Job Description

Faculty/Department Department of Life Sciences
Salary Scale 40,521- 44,263 per annum
Contract Type Permanent
Full-time / Part-time Full-Time
Weekly Hours 36.5 hrs
Employment Visa Sponsorable
Posted Date 24/06/2025
Closing Date 06/07/2025
Ref No 5811




The Role

What you'll do

Who you are - Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

How to apply

Benefits

Employment Visa



The Role



The Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science is currently adding to their provision by developing a Foundation Degree in Veterinary Nursing. We are looking to add a skilled Registered Veterinary Nurse or MRCVS (UK practising) to join our team to assist the Programme Lead with the continued development and accreditation of this provision.



The post-holder will work with the Programme Lead to recruit training practices to become affiliated to the University and will develop the work placement links for all student on the course as well as provide support and quality assurance for both students on placement and training practices. They will also aid in the provision of theory and practical teaching and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses for the local veterinary industry, preparation of teaching content and supporting the development of future undergraduate and post-graduate qualifications in veterinary nursing related topics.



In addition, the post-holder will be required to conduct relevant high-quality research through internal and external collaboration and by making applications to external funding bodies. They will contribute to administration and teaching within the ASVS and the wider Faculty and at University level where appropriate.



Applications are welcomed from candidates with experience in the teaching and/or quality assurance of veterinary nursing qualifications.



To make an informal enquiry, please contact Programme Lead, Emma Anscombe-Skirrow at ema41@aber.ac.uk.



Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

Further Particulars

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science

The University established the Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science in 2020, building upon its long-established teaching and research in animal health, nutrition and management. Its academic home is in the Department of Life Sciences (DLS; formerly IBERS - Institute of Biology, Environmental and Rural Sciences), an internationally recognised research and teaching centre.



This is an exciting time to join Aberystwyth's new School of Veterinary Science. You will be part of an enthusiastic team working together to establish Aberystwyth as a centre of excellence for veterinary teaching and research in Wales and beyond. The University has developed state-of-the-art facilities for the veterinary programme and provided the necessary teaching resources in its new Veterinary Education Centre (VEC). The VEC provides clinical skills and companion animal handling training rooms, dedicated space for teaching anatomy, and communal space for students to meet and prepare for classes. This complements Aberystwyth's strong laboratory-based facilities on Penglais Campus. In addition, the University has a number of specific facilities of relevance to veterinary related courses including:


Several major farms including Trawsgoed Dairy Farm and Gogerddan Sheep and Beef Farm. Lluest Equine Centre - A purpose-built teaching facility. Pwllpeiran Upland Research Platform - A centre for the study of upland farmed ecosystems.

The School is responsible for delivering the first veterinary science degree in Wales, in partnership with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). ASVS is responsible for delivering the first two years of the BVSc and its first cohort of students commenced in September 2021. The School is now planning further curriculum developments, starting with Veterinary Nursing but also planning other courses of relevance to the wider professional veterinary and farming community.



As well as developing an exciting teaching portfolio, the School's research interests cover antimicrobial resistance, endemic disease control, avian wildlife diseases and One Health approaches to improving biosecurity and health messaging.



Further information is available here: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/vet-sci/



What you'll do



The successful candidate will report to the Programme Lead and will support the development and delivery of Veterinary Nursing at Aberystwyth University. They will undertake administration in connection with this and will contribute at an appropriate level to the general administration of the School, as agreed with the Programme Lead and Head of School.

Learning and Teaching

To manage and quality assure a database of veterinary practices required for the delivery of the FdSc Veterinary Nursing To support the development of clinical learning areas for the FdSc Veterinary Nursing Contribute to the co-ordination and delivery of core teaching in Veterinary Nursing (Preparing for Placement) Work with veterinary practices to develop appropriate student placements. Participate in the recruitment and selection process of students onto the FdSc Veterinary Nursing Quality assurance of students and training practices and assist with placement arrangements either in the University or clinical learning environments Provide support, training and standardisation for clinical supervisors and affiliated training practices Ensure appropriate guidelines, policies and regulations are in place, updated and implemented to support learning. Liaise with professional services to ensure compliance with internal regulatory requirements Support the development of accredited post registration Certificates in Advances Veterinary Nursing (CertAVNs) Promote Veterinary Nursing through established recruitment and marketing Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post. Be committed to the University's Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post. Be committed to their own development through the effective use of the University's Effective Contribution Scheme. Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Professional Practice

Develop and maintain an external profile, including for example publications, membership of professional bodies and external panels/examining. Undertake external networking with key stakeholders including the BVNA and RCVS, and the wider academic Veterinary Nursing education community. Undertake continuous professional development to enhance their own skills. Abide at all times to the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses

Enterprise

Collaborate with the wider academic community, relevant professional bodies and other key stakeholders. Individually or with colleagues, bid for external income.

Other

To undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post. To be committed to the University's Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post. To be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of the University's Effective Contribution Scheme. Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

The responsibilities of this vacancy have been matched to the Academic Role Profile Teaching and Scholarship. Details of the role profile can be found at:



https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/info-staff/employment/agreement/academic-profiles/



Who you are - Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

Professional qualification in Veterinary Nursing or Veterinary Science and registration with the RCVS.

A minimum of one year experience of supporting students in veterinary practice settings and/or supporting work placements in an educational setting.

Contemporary knowledge and experience of veterinary nursing including current veterinary nursing policy, research and professional development

A minimum of one year experience of teaching in tertiary education with experience of a diverse range of students.

Knowledge and understanding of the RCVS Day One Skill, Day One Competences, Professional Behaviours and the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses

Excellent team working, people management skills and communication skills

An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually

Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A0.

Desirable

MSc or PhD in relevant discipline

A minimum of 1 year experience in the delivery of and/or quality assurance of RCVS accreditation license to practise Veterinary Nursing programme

Hold a quality assurance qualification e.g. TAQA

Active interest in veterinary research and evidence based veterinary nursing

Hold a teaching qualification or FHEA

Oral (spoken) Welsh and Written Welsh Level C1 or higher



More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:


https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/



How to apply



To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.



Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.



Benefits


Flexible working policy 36.5 - hour week for full-time roles Generous leave entitlements - 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days Commitment to Professional Development Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes Staff recognition and reward schemes Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free Staff relocation bursary Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.
Please keep reading



We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.



We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.



Employment Visa



We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.



Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will

not

support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.



Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:

Skilled Worker Route Points-Based System

Points

Meets (Yes / No)

Mandatory / Non-tradeable Criteria (50 points)

A job offer from a UK licensed sponsor


20 points


Yes


Job is above the minimum sponsorable skill level


20 points


Yes


Appointed candidate to have appropriate knowledge of the English language

10 points


Yes


Total = 50 points

Tradeable Criteria (dependent on candidate appointed)

Salary meets minimum threshold


20 points


The candidate holds a PhD in a subject relevant to the job


10 points


The candidate holds a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job


20 points


The advertised role is on the UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL)


20 points




Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:

A national of a majority English speaking country Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC) Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.

For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa