Veterinary Pathologist, The Donkey Sanctuary, Honiton, Devon

The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys and mules worldwide.

We are working for a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering, and their contribution to humanity is fully valued. We are achieving this by transforming the quality of life for donkeys, mules and people worldwide through greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships.

These are exciting times for the charity and we now have an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated individual with excellent interpersonal skills to join our Veterinary Department at our fully equipped hospital at Brookfield Farm, near Honiton, as Veterinary Pathologist.

With a strong understanding or experience of the pathology of equids, you will provide a high quality anatomical pathology service and disseminate key scientific findings to improve understanding of donkeys and their welfare.

About you:

• Preferably, you will hold a veterinary degree with MRCVS, together with a certificate in veterinary pathology – ACVP, ECVP or FRCPath – (or pending examination results), however we will consider a vet who has a keen interest in pathology and is prepared to work towards an ACVP or ECVP certificate under supervision provided by the RVC.

• You will have an understanding or experience of laboratory techniques relevant to equines.

• You will possess excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively at various levels and experience of presenting to an audience and teaching skills to others.

• You will have a knowledge or understanding of the pathology of Equids.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include:

• Performing thorough post mortem examinations, and collecting and submitting appropriate diagnostic samples from resident animals.

• Reporting on histopathology from post mortem tissue and clinical tissue samples, ensuring the accurate and timely recording of post mortem and histopathology reports on the Donkey Sanctuary’s clinical database and liaising with the Veterinary team, and other interested parties, on the findings as required.

• Supporting the veterinary team with disease surveillance, monitoring causes of death in Sanctuary animals and reporting on these as required.

• Ensuring production of timely and informative summaries of data related to deaths of Donkey Sanctuary animals and sharing information on the significance of the findings of such examinations with others including the veterinary and executive teams.

• Advising the Donkey Sanctuary and external bodies (inc. veterinary surgeons, welfare officers and donkey owners) on donkey and mule pathology and diagnostics, including contributing to meetings and conferences, tuition of visitors to the post mortem room and laboratory, tuition of Donkey Sanctuary staff and others.

What we offer in return:

This is a full-time, permanent contract starting as soon as possible, working 37.5 hours per week.

Core hours will be 08.00-16.30, Monday-Friday, with flexibility required for out of hours attendance for emergency post-mortems.

The working pattern for this role will combine onsite and home working under our guiding principles for such roles. The working pattern will be agreed between the line Manager and post-holder.

Benefits:  

• Competitive pension

• Life Assurance

• 31 Days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 will each full year of service

• Wellbeing Team

• Long Service Awards

• Healthshield Plan:

• Reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership.

• Offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel and entertainment from participating outlets

• Free Parking

• Subsidised restaurant and shop

The Donkey Sanctuary is a Disability Confident Employer.

The Donkey Sanctuary is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people (children and adults), and expects all staff and volunteers to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment processes, including an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where required for the post.

The closing date for applications Sunday 29 January 2023.

Please send your CV via the APPLY button.