Animal Sciences Veterinary Officer (ID4289)
| Posting date: | 29 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £46,060 to £50,495 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 09 January 2026 |
| Location: | New Haw, Addlestone |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 441804 |
Summary
Animal science project delivery and capability leadership: to monitor and ensure the welfare of mainly cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, poultry, rabbits, cavies, 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: 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 to all above mentioned species (diagnosis, treatment, anaesthesia monitoring, prevention of illnesses and injuries) in animals. 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 ACDP3, 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 (GLP, 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.
Named Veterinary Surgeon: 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 to all above mentioned species (diagnosis, treatment, anaesthesia monitoring, prevention of illnesses and injuries) in animals. 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 ACDP3, 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 (GLP, 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.
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