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- Tasks: Protect the UK from animal and plant threats while working outdoors.
- Company: Join APHA, a vital agency for animal health and safety.
- Benefits: Comprehensive training, flexible working, and opportunities for travel.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal health and public safety.
- Qualifications: Caring attitude and teamwork skills are essential.
- Other info: Engage in diverse tasks with excellent career growth potential.
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 numerous vacancies available at various locations. All posts will be offered in merit order based on location and business need. As part of the role, you will be expected to travel to the counties specified for your location and carry out the duties outlined in the Job Description. Under certain circumstances (e.g. National Disease Outbreaks) staff will be expected to work on detached duty at other locations, depending on business needs. The post holder will occasionally be required to work from other locations in the delivery area.
Currently APHA has adopted a blended approach to working, allowing for a mix of some home working and office attendance.
As a field-based Animal Health Officer (AHO) your duties will include, but are not limited to the following:
- Blood sampling of livestock species including cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry (after suitable training).
- Collecting blood samples from bTB breakdown cattle herds, including suckler, beef and dairy herds.
- Conduct documentation inspections on animal identification, animal movement, breeding, medicine and other written or electronic records for audit and disease control and surveillance purposes.
- Collect samples for National Surveillance Schemes including feed samples from farms, feed mills and feed merchants.
- Collection of samples on behalf of VMD.
- Collect samples and information for disease surveys including brucella and salmonella.
- Manage compliance inspections for premises handling animal by-products e.g., rendering plants, composting sites, hunt kennels and knackers' yards.
- Risk based visits to premises for egg marketing inspections including egg producers, egg packing stations, wholesalers, hatcheries and processing/boiling plants.
- Responsible for enforcement of regulations including Eggs and Chicks (England) 2009.
- Ensuring the standards are being met, particularly the quality, weight and grading of eggs and that the labelling of containers and packaging are being complied with.
- Carrying out complex record reconciliation, audit trails at packing centres and production units to check claims made on egg packs/labelling as well as egg production/sales levels.
- Play an active part in contingency planning so the agency is able to respond to outbreaks of exotic notifiable disease and other emergencies.
- Undertake allocated rostered out of hours on-call duties to deal with incidents and to support disease outbreak reports.
- During outbreaks of notifiable disease, participate as directed to contribute to the control and eradication of the disease including taking part in rosters for detached duty to other parts of Great Britain.
- Working with a diverse team, both locally and across Great Britain, including other technical colleagues, veterinary surgeons and scientists during notifiable disease outbreaks.
The exact mix of responsibilities will depend on where the successful applicant is based. Different regions require different levels of support, so duties will be adjusted to reflect local operational needs.
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 appreciates the varying level of experiences and skills successful candidates will hold on joining the agency. Training material is designed to ensure all new entrants to APHA build suitable confidence and competencies to deliver the work.
New AHO staff will be part of regional, country and GB wide teams who will be provided with widespread support on all facets of APHA work.
Animal Health Officer - England in Norwich 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 - England in Norwich
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the role and the organisation! Join those virtual drop-in sessions to ask questions and show your enthusiasm. It’s a great way to connect with the team and get insights that can help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former Animal Health Officers on LinkedIn. They can share their experiences and might even give you some insider tips on what APHA is really looking for.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills in the interview! Be ready to discuss your experience with animal health, compliance inspections, and teamwork. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you’ve tackled challenges in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the APHA team!
We think you need these skills to ace Animal Health Officer - England in Norwich
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 care about the role and understand its importance in protecting both human health and the environment.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this specific role. Highlight relevant experiences and skills that match the job description, so we can see why you're the perfect fit for our team!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon, so we can easily understand your qualifications and motivations without getting lost in the details.
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 and allows you to keep track of your application status easily.
How to prepare for a job interview at Animal and Plant Health Agency
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on animal health regulations and the specific duties of an Animal Health Officer. Familiarise yourself with the types of livestock you'll be working with and any recent outbreaks or issues in the field. This will show your passion and commitment to the role.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Since this role involves working with a diverse team, be ready to discuss your teamwork experiences. Think of examples where you've collaborated effectively, especially in challenging situations. Highlighting your ability to work well with others will resonate with the interviewers.
✨Get Practical
If you have any hands-on experience with livestock or in a field-based role, make sure to mention it! Discuss any relevant skills like blood sampling or compliance inspections. Practical knowledge can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Ask Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the role and the organisation. This shows your genuine interest and helps you understand if the job is the right fit for you. You might ask about the training programme or how the team handles disease outbreaks.
