Senior Veterinarian

Initial Posting Date:

09/04/2025

Application Deadline:

10/19/2025

Agency:

Racing Commission

Salary Range:

$6,667 - $10,311

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Senior Veterinarian (Business Operations Manager 1)

Job Description:

Are you passionate about horses and racing? Do you want to be part of a team that ensures the integrity and safety of the sport? If so, you might be interested in working as the Senior Veterinarian for the Oregon Racing Commission.

Our mission...

The Oregon Racing Commission (ORC) is a one program agency charged with the responsibility to regulate all aspects of the pari-mutuel industry and therefore, to protect the licensees, the racing animal athletes, the public and the state. At the same time, the ORC encourages and supports members of the industry in promoting live handle growth and enhancing live racing by attracting businesses to Oregon that are involved in technological advancements. This includes live race meets conducted at horse tracks, off-track sites and multi-jurisdictional simulcasting and interactive wagering totalizator hubs who conduct business online through a closed-loop subscriber system. The agency has approximately 2,200 active licensees.

The Senior Commission Veterinarian oversees the Veterinary Services section of the agency, which is responsible for ensuring the "racing soundness" of racing animals. The Senior Commission Veterinarian provides essential veterinary services and regulatory oversight to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of equine athletes at all Oregon racing tracks. This role involves conducting veterinary examinations, emergency care, regulatory compliance monitoring, stakeholder collaboration, and staff supervision.

Key Responsibilities:

• Veterinary Care & Emergency Response:

  • Provide emergency veterinary care to racing animals on the grounds, including performing euthanasia in cases of catastrophic injury.

  • Perform postmortem examinations when transportation to a facility is not feasible and arrange for necropsies of deceased animals.

  • Monitor equine health during scheduled training sessions when under ORC jurisdiction.

• Examinations & Compliance:

  • Conduct thorough pre-race and post-race veterinary evaluations to assess racing soundness.

  • Observe animals in the paddock, starting gate, and other key areas, and ensure that any animal not fit to race is scratched.

  • Provide expert advice to trainers, owners, and racing officials on equine health, performance, and regulatory matters.

  • Ensure compliance with industry regulations, addressing issues or discrepancies as they arise.

  • Monitor treatments administered by practicing veterinarians and ensure preventive measures for contagious diseases.

• Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication:

  • Serve as a liaison between the ORC and other jurisdictions regarding veterinarian lists that prohibit racing.

  • Provide technical advice and support to commissioners, stewards/judges, commission investigators, and legal teams.

  • Communicate with regulatory bodies, veterinarians, and stakeholders about disease outbreaks and regulatory updates.

• Regulatory Oversight & Policy Recommendations:

  • Monitor compliance with racing rules and recommend changes to policies governing medication, equine safety, and therapeutic treatments.

  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of veterinary issues affecting the racing animal population and advise on policy modifications.

  • Serve as an expert witness in hearings and provide testimony regarding regulatory and veterinary matters.

• Test Barn Supervision & Staff Management:

  • Supervise the test barn, ensuring proper sample collection, processing, and storage, and maintaining the chain of evidence.

  • Hire, train, and manage veterinary staff, assistants, and support personnel.

  • Oversee staff activities, manage workflow, and conduct performance evaluations.

• Record Keeping & Reporting:

  • Maintain detailed records related to veterinary inspections, medication administration, and compliance.

  • Produce reports such as end-of-meet summaries, policies, procedures, and statistical analyses.

  • Maintain lists related to racing categories, including vet’s list and bleeders list, and ensure the proper handling of controlled substances.

• Licensing & Examination:

  • Review applications for practicing veterinarians and vendors, consulting with stewards on licensing decisions.

  • Administer practical examinations for applicants seeking Assistant Trainer and Trainer licenses.

• Continuing Education & Compliance:

  • Participate in training to maintain licensing, including Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) licensing and veterinary continuing education.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Five years of lead work, supervision, or progressively related experience

OR

• Two years of related experience and a bachelor’s degree in a related field

Required Skills:

• DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine)

• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in equine veterinary care

• In-depth knowledge of equine health, regulatory compliance, and medication guidelines

• Strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills

• Valid veterinary license in the state of Oregon, or in a reciprocal state

• Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) license or ability to obtain one

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with regulatory bodies and policy development in racing

• Previous supervisory experience in a veterinary setting

• Racing industry experience

Employment Type:

• Full-time

• On-site presence required during races and training sessions

• This is an executive service position and is not represented by a union.

Working Conditions:

• The duty station is Grants Pass, Oregon, and will require travel to the following locations: Tillamook, Union, and Prineville.

• Travel to fairs or meetings away from the duty station is paid for by the agency.

• The racing season is generally from May through October each year, subject to change with the racing schedule

• This position will be fully remote in the off-season, from November through April.

462.273 Prohibited activities of commission, staff, and family members. No member, employee or appointee of the Oregon Racing Commission, or the immediate family member of such a person, may:

• Own or have any other financial interest in any animal participating in any race meet in Oregon.

• Own or have any other financial interest in any race meet, public training track or race course in Oregon.

• Bet or wager, in any manner, on any race meet held under the license and supervision of the commission if such individual acts in an official capacity in connection with that race meet.

Application information:

• A resume is required for this job posting and a cover letter is optional but highly encouraged. Please attach them in the “Resume / Cover Letter” section of the application.

• Please ensure that you clearly demonstrate in your application materials that you meet the qualifications listed and that you follow all instructions carefully. Only complete applications received by the posted application deadline date will be considered.

Additional information:

• Per the Pay Equity Law passed in 2017, a pay equity analysis will be conducted to determine what pay step the successful candidate will be offered.  The analysis will be based on the relevant experience, education, training, and certifications documented in the application materials.  On average, candidates new to state service will most likely be offered compensation in the lower to mid-level of the salary range.

• The successful candidate must have a valid driver's license and a satisfactory driving record. Before an offer of employment, ORC may request that you provide an official driving record.

• This position is subject to a fingerprint background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. Only job-related convictions will be considered and will not automatically disqualify the candidate.

• Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources. NOTE: If claiming veterans’ preference please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section.

• ORC does not offer VISA sponsorships. If your employment authorization and documentation is contingent on sponsorship now or in the future, you will not meet our agency employment eligibility standards. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States.

Helpful links and contact information:

Learn more about ORC

Understanding the State Application Process

Help and Support webpage

For more information you may contact us by e-mail at [email protected].

ORC is fully committed to attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting the most qualified candidates without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, or veteran status.