Job : Veterinarian

Job description

Under the direction of the Senior Technical Advisor for the USAID-funded Global Health Security (GHS) project in South Africa, the Veterinarian will support the Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases (CEZPD) at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) to Contribute to management and supervision of work employing the use of animals at the CEZPD/NICD to ensure compliance to regulatory and ethical requirements related to the use of animals in production and for research.

The Veterinarian Position is a Full Time Fixed-Term role ending on 30 September 2025. Any contract renewal will be subject to funding availability and the ongoing needs of the organisation. The position will be seconded to the National Institude of Communicable Diseases (NICD).

Responsibilities

• Supporting the NICD in re-establishing and enhancing the national plague surveillance program to monitor and respond to potential outbreaks.

• Evaluating the national plague surveillance program, developing and implementing recommendations to improve its quality and scope, and overseeing the regulatory and ethical requirements (including DOA, DLRD, DFFE SAVC, and others) for executing the national plague surveillance.

• Conduct follow up weekly for health and welfare checks for small laboratory animals used for research and diagnostic reagent production (including mice, rats, guinea pigs and hamster, <50 animals at any given time), and weekly health and welfare monitoring of poultry flock (including geese and turkey)

• Conduct monthly inspection of the animal housing including the horses’ paddocks & stabling, poultry yards, sheep pens and identify non-conformities and play a leading role in liaison with relevant staff to resolve;

• Perform procedures/prescribe medicines for veterinary care for animals as the need arise. Ensure availability of routine medicines and emergency medicines as deemed necessary. Respond to after hour emergency call outs when required;

• Assistance/supervision of routine procedures such as blood collection, necropsy according to a pre-determined schedule;

• Involve in the procurement, management and administration of scheduled medicines and anaesthetics as required by CEZPD in accordance with the Medicine’s Act;

• Administration of anaesthetics as required for routine procedures involving small laboratory animals (as listed above), or for the purpose of euthanasia as required.

• Manage SAVC facility registration:

• In liaison with relevant staff at CEZPD ensure that the requirements of Rule 32 for the registration of veterinary facilities are enacted including ensuring traceability of adherence in the event of inspections;

• Lead facility inspections by SAVC and other organizations such as the SPCA;

• Respond to any irregularities by reporting to relevant stakeholders at CEZPD and NHLS

• Develop, implement and review policies and standard operating procedures related to regulatory compliance, standards and ethics;

• Ensure record keeping in keeping with good practices and regulatory and ethics requirements

• Play a leading role in convening an institutional animal ethics committee in accordance with SANS 10386:2008;

• Ensuring adherence to ethics requirements by leading the development and application of animal ethics committee applications for all processes and procedures involving animals at CEZPD;

• Manage regulatory requirements with regards to DALRRD (i.e. section 20 applications, transport permits and inspections) as it may be required;

• Manage any other regulatory requirements for example through the Genetically Modified Organisms Act 1997, Act 15 of 1997 or it terms of nature conservations laws as the need arise;

• Develop, provide and record in house training and competency testing of staff handling or performing procedures on animals with cognisance of their respective registration and the job scope as set out by SAVC.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Veterinary Science (NQF Level 7)

• Registration with the Health Professional Council/ South African Veterinary Council

• 6 to 7 years of progressively responsible and directly relevant experience required; advanced degree preferred

• Knowledge of small laboratory animal models

• Knowledge of quality assurance process

• Knowledge of aseptic procedures

• Knowledge of laboratory biosafety and OHSA

• Knowledge of animal ethics and wellfare requirements

• Knowledge of SAVC and related regulatory requirements

• Computer literacy (MS Office package)

• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to analyse information, evaluate alternatives, and make effective choices that lead to desirable outcomes.

• Effective organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to handle several activities or large volumes of work effectively and timeously.

• Ability to listen and probe to understand underlying needs or causes of an issue

• Highly motivated, independent self-starter with strong team orientation.

• Presentation, interpersonal, writing, and oral communication

• General management skills

Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

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