SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:
About the Opportunity
A leading public health and biomedical organization is seeking an experienced and highly skilled Veterinary Services Manager / Senior Veterinarian to provide strategic veterinary leadership across animal production, research, and diagnostic programmed.
This role is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of animal health, welfare, ethics, biosafety, and regulatory compliance while supporting critical public health and research initiatives. The successful candidate will oversee laboratory animal operations, quality systems, and veterinary compliance within a highly regulated scientific environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide professional veterinary leadership and oversight across animal production, research, and diagnostic programmed.
- Ensure compliance with animal health, welfare, ethics, biosafety, and regulatory requirements.
- Manage small animal units, quality control operations, and stables departments.
- Oversee laboratory animal facilities and veterinary activities within research environments.
- Chair and lead institutional animal ethics committees in line with SANS 10386:2008 standards.
- Ensure compliance with South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) regulations and related legislative frameworks.
- Oversee GLP and GMP quality systems to ensure operational efficiency and compliance.
- Monitor analytical procedures conducted by animal technologists and interpret quality control testing results.
- Manage change controls, deviations, CAPAs, and validation protocols in accordance with quality standards.
- Conduct regular health and welfare inspections for laboratory animals and poultry flocks.
- Perform inspections of animal housing facilities and implement corrective actions where necessary.
- Prescribe and manage veterinary medicines and ensure stock availability.
- Respond to veterinary emergencies and provide after-hours support when required.
- Supervise procedures including blood collection, necropsies, and animal handling activities.
- Develop, implement, and review SOPs to ensure ethical and compliance standards are maintained.
- Manage relationships with suppliers, research institutions, and external stakeholders.
- Provide technical input on antivenom research, efficacy studies, and related scientific projects.
- Develop and facilitate training programmes and competency assessments for staff handling animals.
- Support institutional accreditation, facility registrations, and audit readiness initiatives.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc/MVMCH – NQF Level 7).
- Registration with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC).
- Valid driver’s licence.
- Minimum 5 years post-qualification veterinary experience.
- Supervisory or management experience will be advantageous.
- Experience working with equine, sheep, poultry, and laboratory animals is advantageous.
- Strong understanding of:
- GLP/GMP environments
- Biosafety and OHSA requirements
- Laboratory animal welfare and ethics
- Immunological processes and quality control testing
- Validation procedures and aseptic techniques
- Research methodologies and statistics
Key Competencies
- Strategic and analytical thinking
- Leadership and people management
- Strong planning and organisational skills
- Budget and financial management skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Conflict management skills
- Attention to detail
- Time management and ability to work under pressure
- Administrative and reporting skills
- Ability to develop research and strategic business documents
