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. Maintaining herd and flock health by carrying out routine treatments and procedures as laid out in the flock and herd health plans or as directed by a vet. This would include weighing, vaccinations, administering boluses and dis-budding. Best and innovative practice should be used with stock workers using up to date and evidence-based knowledge, techniques and skills. This also includes analysis of cow/sheep side data to make treatment or husbandry decisions.

3. Identification and care of sick animals, animals unfit for transport and animals needing emergency care e.g. lambing, calving or injured animal. Stock workers should have initiative to administer basic first aid treatments detailed in the flock/herd health plan or as directed by a vet but know when to call for help when more specific veterinary intervention is needed.

4. Record keeping of day-to-day events, medicine and movement records and identifying and recording animals with missing tags. Stock workers should be up to date with current legislation and agriculture policy, making sure the work they carry out is always compliant.

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. 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.

8. Detailed knowledge of and the ability to confidently and safety operate a variety of farm machinery such as tractor, trailer, quad bike, skid steer, fertiliser spreader and wrapper. 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 and animal for ‘fitness to transport’ and demonstrating best practice when transporting animals.

9. Facilitating a wide variety of research activity, communicating effectively with researchers giving appropriate technical and instructional advice if needed. Adhering to research materials and methods, home office rules, 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 work load 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 activities

Dimensions 

The university farm animal hospital (Galloway Building) has approximately 12 cow/calves, 14 sheep, 5 chickens and 3 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/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing date: 23:45 on Tuesday 23rd September 2025