Senior Veterinary Officer (HPC/VO 2)

Job Purpose

Under the supervision of the Director, Veterinary Services, the Senior Veterinary Officer is responsible for the design, implementation and co-ordination of all matters relating to Food Safety Monitoring, One Health, surveillance and monitoring of the production, harvesting, transportation and processing of prescribed products for export and processing establishments. 

Key Responsibilities

Management/Administrative: 

• Provides guidance/advice to the Director, Veterinary Services, Chief Technical Director, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Agriculture, other stakeholders and the general public; 
• Participates in the Division’s Strategic Planning process; 
• Reviews and makes recommendations for policies relating to food safety, animal care, disease prevention, technologies and One Health; 
• Prepares appropriate Budget and manages funds required for programmes/projects; 
• Formulates project proposals in areas of food safety and One Health; 
• Prepares and submits reports to the Director, Senior Management and Ministers on matters of national importance, and status reports; 
• Represents the Ministry at conferences, meetings, seminars and workshops at national, regional and international levels. 

Technical/Professional: 

• Co-ordinates all field activities relating to food safety, surveillance and investigations; 
• Conducts field investigations into disease outbreaks, in collaboration with Senior Veterinary Officer and the Veterinary Officer (Laboratory); 
• Co-ordinates training of Inspectors; 
• Assists in organizing animal disease emergency situations exercises; 
• Develops and implements programmes/projects related to national development; 
• Organizes, co-ordinates and implements animal health requirements, with respect to Veterinary Public Health Regulations and One Health; 
• Liaises with the Director, Veterinary Public Health, regarding meat inspection and other relevant food safety and protection activities; 
• Liaises with Animal Health Technicians regarding matters of disease surveillance, outbreaks and investigations; 
• Advises livestock farmers on matters of animal health, production and transfer of appropriate technology; 
• Collates and disseminates relevant information on disease status on National livestock population in the country. 

Human Resource: 

• Provides leadership, guidance and direction to staff, through effective planning, delegation, communication,training, mentoring and coaching; 
• Participates in the recruitment of staff for the Division; 
• Recommends leave, appointments, training and disciplinary action for staff supervised;
• Monitors and evaluates the performance of direct reports; prepares performance appraisals and recommends and/or initiates corrective action, where necessary, to improve performance; 
• Ensures that staff are supplied with all necessary facilities, equipment and supplies, in order to foster empowerment and high level of productivity; 
• Ensures the welfare and developmental needs of staff are clearly identified and addressed; 
• Develops and maintains a system that fosters a culture of teamwork and employee commitmentto organizational goals. 

Other: 

• Assists in the examination of animals for health certification; 
• Performs any other duties as directed by the Director, Veterinary Services. 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

Core: 

• Excellent leadership skills 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills 
• Excellent planning and organizing skills 
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills 
• Teamwork and cooperation 
• Customer and quality focus 
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills 
• Strong conflict management skills 
• Ability to work on own initiative 
• Display a high level of integrity 

Technical: 

• Sound knowledge of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine 
• Knowledge of the operations of Government/Ministry’s policies and procedures
• Sound knowledge of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) 
• Proficiency in the relevant computer programmes 
• Sound knowledge of One Health strategies 

Minimum Required Qualification and Experience

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM); 
• Five (5) years’ work related experience; 
• Post graduate Veterinary-ralated Degree programme; 
• Current registration with the Jamaica Veterinary Board. 

Special Condition Associated with the Job

• Extensive travelling islandwide/oversees; 
• Exposure to disease causing agents; 
• Exposure to injury by animals; 
• Exposure to hazards associated with field work;
• Extensive working hours outside normal working hours, inclusive of weekends and Public Holidays.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.