Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Edinburgh About the job Job summary As a Veterinary Advisor with the Scottish Government, you'll play a key role in guiding policy, advising Ministers, and protecting the welfare of animals across Scotland. Your expert knowledge will guide high-impact decision-making, drive collaboration and improve outcomes for Scotland's animals and public. Are you a veterinary professional ready to make a real impact on animal health and welfare in Scotland? The Veterinary Advisor provides professional advice and direction within the Scottish Government, and particularly to Ministers and policy colleagues in relation to the health and welfare of kept animals and the veterinary aspects of public health. It is the job of the Veterinary Advisor to provide high quality veterinary direction and advice in a timely manner to support the effective development and delivery of Animal Health and Welfare policies in Scotland. The Veterinary Advisor also leads on the delivery of inspections, controls and other services by operational partners, setting standards, monitoring and improving performance and ensuring value for money. Job description Providing veterinary direction to the development, maintenance and implementation of policies on animal health and welfare, and veterinary public health, with a particular focus on animal welfare. Providing veterinary advice to Ministers and colleagues on the prevention and control of notifiable and other animal diseases, the protection of animal welfare, and the facilitation of trade in animals and their product. Making veterinary decisions where there is high impact and high uncertainty, taking into account policy considerations and ensuring that those decisions are based on the best available evidence. Contributing to the design, development and implementation of national policy initiatives and reforms, undertaking important roles on programme boards, project teams and working groups. Representing the Scottish Government, safeguarding and promoting its interests and position. Monitoring and improving the performance of bodies that deliver animal health and welfare policies. Person specification Success Profile Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Essential Qualifications Veterinary Degree and Fellowship or Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Professional/Technical Requirements: A good understanding of State Veterinary Medicine A good understanding of general veterinary practice and livestock farming Ability to analyse complex information and draw scientifically sound conclusions Ability to work with specialists and others to develop and communicate evidence to inform and influence action Professional recognition, with the ability to influence and persuade others Experience Proven track record of working with colleagues or stakeholders to deliver outcomes. Self-management, prioritising your own workload. Key Behaviours Making effective decisions (Level 4) Working together (Level 4) Communicating and influencing (Level 4) Managing a quality service (Level 4) You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot Qualifications Veterinary Degree Memberships Fellowship or Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Making Effective Decisions Working Together Communicating and Influencing Managing a Quality Service Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: A good understanding of State Veterinary Medicine A good understanding of general veterinary practice and livestock farming Ability to analyse complex information and draw scientifically sound conclusions Ability to work with specialists and others to develop and communicate evidence to inform and influence action Professional recognition, with the ability to influence and persuade others Benefits Alongside your salary of £73,757, Scottish Government contributes £21,367 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. 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 employer contribution of 28.97% Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and a written analysis exercise Assessments are scheduled for w/c 03/02/25 however this may be subject to change. To do this you will use the link provided and apply via the Scottish Government portal. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : jesus.gallegogov.scot Email : jesus.gallegogov.scot Recruitment team Email : ellis.ridleygov.scot Apply at advertiser's site Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail