Veterinary Investigation Officer (ID2114) Bury St Edmunds

British Veterinary Association; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 42,000; Full time

Job description

Veterinary Investigation Officer (VIO)

Salary: £41,220

Pro rata for part time/job share. This post is eligible for an additional pay supplement of up to £3,000 (pro rata) upon appointment. See below under “salary" for more details.

About the job

Are you considering a change in your veterinary career? Are you looking for a career with variety and flexibility in the work you do? Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal health and welfare, protecting Great Britain from exotic notifiable diseases? Many of the skills and competences already acquired in veterinary positions elsewhere will be applicable and valued in veterinary roles within APHA. Why not explore a change, a new veterinary path, one that can have far reaching impacts?

Why not join us and make a difference?

We offer first class flexible working benefits, a culture encouraging inclusion and diversity, excellent employee well-being support and a civil service pension scheme, as well as 25 days leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years of service.

A career in the Civil Service is like no other. If you’re looking to join a world class team and develop your career with us, then the Civil Service is the place for you!

Job description

This Vet role involves a wide range of work including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Conducting disease investigations in farm animals and wildlife by undertaking post-mortem examinations and diagnostic sampling.
2. Obtaining relevant history from vets and farmers for investigating disease and to provide data for disease surveillance.
3. Using laboratory testing for diagnosis or to rule out diseases.
4. Collating, reporting and discussing findings with veterinary clients, farmers and APHA colleagues.
5. Providing advice on diseases and making recommendations on disease control and prevention.
6. Conducting farm visits to investigate for possible new diseases, zoonoses or potential threats to the food chain.
7. Opportunity to work with other veterinary and industry stakeholders, participate in knowledge exchange and influence standards of animal health and welfare.
8. Conducting surveillance for notifiable disease, through discussion with farmers or vets, sampling and gross diagnostic pathology.

You will be expected to work to quality standards and observe stringent health and safety requirements. Full training will be given, and you will be encouraged to develop your expertise.

We are looking for candidates who:

1. Are aware of the UK farming industry and diseases of farmed animals.
2. Have an interest or further experience in diagnostic pathology.
3. Can engage with customers and stakeholders confidentially and professionally.
4. Can produce reports to communicate veterinary knowledge.
5. Can demonstrate an ability to maintain and assure appropriate levels of quality assurance for scientific evidence and advice.
6. Are capable of strategic thinking, with diagnostic, analytical and creative problem-solving abilities.

Licences: Valid UK driving licence

Qualifications: Candidates must have a degree in Veterinary Medicine that is recognised in the UK.

Memberships: Registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is required.

Languages: Must have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to enable effective communication about veterinary topics with customers and colleagues and meet one of the following:
have undertaken undergraduate veterinary training in English or having a sufficient command of spoken and written English to effectively perform the role being undertaken by a public sector worker in a customer-facing role or have achieved the following scores in the academic international English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application – Overall 7, Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 7.

Benefits: Alongside your salary of £41,220, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £11,941 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. In return for your dedication and hard work, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support as the development of our people matter to us. Our benefits include generous annual leave, a generous employee contributory pension (28.97%), staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme, reward vouchers and in-year bonuses. We also offer additional days off if accrued extra hours (flexi-time –if accumulated), three paid volunteering days per year. Further details can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.

Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role.

Closing dates: 11:55 pm on Monday 19th May 2025

We are planning to run ‘Drop-in’ sessions via MS Teams. For further details please email: [e-mail]

Location: Please be aware that this role will be contractually based in a Defra/APHA group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.