Applications are invited from suitably qualified local candidates for the following positions that are tenable in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
MINISTRY : AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
DEPARTMENT : LIVESTOCK SERVICES
DIVISION : ANIMAL HEALTH
SECTION : VETERINARY FIELD OPERATIONS
TITLE : SENIOR VETERINARY OFFICER
GRADE : J
RESPONSIBLE TO : DIRECTOR OF VETERINARY FIELD OPERATIONS
JOB SUMMARY
UNDER THE GENERAL SUPERVISION OF THE DIRECTOR OF VETERINARY FIELD OPERATIONS, THE INCUMBANT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANIMAL CLINICAL SERVICES, ANIMAL DISEASE CONTROL, ANIMAL DISEASE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH, MANAGEMENT OF ANIMAL REPRODUCTION, AND BUDGET PREPARATION.
MAIN DUTIES
1. ANIMAL DISEASE CLINICAL SERVICES
1.1 Prepares list of priority list categorised in critically important, highly important and important antimicrobials used in Food producing animals and make it available for use by District veterinary officers
1.2 Supervises and performs day to day veterinary ambulatory services
2. ANIMAL DISEASE CONTROL
2.1 Develops simplified training manuals and guidelines for veterinary field staff to facilitate smooth and common implementation of animal disease control measures.
2.2 Conducts workshops for veterinary field staff to equip them with technical skills that will enable them train farmers in appropriate animal disease control measures.
2.3 Conducts investigations to determine the origin, pattern and causal factors associated with animal disease outbreaks in conjunction with District Veterinary Officer concerned to confirm their presence and initiate appropriate interventions.
2.4 Provide vaccines and acaricides for efficient and effective control of scheduled animal diseases and other animal health activities.
2.5 Conducts animal disease control campaigns in order to curb the spread of animal disease in the district.
2.6 Compiles animal disease control campaign figures to determine the effectiveness of the measures taken.
3 ANIMAL DISEASE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
3.1 Develops an animal disease reporting system to be used by field staff to facilitate collection of reliable data.
3.2 Review periodically the developed reporting system in order to realign it with environmental changes.
3.3 Consolidates the weekly reports into a monthly report to provide the Director of Veterinary Field Operations with the necessary and relevant information that reflects animal disease status in the district concerned.
3.4 Collect Antimicrobial Use data from District Veterinarians monthly
3.5 Analyses and stores all information related to animal health to facilitate the development of sectional data bank.
3.6 Updates regularly sectional data bank regularly to ensure storage of accurate and reliable information that will facilitate prompt decision-making.
4 INSPECTION
4.1 Inspection animal products to ensure their consumption suitability.
4.2 Designs and develops inspection guidelines for staff to ensure proper implementation of Public Health Procedures.
4.3 Conducts training for field staff on current Public Health Procedures in order to upgrade their skills.
4.4 Monitors the utilization of inspection guidelines to determine areas that warrant change and act accordingly.
4.5 Regulates the use of medicines and liaise with the veterinary council for compliance
5 MANAGEMENT OF ANIMAL REPRODUCTION ACTIVITIES
5.1 Designs simplified guidelines and manuals for field staff on themanagement of animal reproductive programmes to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness.
5.2 Conducts training workshops for field staff on reproductive management to upgrade their technical skills.
5.3 Monitors the utilization and performance of the developed guidelines and manuals to determine areas that warrant change.
6 COORDINATION OF ANIMAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES
6.1 Liaises with the Epidemiology Section within the Department of Livestock Services to ensure that the Livestock Industry in the districts is free from any infectious diseases.
6.2 Visits suppliers to ensure that the conditions under which they produce are consistent with the requirements of Public health Procedures.
6.3 Liaises with District Veterinary Officers to ensure integrated and common understanding in in the implementation of animal health programmes and activities at district levels.
6.4 Participates in the farmers training workshops conducted by different stakeholders to ensure acquisition of common understanding and interpretation in order to avoid or prohibit violation of Animal Health Policy.
7 PREPARATION OF THE SECTIONAL BUDGET
7.1 Liaises with the DAOs and other districts staff to facilitate the prioritisation of the Sectional programmes and activities in line with the district’s priorities in order to lay solid and smooth foundation for the Sectional budgeting process.
7.2 Prepares the overall sectional annual budget to ensure that programmes and projects will be accordingly funded and implemented smoothly.
7.3 Negotiates and justifies the sectional budget at the district level budget discussions in order to secure the necessary funds to finance the sectional activities.
7.4 Recommends the revision of the sectional budget to the DVFO
whenever the need arises to re-align it with new changes in the sectional business plan to facilitate implementation of the sectional critical programmes and activities.
2. COMPENSABLE FACTORS
1. JOB SPECIFICATION
Education and training requirements
Master’s Degree in Veterinary medicine/Science or equivalent
OR
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine/Science Plus 5 years’ experience working as veterinary officer.
Other necessary knowledge and skills
• Computer literacy
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Negotiation skills
• Persuasive skills
• Technical report writing skills
2. RESPONSIBILITY
2.1 FOR WORK OF OTHERS
The incumbent is responsible for all animal health related work delegated to field staff.
2.2 FOR PROPERTY
The incumbent is responsible for his/her office furniture and all veterinary drugs and equipment.
2.3 FOR BUDGET AND FINANCE IN GENERAL
The incumbent is responsible for control of the sectional budget in general.
2.4 FOR SAFETY OF OTHERS
The incumbent is responsible for the safety of staff in all animal health -related work.
2.5 FOR EFFECT OF ERRORS
The incumbent will be held responsible for work-related errors such as designing of animal health manuals and guidelines that may portray wrong information.
3. COMPLEXITY
3.1 AUTHORITY FOR DECISION MAKING
The incumbent has authority to make recommendations to DVFO and DAOs on the appropriate animal health practices for his or her own specific district
3.2 Problem solving
The job requires the incumbent to solve complex technically related problems that may crop up between farmers and Agric Fields staff.
3.3 Supervision received
The incumbent is expected to work independently but reports monthly to his or her immediate supervisor
3.4 Dexterity
This factor is very minimal in this job.
4. CONTACTS
The incumbent comes into contacts with the following persons and organizations during the execution of duties:
| OFFICERS | REASON | FREQUENCY |
| Director of Veterinary Field Operations | Coordination of animal health activities | As required |
| Director of Veterinary Field Operations | Reports on disease outbreaks | As required monthly |
| Director of Veterinary Field Operations | Reporting and Planning | Monthly |
| Director of Veterinary Field Operations | Progress Review | Quarterly |
| Director of Veterinary Field Operations | Appraisal | Annually |
| DVOs | Coordination of animal health activities |
5. EFFORT
5.1 Mental Effort
The job involves the following:
• Budget control
• Development of guidelines
• This may result in mental fatigue
5.2 Physical effort
The incumbent may be required to walk long distances in the district.
5.3 Emotional effort
The job requires the incumbent to have patience, tolerance and understanding during conflict resolution, and interaction with different people of different characters.
6. WORKING CONDITIONS
6.1 Unfavourable working conditions
The job requires the incumbent to occasionally work beyond normal working hours, during weekends and on public holidays.
6.2 Hazards
The incumbent may be exposed to physical harm by animals during the performance of his duties.
Applications on relevant forms, (obtainable from the Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security), GP 104 for serving officers and GP 103 for job seekers duly accompanied by certified copies of educational certificates, transcripts, National Identity Document and up-to-date performance appraisal forms for serving officers.
All applications must be addressed to:
The Director of Human Resources
Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security P.O. Box 24
Maseru – 100
Not later than the 20TH December, 2021 before 12:00 noon.