Job Purpose 

To be an integral part of our dynamic group of academic, farm and clinical staff at the Scottish Centre of Production Animal Health and Food Safety (SCPAHFS) at the Galloway Building on Garscube Estate or at Cochno Farm & Research Centre which provides 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 veterinary teaching and training, commercial farming operations, animal research, routine herd health management and herd health problem solving investigations.

 Main Duties and Responsibilities 

1. Day to day husbandry and care of animals using best practice for techniques and standards of care. This includes bedding, feeding and mucking out, prioritising the tasks that need done each day, organising themselves and problem-solving issues as and when they arise. In addition, monitoring stock levels and having foresight to plan for what might be needed for items such as feeding, bedding, medicines, equipment and actioning ordering supplies as needed.

2. Support animal health through regular treatments and procedures as instructed by a veterinarian. Tasks may include weighing, shearing, foot trimming, and more. Stock workers should apply best practices, utilizing current, evidence-based knowledge, techniques, and skills to ensure optimal care.

3. Provide care for sick or injured animals, including identifying those unfit for transport or in need of urgent attention, such as during lambing, calving, or in cases of injury. Stock workers should demonstrate initiative in administering basic first aid as advised by a veterinarian, while also recognising when to seek further veterinary support.

4. Maintain accurate daily records, including timely updates to animal movement records and identification of livestock with missing tags. Stock workers must stay informed about current legislation and agricultural policies, ensuring all activities are carried out in full compliance.

5. Engagement, implementation and communication (to visitors and students) of health and safety policies and Standard Operating Procedures e.g. wearing appropriate PPE and accident reporting.

6. Keep up to date and participate in training (i.e. first aid and fire safety, risk assessment), implementation of any training and ability to come up with practical solutions for health and safety issues that arise.

7. Detailed knowledge of and the ability to confidently and safety operate a variety of farm machinery such as tractor, trailer, 4x4 and skid steer. Ability to carry out basic servicing and maintenance of farm machinery. Identification and ability to carry out minor repairs of machinery knowing when more specific mechanical input is needed and instructing these repairs. Transport of animals, knowledge of the legislation, ability to assess an animal for ‘fitness to transport’ and demonstrating best practice when transporting animals.

8. Facilitating a wide variety of teaching activities, communicating effectively with clinical staff/students giving appropriate technical and instructional advice if needed. Adhering to record keeping requirements and monitoring basic animal side data.

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 5 or 6 (National 5 or 6, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 2 or 3) or equivalent, and experience of personal development in a similar role

A2 Good knowledge of farming systems, in particular animal husbandry/management systems

Desirable:

B1 Home Office Personal Licence (ASPeL)

B2 Farm Animal Transport certification

Skills 

Essential:

C1 Good animal husbandry, machinery and field operation skills, all within a farming environment

C2 Full, valid UK driving licence

C3 Competent interpersonal and communication skills, orally and written

C4 Competent IT and record keeping skills (e.g. email, electronic diary, ability to enter data onto computer/tablet)

C5 Good organisational, time and people management skills, with effective ability to plan and prioritise own workload which involves forward planning. Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team

C6 Use of initiative and judgement to resolve routine work problems independently, referring complex problems as appropriate

Desirable:

D1 Collecting and processing research samples (e.g. blood)

D2 Training certification for farm vehicles (tractor, skidsteer, telehandler, quadbike).

Experience 

Essential:

E1 Relevant work experience in a similar role.

Desirable:

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

F2 Experience in research or teaching activities

Dimensions 

The university farm animal hospital (Galloway Building) has approximately on average 12 cow/calves, 14 sheep/goats, 6 chickens and 2 pigs at any one time and admits on average 150 new cases a year. There are five academic years of veterinary students, and each year has approximately 140 veterinary students.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 4, £24,685 - £26,707 per annum, pro rata.

This post is part-time (20 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 13:00 - 17:00) with Over Time every 3rd weekend (08:00 - 12:00), and open ended.

Location: Garscube

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

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Closing date: 23:45 onWednesday 5th November 2025