Animal Sciences Veterinary Officer
Location: New Haw, South East England, KT15 3NB
Salary: £42,577 - £47,039 + A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Contract Type: Permanent
About the Agency
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice, and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.
About the Role
You will join the Animal Sciences team as part of a team of specialist veterinary surgeons, bioveterinary scientists and animal technicians in the Department of Pathology and Animal Sciences. You will lead the delivery of live animal phases of infectious disease research and statutory disease surveillance functions, ensuring compliance with Home Office regulations (ASPA), providing advice on the welfare and treatment of the animals as Named Veterinary Surgeon, developing and promoting the animal science discipline, and managing specialist staff and facilities within APHA.
This is a great opportunity to further your career if you have a keen interest in animal science. APHA has a variety of training opportunities available to support your career at APHA. They are after individuals with a passion for working with animals and promoting their welfare.
Animal science project delivery and capability leadership: to contribute to animal welfare of a wide range of animals used in research, development animal science capability and expertise and engage in policy relevant research across disease portfolios.
Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) responsibilities and associated duties outlined in the Animal Act 1986. This includes leadership of compliance and implementation of APHA’s Animal Welfare Standards.
Veterinary duties: to provide basic medical care in animals held at APHA.
Staff and facility management: line management including functional management of staff working in animal facilities. Responsibility for delivery of high disease containment animal studies, with responsibility for animal disease biosecurity and Home Office compliance, and staff training.
Corporate activities: budget contribution, administrative responsibilities, CPD and other duties as required, including on call, duty rotas and emergency response.
Experience and skills
You will need to demonstrate the following:
Experience
- Clinical practice in small or food animal species or experimental models is required
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills – written and oral, team working and leadership skills
Technical Skills
- Statement of 250 words of how you meet the relevant technical skills for this post; This should include: veterinary expertise and skills, previous experience with experimental models or pathogens at different containment levels
Other Requirements:
- The applicant must be registered with, or immediately eligible for RCVS. (MRCVS is essential for this post).
- A valid driving licence that covers the UK, access to a vehicle with appropriate business use insurance.
- All postholders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above.