Animal Sciences Veterinary Officer (ID4289)

Do you want to apply your communication and problem-solving skills in a role that provides variety and flexibility?

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.

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions. We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes .

This advertised role is to join the Animal Sciences team as part of a team of specialist veterinary surgeons, bio veterinary scientists and animal technicians in the Pathology and Animal Science Department leading 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.

The Weybridge site is undergoing a major structural transformation with new high tech animal facilities being constructed to support ongoing and new projects in the years to come.

This is a great opportunity to further your career if you have a keen interest in Animal Science. We have a variety of training opportunities available to support your career at APHA. We seek individuals with a passion for working with animals and promoting their welfare.

Responsibilities

Animal science project delivery and capability leadership: to monitor and ensure the welfare of mainly cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and ferrets used in research. Design and lead relevant projects across a range of disease or commercial portfolios. Development of animal science capability and expertise, including development and application of new technologies and advances relevant to Animal Sciences at APHA, and engagement in policy relevant research across disease portfolios. There is an opportunity for further education if desirable. You must have a keen interest in research and proactively seek opportunities to develop modern welfare assessment tools. You will proactively contribute to the 3Rs (reduction, refinement, replacement), particularly the refinement of experimental or veterinary procedures.

Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS): Provision of advice on implementation of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act (full training will be provided). Ensure veterinary care and attention is given to a range of experimental animals as appropriate. Ensure the veterinary team can always deliver adequate veterinary cover and services. A weekly rota is shared with the other NVSs to respond to animal welfare emergencies out of hours. Advise on the health and welfare needs of a range of species, and the implementation of the 3Rs. Participate in study planning, execution and reviews, and ensuring appropriate records and documentation are kept and quality and safety standards are adhered to.

Veterinary duties: to provide basic medical care (diagnosis, treatment, anaesthesia monitoring, prevention of illnesses and injuries) to all our farm animals and small animals on site. Out of Hours rotation (currently 1 in 7) for emergency calls or if required to arrive on site within 45 min.

Staff and facility management : line management or functional management of scientific staff working in animal facilities. Responsibility for delivery of high disease containment animal studies - up to Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP3), Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO4) - with responsibility for animal disease biosecurity and Home Office (HO) compliance, staff training and performance management.

Specialism : You will be expected to develop as a veterinary specialist with regards to the species and the infectious organisms used in their area of responsibility and an awareness of the policy relevance of the work undertaken. You will lead on the development of the science capability within the department and support the Animal Science discipline champion. You will be encouraged to obtain a personal Home Office licence in order to carry out regulated procedures.

BioEthics, Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB): You will be an active member of the AWERB and its species care and use subcommittee, participating in meetings as well as have input into project licence applications, study and protocol reviews.

Communication: You will be required to have excellent interpersonal skills liaising with a very diverse range of people with differing skills and expertise. You should be able to confidently deliver training and presentations, and chair meetings as required as well as write/contribute to scientific reports and publications.

Budget and Financial planning: Sound resource management is important you will be involved in planning of multidisciplinary work, liaising with departmental administration team to ensure good budgetary management, effective use of resource and workforce planning. You may also have contract management duties.

Corporate activities: budget contribution, administrative responsibilities, Continuing Professional Development and other duties as required, including involvement in on call, duty rotas, emergency response, health and safety and quality processes.

Safety: Ensure that adequate training and planning for response to emergency scenarios is in place; actively lead and participate in safety inspections and audits. Work closely with safety representatives in respect of these duties.

Quality: You will be required to keep up to date on all legislation that could impact on quality issues within the department (Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), ISO9001) and will contribute to the preparation and planning of inspections and audits within the department, and be involved as required in pre-start meetings, facilitation on the day, wash-up meetings and management resolution of arising actions.

You will need to demonstrate the following:

• Clinical practice in small or food animal species or experimental models is required
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills written and oral, team working and leading
• Previous veterinary experience and skills

Learning & Development

Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role.

In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA.

Security clearance

The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Governments response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason all postholders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement to work at the Weybridge site where the team and work is situated.

Working arrangements

This post requires you to be working onsite at Weybridge five days per week or less if on a job share.

Periodic travel within the UK and Europe may be required to attend training courses, conferences and scientific meetings. This could include farm or abattoir visits as part of ongoing research or other postmortem facilities. You may have to ensure that no contact is made with farmed animals for a period of 1-2 days ...