Veterinary Advisor – Field Delivery Wales

Are you considering a change in your veterinary career?

Are you looking for a career with variety and flexibility in the work you do?

Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal health and welfare, protecting Great Britain from exotic notifiable diseases?

Many of the skills and competences already acquired in veterinary positions elsewhere will be applicable and valued in veterinary roles within APHA.  Why not explore a change, a new veterinary path, one that can have far reaching impacts?

We offer first class flexible working benefits, a culture encouraging inclusion and diversity, excellent employee well-being support and a civil service pension scheme, as well as 25 days leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years of service.

Why not join us and make a difference?

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 Wales

Organisation

Animal and Plant Health Agency

Role Purpose

This Vet role involves a wide range of work including, but not limited to, the following:

• Provide tactical leadership and serve as an authority on veterinary, and scientific matters related to the investigation, management, and control of significant animal-related risks, including representing APHA at local boards and meetings upon request
• Ensure effective knowledge exchange between business units and teams, facilitating the sharing of data, information, and intelligence for decision-making. This includes addressing knowledge gaps through appropriate risk assessments for continuous improvement and reporting.
• Collaborate 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, while working with individuals and teams to identify efficiencies and deliver cost-effective services.
• Build strong relationships with key local stakeholders and partners to influence end user compliance with animal health and welfare legislation, policies, advice, guidance and instructions.
• Oversee decisions that require a comprehensive understanding of veterinary public health, including risk assessment and enforcement, particularly in cases not directly covered by the Content Hub instructions, requiring consultation with subject matter experts or disease consultants.
• Ensure the quality of the work undertaken by field staff, including evaluating 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.
• Work in conjunction with the field Quality Coordinator team, as the national Quality Manager for the assigned delivery subject area.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to colleagues to develop their knowledge and experience of veterinary public health through a blended mix of theory, learning and practice, supporting senior managers to proactively manage talent and advising operational managers regarding the competency of individuals to undertake specific duties during and between outbreaks.
• Offer tactical veterinary leadership and direction in response to incidents and or outbreaks of endemic or exotic notifiable disease including being available for deployment across GB.
• Assist senior managers in delivering the APHA vision by contributing to the corporate leadership of the Agency and acting as a role model to embed the necessary performance improvements and culture changes in their subject area of influence.
• Lead and contribute to national policy initiatives and reforms, undertaking lead roles on programme boards, project teams, and working groups.
• Participate in an on-call rota, which is a requirement of the role eligible for an allowance.

Key responsibilities and duties