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- Tasks: Protect animal health and welfare through inspections, sampling, and disease control.
- Company: Join APHA, a vital organisation safeguarding the UK’s health and environment.
- Benefits: Comprehensive training, career development, and opportunities for travel.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal health while enjoying outdoor work.
- Qualifications: Agricultural knowledge and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: Join a diverse team and gain valuable experience in a supportive environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As an Animal Health Officer within Animal Plant Health Office, you will play a role in protecting the UK from animal and plant related threats to human health, the economy and the environment.
Are you caring, conscientious and an excellent team worker? Do you enjoy working outside? If the answer is yes, you should come and work for APHA.
We have four permanent vacancies based at the following locations: Perth, Ayr, Milton, Inverness or Thurso (the post can be based in either office).
Role and responsibilities- Working as part of the Technical Team, you will help safeguard animal health and welfare.
- Through engaging with inspections, surveillance and collecting samples, you will be contributing to the control and eradication of disease to protect both the economy and food security.
- Blood sampling of livestock species including cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry (after suitable training).
- Collecting blood samples from TB breakdown cattle herds, including suckler, beef and dairy herds.
- Conducting documentation inspections on animal identification, animal movement, breeding, medicine and other written or electronic records for audit and disease control and surveillance purposes.
- Collecting samples for National Surveillance Schemes including feed samples from farms, feed mills and feed merchants.
- Collecting samples and information for disease surveys.
- Managing compliance inspections for premises handling animal by-products e.g., rendering plants, composting sites, hunt kennels and knacker's yards.
- Being part of contingency planning to respond to outbreaks of exotic notifiable disease and other emergencies.
- Undertaking allocated rostered out-of-hours on-call duties to deal with incidents.
- Participating as directed to contribute to the control and eradication of disease including rosters for detached duty to other parts of Great Britain during outbreaks.
- Working with a diverse team, including other technical colleagues, veterinary surgeons and scientists during notifiable disease scenarios.
All successful candidates will be provided with an extensive programme of training and support as part of their induction into working with APHA. Some training will involve travel and overnight stays. APHA provides regional, country and GB-wide teams with support on all facets of APHA work.
Person specification / QualificationsWe are looking for candidates with the following essential experience and skills:
- An agricultural background, an agricultural qualification or knowledge of the agricultural industry.
- High standards of written and spoken English and the ability to communicate about animal health topics with all stakeholders including customers, service users and colleagues.
- Knowledge of basic Health and Safety and an understanding of safe working on farms and with livestock and poultry.
- Ability to work alone or as part of a team, take responsibility and remain positive and focused in the face of challenge.
- Experience with excellent record keeping, auditing processes and maintaining compliance.
Animal Health Officer - Scotland in Inverness employer: Animal and Plant Health Agency
Contact Detail:
Animal and Plant Health Agency Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Animal Health Officer - Scotland in Inverness
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the role inside out! Watch the APHA video and read up on the responsibilities. This way, when you chat with the team during the virtual drop-in session, you can ask smart questions that show you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current Animal Health Officers or people in similar roles on LinkedIn. They can give you insider tips and maybe even put in a good word for you!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills! Think about how you’d handle scenarios related to animal health and welfare. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or family to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the APHA team!
We think you need these skills to ace Animal Health Officer - Scotland in Inverness
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Animal Health: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for animal health shine through! We want to see that you genuinely care about safeguarding animal welfare and the environment. Share any relevant experiences or stories that highlight your commitment.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to match the job description. We’re looking for specific skills and experiences, so align your background with what we’ve outlined. This shows us you’ve done your homework and are serious about the role!
Keep It Clear and Concise: We appreciate a well-structured application! Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. Make it easy for us to read and understand your qualifications and experiences. Bullet points can help break up text and highlight key information.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it reaches us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the necessary details and resources to help you along the way. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Animal and Plant Health Agency
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of animal health and welfare, especially in relation to the agricultural industry. Familiarise yourself with common diseases and their impact on livestock, as well as current regulations. This will show that you're not just passionate but also informed about the role.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Since this role involves working closely with a diverse team, be prepared to discuss your experiences in teamwork. Think of examples where you've collaborated effectively, especially in challenging situations. Highlighting your ability to communicate and work well with others will resonate with the interviewers.
✨Get Practical
If you have any hands-on experience with livestock or in agricultural settings, make sure to mention it. Discuss specific tasks you've undertaken, like blood sampling or compliance inspections. This practical knowledge can set you apart from other candidates who may lack real-world experience.
✨Ask Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview. This could be about the training programme, the types of challenges you might face, or how the team collaborates during disease outbreaks. Asking insightful questions shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.
