We are looking to recruit a new Veterinary Director to join our executive team.
This is an excellent opportunity to be at the forefront of the UK’s work to safeguard our animal welfare, biosecurity, and food security. As head of the veterinary profession within APHA, numbering circa 450 vets and the Director responsible for the 12,000 Official Veterinarians, you will ensure the high standards of veterinary and technical training, and high standards of practice.
You will provide clear and decisive leadership the entire APHA Veterinary Taskforce, ensuring effective oversight and delivering technical advice as required.
As a member of the APHA Executive Board, you will provide motivational leadership and robust governance of APHA, ensuring veterinary perspectives are considered and at the heart of decision making across the Agency.
Alongside your fellow Executive Board colleagues, you will motivate, engage and lead the 3600 strong work force of the Agency ensuring:
* We continuously improve our technical process, delivery, and quality.
* Working with the Director of Service Delivery and colleagues in Epidemiological Risk – you will ensure we are prepared for disease outbreak or pest incursion through effective horizon scanning, modelling, and operational planning.
* You will work alongside the Outbreak Director during disease outbreaks, leading the Agency’s frontline response when required by the CEO or Director of Service Delivery – stepping into the role of Outbreak Director during periods of leave.
* You effectively and professionally represent the Agency and CEO to Ministers and senior external stakeholders as required by the CEO.
* You will provide timely, evidence-based advice to policy colleagues and the Chief Veterinary Officers of the UK, Scotland, and Wales to support the formulation of effective animal health and welfare policy, ensuring that operational delivery implications are fully considered.
* You will provide functional management of the veterinarians in APHA.
As a member of the Executive Board, you will:
* Provide inspiring and motivational leadership to APHA’s veterinary workforce and Professional Advice and Standards Directorate.
* Support the CEO as the lead Board Member/Director for Veterinary advice, standards, and technical assurance, working with colleagues in DEFRA, Scottish and Welsh Governments and stakeholders to deliver on our strategic outcomes.
* Shape and develop veterinary strategies, processes, and policies to support the CEO in meeting stakeholder requirements collaborating with HR to establish professional standards and opportunities for continuous professional development.
* During outbreaks of exotic diseases, you will work in partnership with the Outbreak Director and lead the Agency’s veterinary response at the National Disease Control Centre (NDCC), ensuring effective implementation of operational activities and maintaining communication with policy colleagues and CVOs.
* Ensure effective co-ordination and timely delivery of high-quality briefing products and advice to Ministers, the CEO, Executive and Steering Boards, Welsh and Scottish Governments.
* Represent the Agency effectively and professionally at relevant Defra and Devolved Administration group Committees and national veterinary organisations on behalf of the CEO.
* Lead APHA Veterinarians’ Taskforce to ensure consistent execution of high-priority objectives across the agency. Lead regular reviews of veterinary roles to ensure efficient deployment of the workforce, aligning skills and responsibilities with operational needs and strategic priorities.
* Play an active role in ensuring our recruitment, talent management, and succession planning for veterinary posts within the Agency and across the GVS attract and retain the skills we need now, and in the future.
* Be a visible leader, supporting APHA employee engagement activities (such as all agency calls), ensuring our people’s views are heard, and supporting professional career development through career pathways.
This role is crucial for maintaining high standards in veterinary practices within the Agency and ensuring effective responses to animal health issues.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you will be experienced operating at a senior level and be someone who relishes making a difference at an organisational level. You will have successfully led veterinary and technical teams.
As Veterinary Director and Head of the Professional Standards Directorate, your key responsibilities will be:
Leadership and Management
* As a key member of the executive team and APHA Board, support the CEO set the strategy and direction of the organisation.
* Be Head of Profession for the agency’s veterinarians / technical staff building capability driving best practice, standards, and technical competence across APHA.
* Provide inspiring, motivational leadership to APHA Veterinary and technical taskforce and the Professional Standards Directorate ensuring clear development and competency goals and objectives are in place for vet and tech roles across the agency.
* Be a role model to all APHA staff, exhibiting the behaviours we expect of all our people.
Delivery
* Ensure effective risk management and horizon scanning – ensuring we are prepared for disease outbreak or pest incursion - utilizing effective modelling and operational planning.
* Be the lead for the cross agency delivery of the TB eradication strategy.
* Develop and lead the Agency’s veterinary and technical standards, processes, systems, and training, driving cross agency collaboration, consistency, and standards to maximise successful delivery.
* Ensure the effective application of robust management disciplines including risk management and performance management arrangements and controls for veterinary and technical roles within the Agency.
* Lead and own the framework and delivery for the appointment of official veterinarians ensuring a robust appointment and regulatory process that maintains public and trading partner trust and confidence in the system.
Financial Stewardship and Governance
* Take personal responsibility for the Professional Standards Directorate budget, ensuring financial probity and regularity and value for money on expenditure and internal governance.
* Support the government Spending Review Submissions on behalf of APHA.
* Ensure that all financial and non-financial reporting requirements are met on a timely and regular basis.
Stakeholder Engagement and Relationships
* Build positive relationships with APHA policy customers in DEFRA, Welsh and Scottish Governments ensuring all governments are involved, included in advice development.
* Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with external stakeholders to support shared goals, enhance communication, and reinforce APHA’s reputation and impact.
* Represent APHA, where appropriate at cross government and GB committees such as Science Advisory Board, Outbreak readiness Board, Animal Disease policy Group, 4CVOs, stakeholder groups etc.
* Support the CVOs ensuring that delivery is considered thus aligning objectives and priorities.
* Mobilise and Chair expert meetings and committees as required to manage disease outbreaks, incursions or to achieve strategic outcomes.
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