Job Purpose

To be an integral part of our dynamic group of academic, farm and clinical staff at Cochno Farm & Research Centre to provide a range of animal management and general farm work duties in production animal husbandry. You will provide operational and administrative support tasks that form the basis of commercial farming operations, veterinary teaching and training, animal research, routine herd health management and herd health problem solving investigations.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

General:

1.  In consultation with key academic, farm, clinical and research staff, to ensure the safe and efficient functioning of farming activities of Cochno Farm & Research Centre. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting the completion of risk assessments and COSHH assessments (as appropriate), ensuring that all Health and Safety paperwork is completed timeously and recorded accurately, and implementing and adhering to health and safety policies, as determined by the University and the HSE.

2.  To follow the instructions and guidance of the Head Stockperson and other key staff (e.g. Farm Manager) to ensure the efficient operation of farming activities.

3.  Keep up to date with advancements in animal husbandry and statutory guidelines (e.g. related to keeping production animals and their transport, veterinary medicines and their storage, environmental compliance), continually updating technical and operational knowledge

4.  To participate in promotion and knowledge transfer events at Cochno Farm & Research Centre.

5.  Be aware and comply with Equality and Diversity policies of the University.

6.  To participate in the University’s P&DR process, in line with University policy. These duties, and the categorised duties detailed below, are not exhaustive and the postholder will be required to undertake any other relevant duties as required by their line manager/Head of Division/PI, which are commensurate with the grade of the post.

For appointment at Grade 4:

7.  To collaborate with colleagues and participate in team meetings/discussions and departmental clinical/teaching/research group activities.

Commercial:

To provide operational support with respect to the commercial and operational activities of Cochno Farm & Research Centre. This would include:

1.                 To undertake a range of daily and weekly routine operational animal husbandry tasks, in line with best agricultural practice, and in accordance with Animal Welfare Codes and other relevant legislation as appropriate (e.g. Home Office ASPA legislation).

2.                 Under the guidance of the Head Stockperson to ensure that statutory records related to the keeping of production animals (e.g. herd register, flock register, passports, movement notifications (e.g. ScotEID, SAMU)), including Home Office records, are completed as appropriate.

3.                 To ensure that activities associated with herd health and productivity are completed in accordance with herd and flock health plans and Farm Assurance guidelines as appropriate.

4.                 To document (if appropriate) and communicate information to the Head Stockperson with respect to required goods, supplies, equipment, services and processes required.

5.To perform alternate weekend working as contracted by the University, and extra overtime when required by line managers, to facilitate efficient operation of a commercial farm and research centre.

6. To liaise with the Head Stockperson, Farm Manager and other farm staff to perform field work duties as required according to the farming cycle.

7. To maintain farm and/or livestock equipment, machinery and buildings in good, safe working order, providing essential maintenance, servicing and repairs as appropriate.

8. Manage and care for the dairy herd when the Dairy worker is on leave.

Research:

To provide operational support with respect to the research activities at Cochno Farm & Research Centre. This would include:

1.                 To ensure that animals are managed (at pasture/housing) according to Defra or Home Office guidelines, as appropriate.

2.                 To assist PI and other research staff with obtaining research samples/data as part of research studies in such areas as the postholder has appropriate levels of skill and experience.

Teaching:

To provide operational support with respect to the teaching activities at Cochno Farm & Research Centre. This would include:

1.                 To ensure that animals are made available and suitable for pre-clinical and clinical practical classes, OSCEs and DOPS.

2.                 To guide visiting students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, for EMS and externship/internship placements.

For appointment at Grade 4:

3.                 To assist in the delivery of pre-clinical practical instruction/demonstration in such areas as the postholder has appropriate levels of skill and experience.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications  

Essential

A1. Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar role.

OR Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 4 in English and Mathematics (National 4) or equivalent, and some experience of working in a similar role.

A2. Must have held a full, valid UK driving licence for 2 years. All non-UK applicants from the EU/EEA or Designated Countries are required to exchange their driving licence for a UK licence. Special rules apply for drivers from Non Designated Countries. Please seek advice before applying.

For appointment at Grade 4:

Essential

A3. Good knowledge of farming systems, in particular animal husbandry/management systems.

Desirable:

B1  Relevant farm vehicle operational certificates.

For appointment at Grade 4:

B2. Farm Animal Transport certification.

Skills

Essential

C1. Competent interpersonal and communication skills, orally and written.

C2. Good organisational, time and people management skills, with the ability to plan and schedule workdays ahead.

C3. Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team

C4. Use of initiative and judgement to resolve routine work problems independently, referring complex problems as appropriate.

For appointment at Grade 4

Essential

C5. Good animal husbandry, machinery and field operation skills, all within a farming environment.

C6. Competent IT and record keeping skills..

Desirable:

D1. Collecting and storage of research samples.

Experience 

Essential

E1 Relevant work experience with the above qualifications, or more substantial work experience without the equivalent technical/professional qualifications.

For appointment at Grade 4 

Desirable

F1. Experience consistent with this post in a commercial farm situation, research or teaching sector.

F2. Experience in research activities, including obtaining and processing research samples (e.g. blood sampling).

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 3/4, £23,028 - £23,881 / £23,881 - £26,338 per annum, pro rata, plus a flexible working supplement of £6,987.63 (Grade3) / £7,706.55 (Grade4) , per annum, pro rata.

2 positions available, 1 full time (Monday to Sunday) and 1 part time (Fri - Sun - 8 hours every second weekend)

These posts are open ended.

Please note, for the full time position, accommodation on site will be provided.

Please phone Neil Laing 07494658885 if you have any questions.

Working hours:

• Full time post: Your normal working hours will be 35 per week, exclusive of meal breaks, to be worked flexibly to meet the needs of the University. You will receive a flexible working supplement for an additional 1 hour per day and 8 hours of weekend work every second weekend.

  Your working pattern will normally be Monday to Friday, 8 hours per day between 8am and 6pm including a one hour unpaid lunch break; specific hours to be agreed locally with your line manager) and every second weekend, an average of 8 hours per weekend, normally 4 hours on a Saturday and 4 hours on a Sunday. Also,  holiday cover for the dairyperson when required.

  You will receive a Flexible Working Supplement of £6,987.63 (Grade3) / £7,706.55 (Grade4) per annum, which will be subject to annual cost of living increases.  This supplement is payable for 1 hour extra per day Monday to Friday, and working every second weekend, an average of 8 hours per weekend, normally 4 hours on a Saturday and 4 hours on a Sunday.

• Part time post: You will be working 8 hours every second weekend, Friday to Sunday. You will receive a Flexible Working Supplement of £6,987.63 (Grade3) / £7,706.55 (Grade4) per annum pro rata , which will be subject to annual cost of living increases.  This supplement is payable for working every second weekend.

 Closing date: 23:45 on Tuesday 15th July 2025