Wildlife Veterinarian (Assistant/Associate Professor)

Position: Tenure-track faculty position (rank depending on qualifications) with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute (CKWRI) and the Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences (RWSC) in the Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK). The successful candidate will be primarily responsible for managing the CKWRI Ocelot Conservation Facility, a 30,000 square-foot state-of-the-art complex which is currently under construction on the TAMUK campus. Scheduled for completion in May 2026, the facility will support ex situ breeding and rearing of the federally endangered ocelot, with the goal of augmenting the wild ocelot population through release of individuals reared at the facility. Immediately upon starting, the successful candidate will help establish operations, write protocols, review permits, and perform other foundational tasks necessary to ensure the facility’s success. As facility manager, the successful candidate will oversee animal-care staff, manage facility resources, and ensure timely and professional coordination with all agency and private collaborators in support of conservation and research goals.

In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to provide veterinary support to and collaborate on CKWRI research endeavors, and will be encouraged to develop a research program in wildlife physiology, behavior, and/or health. Acknowledging the substantial work required to manage a new facility and support CKWRI research, this position is being listed at 85% service, however an official research appointment is negotiable depending on candidate interest and experience. The successful candidate will also be expected to teach 1 graduate course in wildlife nutrition or wildlife physiology annually, fulfilling a 15% teaching expectation. Formally, the position will be considered a 9-month appointment consistent with most faculty positions, however summer salary will be supported by the CKWRI to ensure uninterrupted service to the facility and research endeavors.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the establishment of and operations at the CKWRI Ocelot Conservation Facility on the TAMUK campus.
• Work collaboratively with scientists, graduate students, private landowners, agency personnel, and others towards the goal of ocelot recovery.
• Provide veterinary support to CKWRI research endeavors in collaboration with faculty and students.
• If a research appointment is negotiated, develop and lead an impactful, extramurally-funded program consistent with the appointment,
• Teach 1 graduate-level course annually to meet the needs of the RWSC Department.
• Engage in professional service to the Department, College, and University as

Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from an AAVMC accredited university; licensed or ability to be licensed in the state of Texas.
• Experience providing veterinary care to wild animals ex situ and in situ.
• Experience in ex situ animal management and care, specifically with carnivores.
• Demonstrated leadership potential, such as managing a team, chairing committees, or leading an initiative.
• Ability to instruct courses in wildlife nutrition and physiology, incorporating effective teaching techniques into classes. Applicants must have successfully completed a minimum of 18 graduate-level hours in wildlife science, animal science, biology, veterinary science, or similar disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with students, professionals, lay audiences, and

Preference will be given to applicants with:

• Experience in the ex-situ management and care of wild felids.
• Experience with ex-situ breeding programs and reintroductions.
• Demonstrated ability to foster and sustain positive, working relationships with private landowners, scientists, students, and state, federal, and private natural resource
• Demonstrated potential to attract extramural
• MS or PhD in wildlife science, ecology, biology, animal science, or a related discipline.
• Board certification by the American College of Zoologic Medicine, the European College of Zoologic Medicine, the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, or related specialty.
• Evidence of innovative and applied biological research, demonstrated by a record of peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and other scholarly materials.

About CKWRI: CKWRI is a privately funded research unit at TAMUK that has provided science-based information for enhancing the conservation and management of Texas wildlife and rangelands for over 40 years. The successful applicant will join an established and award-winning team of ~30 faculty and research staff who work with ~55 M.S. and Ph.D. students to conduct innovative and applied research in partnership with numerous non-government organizations, state and federal agencies, and private landowners across the state. As faculty members of the RWSC Department, CKWRI scientists mentor, educate, and provide hands-on experiences to ~150 undergraduate students, playing a critical role in developing the next generation of wildlife professionals. Faculty and students alike enjoy small class sizes at TAMUK, a small Hispanic-Serving Institution serving ~7,000 students and the oldest, continuously operating public institution of higher learning in South Texas.

About Kingsville: The University is located in historic Kingsville, a friendly, safe city of 25,000 that is the home of the legendary King Ranch. Corpus Christi (population: ~300,000) and its beaches are just 40 miles to the northeast, and the border with Mexico is 120 miles to the south at Brownsville or 119 miles to the west at Laredo. The region boasts world-class fishing, hunting, and birding, access to the longest, undeveloped barrier island in the world (Padre Island National Seashore), and a friendly, diverse community rich in history and culture.