Group Veterinarian – Poultry | Victoria

Global Veterinary Careers; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Relocation package

Four weeks' annual leave

Flexible working arrangements

Career progression

Autonomy across multi-site operation

Job summary

Chattyvets seeks a Group Veterinarian – Poultry to lead flock health, welfare and biosecurity across eight Victorian sites. The role combines hands-on veterinary leadership with strategic program development, travel between sites, and collaboration with hatcheries, labs and management teams.

The successful candidate will drive vaccination, diagnostic interpretation and disease prevention while maintaining high welfare standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Veterinary Science with veterinary registration in Australia.
• Minimum three years' experience as a registered veterinarian.
• Strong knowledge of poultry health and disease management.
• Experience in poultry production systems.
• Postgraduate avian medicine training is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Oversee flock health, welfare and performance across eight sites in Victoria.
• Develop and implement flock health management programs and biosecurity protocols.
• Lead vaccination, disease prevention and diagnostic strategies across the group.
• Collaborate with hatcheries, feed mills, labs, nutritionists and consultants.
• Travel regularly between sites to monitor and support operational teams.
• Ensure welfare and biosecurity standards are consistently met across all sites.

Skills

Poultry health

Avian medicine

Leadership

Biosecurity

Diagnostics

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Veterinary Science

Job description

Group Veterinarian – Poultry | Victoria

Senior Veterinary Leadership | Multi-Site Role | Poultry Production

I’m currently recruiting for a Group Veterinarian to take technical responsibility for flock health, welfare, biosecurity and veterinary programs across a growing poultry operation in Victoria.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced veterinarian with a strong interest in avian medicine and poultry production to take on a genuinely influential leadership position across multiple sites.

The role would suit someone who enjoys being hands-on, working closely with operational teams and using veterinary science, diagnostics and preventative medicine to directly influence animal welfare and production outcomes.

About the Role

The Group Veterinarian will have responsibility for the health, welfare and performance of poultry across eight rearing and production sites throughout Victoria.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role with significant autonomy. The successful candidate will establish and maintain the standards for flock health, welfare, vaccination, disease prevention and biosecurity across the group.

The position involves regular travel between sites and collaboration across the broader poultry production chain, including:

• Hatcheries
• Feed mills
• Laboratories
• Nutritionists
• External veterinary and technical consultants
• Farm and operational management teams

Key Responsibilities

Flock Health & Welfare

• Conduct flock examinations and health assessments
• Monitor flock behaviour, performance and welfare
• Develop and implement flock health management programs
• Conduct inspections and collect samples for laboratory analysis
• Provide nutritional and management recommendations
• Monitor chick quality and work with hatcheries to identify opportunities for improvement
• Ensure welfare standards are consistently maintained across all sites

Biosecurity

Biosecurity will be a major focus of the role.

The Group Veterinarian will:

• Develop and maintain biosecurity protocols
• Train Farm Managers and operational teams
• Conduct site assessments and audits
• Ensure biosecurity standards are consistently applied
• Identify risks and implement corrective actions

The successful candidate will be expected to confidently hold operational teams accountable to the required biosecurity and welfare standards.

Vaccination & Veterinary Medicines

• Develop and manage comprehensive vaccination programs
• Oversee medicinal programs and disease prevention strategies
• Ensure vaccination and medication programs are appropriately documented
• Monitor compliance across all sites
• Review and update programs as required based on flock health and diagnostic findings

Disease Investigation & Response

The Group Veterinarian will lead disease investigations and responses across the business, including:

• Early identification of potential disease issues
• Diagnostic investigation and sample collection
• Interpretation of laboratory results
• Implementation of corrective and preventative actions
• Coordination with relevant government authorities
• Leading disease response from initial identification through to resolution

Diagnostics & Laboratory Services

The role will involve working closely with veterinary laboratories and external specialists to ensure diagnostic results are effectively interpreted and translated into practical preventative strategies.

The successful candidate will be expected to use diagnostic information to actively improve flock health rather than simply record results.

About You

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Bachelor of Veterinary Science or equivalent veterinary qualification
• Current registration as a veterinarian in Australia
• Minimum three years' experience as a registered veterinarian
• Strong knowledge of poultry health and disease management
• Experience working within poultry production systems
• A genuine interest in avian medicine and production animal health
• Strong understanding of biosecurity and animal welfare principles
• Excellent diagnostic and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication and relationship-building abilities
• The confidence to work with Farm Managers, operational teams, senior leadership and external stakeholders
• A willingness to travel regularly between sites throughout Victoria
• Current Australian driver's licence

A postgraduate qualification or additional training in avian medicine would be highly regarded.

The Type of Veterinarian We're Looking For

This isn't a role for someone who simply wants to provide veterinary advice from the sidelines.

The successful candidate will be comfortable being hands-on, visible and accountable across the operation.

You'll need to be confident making decisions, communicating expectations and, when necessary, challenging operational practices where flock welfare, biosecurity or veterinary standards aren't being met.

At the same time, you'll be someone who can build strong relationships with farm teams and bring people along with you.

How Success Will Be Measured

The Group Veterinarian will have clear responsibility for driving measurable outcomes across the operation, including:

• Flock health and mortality performance
• Production performance, including liveability and uniformity
• Vaccination program compliance
• Biosecurity compliance
• Disease outbreak response
• Animal welfare compliance
• Chick quality initiatives
• Farm team biosecurity capability
• Accurate, complete and audit-ready veterinary records

The role therefore offers the opportunity to see a direct connection between your veterinary expertise, the health and welfare of the birds and the overall performance of the business.

What's on Offer

• Total remuneration package of approximately $150,000, including car allowance, phone and laptop
• Potential relocation package and/or housing allowance for the right candidate
• Four weeks' annual leave
• Flexible working arrangements where operationally possible
• Genuine career progression as the organisation continues to expand
• Significant autonomy and influence across a multi-site operation
• The opportunity to take ownership of flock health and veterinary standards across eight Victorian sites
• A senior position combining veterinary medicine, animal welfare, production and leadership

Working Arrangements

This is a full-time salaried position based across multiple poultry sites throughout Victoria.

Regular travel between sites is an integral part of the role, and the position requires availability to respond to urgent disease and flock health matters when required.

Working hours will vary according to operational requirements, particularly during disease investigations or other urgent flock health situations.