HOW YOU WILL IMPACT OUR MISSION
The Director of Disease Investigations is a leadership position with the responsibility to oversee a team of diagnostic, scientific, and technical support staff, and laboratories. The Director works collaboratively with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance departments to identify and address wildlife health issues and disease threats, including zoonoses. The Director is responsible for leading, managing and collaborating in diagnostic and research programs that conduct disease surveillance, disease risk assessments, and hypothesis driven research for application to wildlife health and conservation. The Director serves as a subject matter expert, and provides strategic, operational, diagnostic, and scientific leadership. This position has both supervisory and budgetary responsibility. The Director of Disease Investigations reports to the Vice President of Wildlife Health.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Develop and oversee a broad-scale and integrative diagnostic and scientific research program for the Disease Investigations team that is aligned with the organizational strategic conservation goals, internally and globally.
• Lead in providing veterinary pathology expertise for collection health, national and international field conservation initiatives, and in-situ and ex-situ research.
• Responsible for supervision of the Disease Investigations teams (Pathology, Epidemiology, Molecular Diagnostics, Research) including, but not limited to mentorship, engagement, training, succession planning, performance management, hiring, and termination.
• Oversee veterinary pathology service focusing on routine diagnostic pathology and post mortem case management, and contribute to disease outbreak investigations and regulatory (reportable disease) functions. Includes expertise in light microscopy, microbiology, parasitology, toxicology, electron microscopy, and molecular diagnostics.
• Lead the budgeting process for the Disease Investigations team, maintain five-year budgeting plan, and oversee departmental efforts to meet budgetary expectations, including extramural funding.
• Represent and report for the department and organization to leadership stakeholders, partners, and professional organizations, showcasing the overall diagnostic and research productivity of the team including publication of peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Director of Disease Investigations will work at both the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, CA and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, CA.

JOB EXPERIENCE

• Must have 10 or more years of experience in veterinary diagnostic pathology in non-domestic species required
• Must have expertise in conducting and directing research in a specialize field and conducting and directing diagnostic investigations in wildlife required
• Must have a noteworthy publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals required

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. or DVM in a specialized area of biological science and/or a equivalent specialized training required
• Diplomate in American or European College of Veterinary Pathology - Anatomic (ACVP/ECVP) required
• Ph.D. in a specialized area of biological science and/or a equivalent education strongly preferred
• Special certification and/or licensure is required for some assignments 

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Expertise in the current standards in diagnostic veterinary pathology. 
• Familiar with management practices in zoologic species. 
• Knowledge of diagnostic resources for non-domestic and domestic species. 
• Knowledge of regulatory reporting requirements in veterinary medicine (State, Federal, International). 
• Independent ability to use veterinary necropsy equipment, including light microscope, dissecting scope, BSL2 hood, bandsaw, stryker saw, reciprocating saw. 
• Ability to apply critical thinking in problem solving and quality decision making. 
• Ability to lead through direction and development of others. 
• Ability to develop peer relationships and manage conflict. 
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbal and written. 
• Ability to anticipate needs, identify downstream consequences, employ proactive measures. 
• Ability to build and work with effective, diverse teams. 

SOME OF THE PERKS YOU WILL ENJOY AS A TEAM MEMBER

• Free admission to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
• Family Passes
• Complimentary Tickets
• Local and In-House Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Program

IMPORTANT DETAILS

• Location: San Diego, CA
• Position Type: Salaried Full-Time Exempt Position
• Salary Rate: $173,982.40