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The objectives of the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer (OCVO) are:

• To protect public health;
• To ensure a state of preparedness to deal with any incursion of exotic animal disease and to control endemic animal disease;
• To raise awareness and improve animal health and welfare in Wales; and
• Tackling Bovine TB through a programme of work as set out in the delivery plan.

OCVO’s Key Strategic Outcomes are:

• Wales has healthy productive animals;
• Animals in Wales have a good quality of life;
• People trust and have confidence in the way food is produced and the way public health is protected;
• Wales has a thriving rural economy; and
• Wales has a high quality environment.

We have 5 Programme for Government commitments, one of which relates to the TB programme and the continued policy of not culling badgers.

To accomplish this, OCVO works closely with the other UK Governments, Welsh Government colleagues, operational partners and industry stakeholders to manage existing and develop new policies in a proactive and strategic manner.

Our approach to Animal Health and Welfare is set out in the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework. Our farmed animals should:

• Be healthy and productive, to be part of financially sustainable farming businesses;
• Have a good quality of life, to meet societal and market expectations for animal welfare; and
• Enhance, and not damage, the environments in which they live, to be part of biodiverse ecosystems to minimise the impact on climate change.

One of the key principles underpinning the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework is “prevention is better than cure” to minimise animal disease and associated welfare impacts. The post-holder will work with policy leads and Veterinary Advisers to integrate this approach into any future support and policies. Animal Health Planning will be an integral part of the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

This post within the TB Team of the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer (OCVO) offers the successful candidate the opportunity to be part of a dedicated team at the forefront of disease control in a fast moving, challenging and high-profile policy area.

OCVO is responsible for improving the health and welfare of farmed livestock in order to support the development of a vibrant farming industry in Wales. The TB Team leads on work to implement the Bovine TB eradication programme: strategy , GOV.WALES. Our long-term goal of eradicating the disease in Wales is a commitment that will require the application of new technologies and scientific developments as they become available.

Bovine TB affects species other than just cattle and the Bovine TB Eradication Programme is aimed at tackling all sources of infection including cattle, non-bovines and wildlife. This post sits within a team dealing with a number of work areas including:

• cattle surveillance and controls
• non-bovine surveillance and controls
• biosecurity initiatives
• enforcement cases for non-compliance.

The postholder will lead on the development and implementation of a number of key policy areas as part of the refreshed TB Eradication Programme.

• Lead on the development of policy which will be taken forward as part of the refreshed TB Eradication Programme. These include a review of compensation arrangements and informed purchasing. Significant engagement with external stakeholders will be required to build an evidence base and facilitate a case for change.
• Ongoing monitoring of the TB Delivery Plan and the delivery of new or amended policy.
• Project management of the development, implementation, and communication of revised policy, including around compensation and informed purchasing.
• Provision of advice to Ministers, communications and wider briefing on TB policy.
• Providing draft replies to related Assembly Questions, Freedom of Information requests, Members Research Requests, Ministerial and Treat Official correspondence.
• Support wider TB work through liaison with Defra, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), other devolved administrations and stakeholders.
• Management of one TB Policy HEO.
• Organising and representing TB team at appropriate meetings and site visits.
• Ad hoc activities as required for the implementation of the refreshed TB eradication programme.
• Postholder may be asked to cover other OCVO priority areas where appropriate, for example during a disease outbreak.

Job Specific Criteria;

• Experience of cross-governmental working, including with UK Government and other devolved governments, ensuring Welsh Government policy objectives are met.
• Experience of policy development, including taking a risk-based approach to solving problems in complex policy area and engaging with stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritise and analyse complex information, consider options and make recommendations on the way forward.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Leadership

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job contact :

Name :
Emily Lay
Email :
[email protected]
Telephone :
03000 253853

Recruitment team :

Email :
[email protected]