Veterinary Investigation Officer, Veterinary Centre – Dumfries

Fixed Term (12 Months) Part Time (29.6 hours)

Salary: £47,102 to £54,904 per annum, pro rata

Reference: AJN/VS/058/23

Closing date: 10 February 2023                                                          

SRUC is unique in Scotland and one of the largest organisations of its kind in Europe.  Our ambitious and exciting vision is to work at local, national and international levels, leading innovation and sustainable development in agriculture and rural sectors.

The prime function of the Veterinary Services Group (SRUC VSG) is to provide a laboratory diagnostic and consultancy service to veterinary surgeons in practice in Scotland. SRUC Veterinary Services also provides formal sheep and cattle disease control and accreditation schemes. In addition, there are businesses dealing with companion animal clinical pathology (Capital Diagnostics) and analytical testing of soils, plants and animal feedstuffs.   

SRUC VSG operates through a network of six Disease Surveillance Hubs strategically sited at Perth and St Boswells in the Centre and South-East, Ayr and Dumfries in the South West, Inverness and Aberdeen in the North.  St Boswells, Dumfries and Aberdeen Hubs have post-mortem rooms on site. Farm animal diagnostic surveillance post-mortem examinations can also be performed at School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow and Thurso Disease Surveillance Centre in collaboration with the Ayr and Inverness Hubs respectively. By maintaining a presence throughout Scotland, SRUC VSG is able to fulfil a role in National Disease Surveillance and to provide information on national trends in animal disease.  This information is added to that collected by the Animal and Plant Health Agency to provide animal disease surveillance data for Great Britain.

The Key Responsibilities of this role include:

• To provide an effective, reliable and efficient farm animal diagnostic and consultancy service to veterinary surgeons in practice and farmers in the area covered by the Dumfries Centre. Key components of this work include the detailed investigation of the aetiology and risk factors of farm animal disease outbreaks through post mortem examinations, laboratory diagnostic tests and on farm disease investigations

• Through a close working relationship with local veterinarians and farmers to keep informed of the trends, distribution and nature of livestock diseases in the area covered by the Centre. Through this work the VIO will contribute to the local and national disease surveillance functions of SRUCVS.

• To investigate in detail unusual outbreaks of farm animal disease in collaboration with veterinary and other colleagues within SRUC and other specialist institutions.

• To contribute as required to SRUCVS’s farmer education and knowledge transfer campaigns.

• To participate in disease eradication and control programmes being directed by Animal Health by providing full supporting laboratory services as and when required.

• To contribute as required to SRUCVS animal welfare work by examining wildlife mortalities and other cases submitted by welfare organisations, the police and other government agencies.

• To contribute to the advisory, development and research effort of other departments within SRUC. In particular the VIO should liaise with colleagues within the SAC advisory service (particularly the specialist dairy, beef and sheep agricultural advisors, nutritionists and building advisors) to support a farm animal health advisory service in the local area.

• To work for short periods at other SRUC Veterinary Centres as necessary

Benefits / What you will get in return

• Enhanced holidays

• Enhanced pension contributions (5% employee and 10% employer opposed to 5% employee and 3% employer)

• Cycle to work scheme

• RAC Membership

• Enhanced family leave

• Flexible working patterns

• Hybrid working solutions (in some areas)

• Tailored investment in and individuals' learning and development 

Further details on the requirements of this role can be found in the Job Particulars document which you must read before applying for this role. This is downloadable when you click the APPLY link.

SRUC Leading the way in Agricultural and Rural Research, Education & Consultancy.

SRUC is committed to valuing Diversity, advancing Equality and respecting Human Rights throughout the organisation and encouraging applications from disabled people using the “Disability Confident Employer” symbol. SRUC is a member of the Athena SWAN charter.

SRUC. A Charitable company limited by guarantee, SC003712. Registered in Scotland No SC103046

Please quote reference: AJN/VS/058/23

The closing date for applications is: 10 February 2023

Please send your application via the APPLY button.