Job Description

ID 3052

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The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate's name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.

Vacancy details

Vacancy title
Veterinary Lead Role


Closing date
23/09/2025, 16:00


Advertising basis
Permanent
Actual starting salary
A non-negotiable starting salary of 58,918 will be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge and experience and performance at interview.
Salary range or pay band
Grade 7 58,918 to 70,450
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Group
Local Govt, Housing, Climate Change and Rural Affairs
Directorate
Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer
Branch
Veterinary Team
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. A list of the Welsh Government's offices can be found on www.gov.wales/welsh-government-offices. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location.
Purpose of post



This is a key post within the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer (OCVO) in the Welsh Government. You will be part of a team responsible for securing and raising the standards of health and welfare for animals in Wales, and for protecting public health.


The main objectives of OCVO are to serve Welsh Government Ministers and to work in partnership across the public and private sectors to fulfil the goals of the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework animal-health-and-welfare-framework.pdf (gov.wales)


You will use your veterinary knowledge and judgement to help:

Protect against the incursion and spread of statutory or exotic animal disease and maintain a state of preparedness to deal with any outbreak; Ensure that all kept animals in Wales have a good quality of life and that their welfare is protected. Protect animal, public and environmental health, by working to One Health principles Devise and oversee a programme of bovine TB eradication. Promote productivity of livestock production through optimal health and the principles of sustainable development.

You will provide veterinary advice to the Welsh Government, the Chief Veterinary Officer (Wales), the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer (DCVO) and you will work closely with policy teams to design and deliver strategies and decisions to meet the goals of the Welsh Government. This will include provision of technical veterinary information and advice, interpretation of information and advice from other sources and applying veterinary principles of positive animal health and welfare to policy formulation.


Your role will include working with counterparts in other UK administrations and delivery partners. Stakeholder engagement and intelligent customer function will be significant parts of your role as Veterinary Lead.


You will be expected to take on leadership of a specific area (s) of OCVO's work.


You must hold membership or fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons'


The post provides an exciting opportunity to strongly influence animal health and welfare policy. You will be fully supported to make a strong, positive impact to veterinary public health and to develop relevant skills as a state veterinarian and civil servant.




Key tasks
The role will provide veterinary leadership and advice on the following areas:

The Wales Animal Health and Welfare outcomes priorities for action, including control and eradication initiatives of specific diseases in Wales Eradication of bovine tuberculosis from Wales The welfare of companion, farmed and other kept animals National and local biosecurity Prevention and control of exotic and endemic statutory diseases, including contingency planning Sustainable livestock production, including climate change mitigation and resilience and safeguarding livestock productivity Animal disease surveillance and risk management Control of antimicrobial resistance

The Postholder will be expected to contribute to areas that match their strengths, interests and experience, while also meeting their career goals and development requirements.


Key tasks will be delivered through:

Contributing to the design and delivery of evidence-based animal health protection and disease eradication programmes focussed on the key principles of infectious disease control and following One Health principles. Working closely with policy colleagues to devise and evaluate policies to implement the strategic goals of the Welsh Government. Providing veterinary information and advice to the policy teams within OCVO. Providing veterinary support, guidance and leadership to the Wales TB policy team and working closely with epidemiology colleagues to translate evidence to support policy development. Providing support to the CVO and DCVO in providing veterinary professional advice to Ministers and Welsh Government colleagues. Providing an "intelligent customer" function for externally sourced advice. Providing support and guidance to the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group. Identifying requirements and gaps in our evidence base, and consequently priorities for surveillance and research Representing OCVO as required on relevant WG and external delivery partner and stakeholder boards. Developing strong working relationships inside Welsh Government and with key partners and stakeholders including the Animal and Plant Health Agency, the Food Standards Agency and the veterinary delivery partners for Wales. Provide support across the Welsh Government Veterinary team. Undertake specific special projects as determined by the CVO and DCVO ranging across the whole of OCVO. Provide on call support in the event of animal disease emergencies.

Development opportunities
The post holder will have the opportunity to develop a strong understanding of government's role in safeguarding the health and welfare of kept animals, and in protecting public and environmental health. It will provide an opportunity to learn and be part of developing Welsh Government policy, working with Ministers and being at the forefront of promoting animal health and welfare across Wales.


The post provides an opportunity for exposure to, and to gain experience of, a wide range of state veterinary work from a government policy perspective. Full support and training will be provided to ensure the post holder benefits from this opportunity as much as possible



Other vacancy related information
A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.


A presentation on Technical 1 will be required at interview stage. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.


In the event of two or more candidates having the same total score, the following merit order will determine which candidate will be appointed.

Communicating and Influencing Technical 2 Technical 1 Leadership Making effective decisions Delivering at pace

In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Communicating and influencing and Technical 2. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.


In the event of an animal disease emergency, you will be required to provide support. This may require the post holder to participate in an out of hours on-call rota, to work out of normal working hours at short notice and possibly to be based at the Emergency Co-ordination Centre Wales, Welsh Government Offices, Cathays Park, Cardiff for a period of time during the emergency. You will be expected to travel to meet and build relationships with key partners and stakeholders. On call allowance and Travel and Subsistence will be paid to successful candidates.



Vetting level
Basic
Number of posts
1
Contact point for further information regarding the post
OCVO.GovernmentBusiness@gov.wales