicator: UnclassifiedBargaining Unit / Exempt: ExemptSchedule: Full-time Work Hours: M-F, 8A-5P (flex) Compensation: Up to $73.18/hr commensurate w/ exp.Unposting Date: OngoingJob Function: VeterinaryJob Level: Executive Agency Contact Name: Regan MyersAgency Contact Information: You will be contacted via phone/email if selected for interview. State Public Health Veterinarian (Public Health Policy Advisor) - PN 20014258 (220007WR) Job Duties
   About Us:
   Our mission at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is advancing the health and well-being of all Ohioans. Our agency is committed to building a modern, vibrant public health system that creates the conditions where all Ohioans flourish.
   The Ohio Department of Health supports a hybrid teleworking model. This position may work a hybrid schedule at the discretion of the manager or supervisor, which will require occasional attendance in the office for training, meetings and other operational needs. Employees must reside within a reasonable distance to their assigned headquarters for compliance with workplace reporting requirements.
   
   ZOONOTIC DISEASE PROGRAM: The mission of the Zoonotic Disease Program (ZDP) is to prevent and control diseases transmissible from animals (including mosquitoes and other vectors) to humans. ZDP staff work with our local health department partners and other agencies and organizations throughout the state to conduct surveillance of animal reservoirs and disease vectors, investigate zoonotic diseases and conditions in humans, carry out disease interventions and educational initiatives and provide consultations to animal and human health professionals. In this NEW leadership role, working under the direction of the Public Health Entomologist Administrator, you'll serve as Ohio's State Public Health Veterinarian and public health policy officer for animal-borne diseases.
   
   What You'll Do:
   PRIMARY DUTIES:
   
   Oversees statewide rabies surveillance and control efforts
   
   develops and implements policies, procedures, and initiatives
   coordinates and oversees ODH involvement in annual Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) program
   
   Serves as ODH's veterinary medical authority:
   
   advises agency leaders on zoonotic issues and recommends action
   prepares letters and reviews legislation on behalf of director
   advises staff (e.g., effective programming; regulatory compliance) and partners on related issues (e.g., food safety, environmental safety, emerging pathogens)
   
   Serves as liaison to outside entities (e.g., medical providers, local health departments [LHDs], veterinarians, other state/local agencies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, public)
   Collaborates with other state officials (primarily, State Veterinarian at Ohio Department of Agriculture [ODA]) on a coordinated containment/response strategy for zoonotic disease concerns (e.g., Avian Influenza, Bovine TB, etc.)
   
   ADDITIONAL:
   
   Monitors, advises on, and ensures compliance with federal and state regulations
   Guides development and implementation of relevant public health regulations
   Represents agency at state and national meetings, conferences, and forums:
   
   co-develops/updates national zoonotic control guidance
   delivers speeches/provides presentations
   testifies on proposed legislation
   
   Plans and delivers educational programming, including training of staff/volunteers (e.g., safe wildlife handling; use of anesthetics and vaccines, etc.)
   Participates in ODH Infectious Disease On-Call
   
   UNUSUAL WORKING CONDITIONS:
   
   Requires travel & overnight stays; exposure to potentially rabid animals, arthropod vectors & other animal diseases transmissible to humans
   Fieldwork entails working outdoors under adverse weather conditions.
   
   UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION: This position is unclassified in accordance with ORC 124.11(A)(9).
   
   What's in it for you:
   At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:
   Medical Coverage
   
   Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered through the available Ohio Med plans.
   
   Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance
   
   Dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums are free after completed eligibility period. Length of eligibility period is dependent on union representation.
   
   Time Away From Work and Work/Life Balance
   
   Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave
   11 paid holidays per year
   Childbirth/Adoption leave
   
   Employee Development Funds
   
   The State of Ohio offers a variety of educational and professional development funding that varies based on whether you are a union-exempt employee or a union-represented employee.
   
   Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
   
   OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee's salary. Visit the OPERS website for more information.
   
   Deferred Compensation
   
   The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan. Visit the Ohio Deferred Compensation website for more information.
   
   Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a Model Employer of Individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
   Qualifications Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment:
   Education &/or experience in public health, health administration, or other health-related field or public policy & management/public administration or business administration or other relevant experience as determined by the appointing authority.
   Licensure Requirement:
   Must maintain proper permits & licenses to conduct veterinary activities in State of Ohio (i.e., License to practice Veterinary Medicine issued by Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board, per Sections 4741.11 to 4741.13 of Ohio Revised Code)
   Additional Qualifications:
   Applications of those who meet the minimum qualifications will be further evaluated against the following criteria:
   
   12 mos. exp. (or more) in veterinary medicine
   48 mos. exp. (or more) in public health or epidemiology
   48 mos. exp. (or more) as a Public Health Veterinarian (state job code 65291)
   Training and/or experience in the following:
   
   Technical writing (i.e., grants, reports for both professional and lay audiences, academic articles, regulatory guidance, legislation, and/or public policy)
   Teaching or training
   Public speaking
   Project planning (including budgeting)
   Outbreak investigations
   Regulatory compliance
   Use of standard productivity software (e.g., Microsoft Office suite)
   Use of statistical software (e.g., SAS, SPSS, etc.)
   
   ALL ANSWERS TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS MUST BE SUPPORTED BY THE WORK EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION PROVIDED ON YOUR CIVIL SERVICE APPLICATION.
   APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
   All applicants must submit a completed Ohio Civil Service Application using the TALEO System. Paper applications will not be considered. Applicants must clearly indicate how they meet the minimum qualifications and/or position specific minimum qualifications. Applicants are also encouraged to document any experience, education and/or training related to the job duties above. An assessment of these criteria may be conducted to determine the applicants who are interviewed.
   STATUS OF POSTED POSITION:
   You can check the status of your application online by signing into your profile. Jobs you applied for will be listed. The application status is shown to the right of the position title and application submission details.
   EDUCATIONAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS:
   Official educational transcripts are required for all post-high school educational accomplishments, coursework or degrees claimed on the application. Applicants will be required to submit an official transcript prior to receiving a formal offer of employment. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) working days of being requested will cause the applicant to be eliminated from further consideration.
   Please note that a transcript is considered "official" only if it is an original copy from the educational institution and includes an institutional watermark, ink stamp or embossed stamp. Transcripts printed from the institution's website will not be accepted. ODH reserves the right to assess the academic credibility of an educational entity's award of a putative degree. Background Check Information The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.
   
   All final applicants tentatively selected for this class will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointments. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment

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5. Post your job

   To find public health veterinarians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any public health veterinarians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level public health veterinarians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your public health veterinarian job on Zippia to find and recruit public health veterinarian candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with public health veterinarian candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new public health veterinarian

   Once you've decided on a perfect public health veterinarian candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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