Veterinary Advisor-Field Delivery and Outbreak Support
Department
Closing Date
Salary
Job Summary
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, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare?
Are you someone who can lead and manage change in a challenging and dynamic environment?
Do you have the ability to influence others and guide your team in a shared strategy?
If so, we would like to hear from you!
We have 3 exciting opportunities for Veterinary advisors in the following areas:
1 Permanent Veterinary Advisor Field Delivery (VAFD) to be based in the Southern Delivery area.
2 Fixed Term Appointment (until 31/03/2025) Veterinary Advisors for Outbreak Centralised Services (VAOCS) which can be based at any APHA location.
If so, why not
This video is an example of the type of work field vets are involved in at APHA.
Job Role at a glance
Role Title
Veterinary Advisor-Field Delivery and Outbreak Support
Organisation
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Role Purpose
The role of Veterinary Advisor (VA) is a tactical and an operational role, requiring an individual who can provide credible veterinary leadership to develop and assure high performance in a geographically dispersed, multi-disciplinary team, both during and between exotic animal disease outbreaks.
The Veterinary Advisor (Field, Outbreak Centralised Services (OCS), and Resilience) is accountable for working with the Veterinary Heads of Field Delivery (VHoFD), Veterinary Head of Outbreak Delivery (VHOD) and Veterinary Head of Outbreak Centralised Services (VHOCS) and others to deliver operational excellence in veterinary service delivery, stakeholder engagement and customer service through the effective application, quality assurance and enforcement of veterinary public health policies and measures.
You will be responsible for identifying training and development needs as well as delivering training and mentoring to frontline staff to help meet those needs.
Working closely with the Veterinary Head of Field Delivery, the Veterinary Advisor for Field Delivery will functionally manage a veterinary field team, normally in a particular geographical area. Where applicable they will also line manage should that be required and be responsible for operational excellence in a nationally aligned subject area.
Key responsibilities and duties
- Be accountable for providing tactical leadership and acting as an authority on veterinary, and scientific matters for the investigation, management and control of significant animal-related risks including representing APHA at local boards and meetings on request.
- Be responsible for ensuring effective knowledge exchange between business units and teams so that data, information and intelligence is effectively shared for decision-making and the giving of advice and knowledge gaps can be appropriately risk-assessed and addressed for continuous improvement and reporting as appropriate.
- Be responsible for working in collaboration with senior vets and operational managers to ensure that all veterinary and technical activities are delivered in accordance with desired policy outcomes, business plans and performance targets, working with individuals and teams to identify efficiencies and deliver best value for money services.
- Be responsible for building effective relationships with important local stakeholders and partners to influence end user behaviour regarding compliance with animal health and welfare legislation, policies, advice, guidance and instruction.
- Be responsible for making or having oversight of decisions which require a deep understanding of veterinary public health including risk assessment and enforcement. Typically, cases which are not directly covered by the Content Hub instructions and where consultation with subject matter experts or disease consultants is required.
- Be responsible for providing assurance of the quality of the work undertaken by field staff including evaluation of the veterinary and technical performance of Official Veterinarians and contractors as directed by the APHA central quality assurance units and Quality Leads. Assurance will include oversight and evaluation of training, competence and compliance of staff, making recommendations for improvement as appropriate.
Qualifications
Memberships
Languages
• have undertaken undergraduate veterinary training in English
or
• have achieved the following scores in the academic international English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application – Overall 7, Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 7
and
• having a sufficient command of spoken and written English to effectively perform the role being undertaken by a public sector worker in a customer-facing role.