The British Horseracing Authority has an opening for a Veterinary Officer in Newmarket

ROLE PURPOSE:

An equine veterinary surgeon dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of horse racing and promoting the highest standards of welfare of the racing Thoroughbred.

DIMENSIONS:

Departments – Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

General Management and Leadership Responsibilities

• Oversee a team of Equine Welfare and Integrity Officers (EWIOs) on Raceday
• Provide professional input as required to other BHA Raceday teams Role Specific Responsibilities Raceday
• Horse Identification
  • Oversee microchip identification of all horses by EWIOs
  • Oversee the identification of horses and address any discrepancies
• Control of infectious disease o Scrutiny of equine passports to establish Equine Influenza vaccination status
  • Vigilance for horses exhibiting symptoms of endemic diseases (e.g. Equine Influenza, Ringworm etc.) and for those exhibiting symptoms of exotic diseases.
  • Appropriate management of symptomatic horses
• Clinical examinations
• Download the fixture’s Welfare Report to establish a list of runners with previous significant clinical history
• Conduct clinical examinations on horses that meet agreed criteria
• Observation of runners in the Parade Ring and on the way to the Start to ensure fitness to race.
• Conduct post-race clinical examinations on injured horses, underperforming horses and those where welfare may have been compromised
  • Monitor veterinary facilities and personnel, ensuring that all injured horses are examined and treated appropriately and in a timely fashion before leaving the Racecourse.
  • Ability to provide emergency back-up veterinary cover as required.
  • Record all Raceday injuries to maintain an accurate injury database.
  • Facilitate Post Mortem Examinations as required.
• Anti-doping and Medication Control
  • Oversee the routine sampling of horses, ensuring Standard Operating Procedures are met
  • Ensure that Sampling Unit personnel know and perform their duties to a high standard
  • Provide guidance as to restrictions on substances, treatment and equipment on racecourse premises
  • Monitor hygiene in Racecourse Stables, highlighting potentially contaminated boxes to the Stable Manager
• Communication
  • Notify line manager (or Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare) of potentially controversial matters arising on Raceday.

BHA Raceday Teams-

• Raceday Team briefing (testing strategy, at risk horses, fractious horses)
• Report relevant findings of clinical examinations discreetly
• Advise Starters as required regarding withdrawal of at-risk horses
• Provide evidence in Stewards Enquiries when requested

Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons

• Ensure timely, accurate and discreet communication regarding injured horses

Connections

• Ensure Connections of injured horses are updated appropriately
  • Act as a conduit between Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons and Trainers to establish the outcome of racing injuries.

Non Raceday

• Visit licensed yards:
  • Out of Competition Testing
  • International Runner/Permanent Import Testing
  • Late Foal Registration Testing
  • Investigation of intelligence-based welfare concerns
• VO liaison duties – provide support to allocated Clerks of Courses to ensure that the veterinary aspects of BHAGIs are met.
• Attend Point to Point fixtures to perform regulatory duties (sampling, identification/vaccination checks, inspection of veterinary facilities)
• Involvement in clinical research projects associated with advancing equine welfare in the horseracing industry
• Continuous Professional Development to maintain a high standard of clinical expertise and knowledge of equine veterinary medicine, including attending the Casualty Management Seminar (Association of Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons) at regular intervals.
• Critically appraise colleagues to encourage and maintain high standards and consistency within the Equine Health & Welfare department.

As the needs of the business change rapidly this role will change accordingly, therefore this document should be viewed as guidelines which are subject to change.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION

• Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Postgraduate equine-specific qualification desirable

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Considerable relevant equine veterinary experience and clinical competence
• Specific interest in equine welfare
• A keen interest and understanding of the British Horseracing Industry
• A thorough knowledge of those BHA Rules and Instructions that relate to veterinary integrity and equine welfare
• Awareness of the key objectives of the BHA
• Awareness of current animal welfare legislation
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to manage and resolve conflict
• Ability to influence and persuade a variety of stakeholders to obtain consensus
• Ability to supervise professional colleagues and racing participants and provide leadership when required
• Ability to manage own time effectively
• Computer literate
• Good administration skills

PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Acts with integrity and honesty at all times
• Reliable
• Solution-focused
• Resilient
• Compassionate
• Diplomatic
• Discreet approach to sensitive information
• Able to work with minimum supervision and maintain high levels of self-motivation
• Excellent inter-personal, motivational and team working skills, with a proven ability to form and work successfully in partnerships
• Willingness to follow agreed protocols to maintain a consistent team approach
• Ability to maintain a culture that is in line with BHA Values and Code of Conduct CIRCUMSTANCES
• Full valid driving licence
• Requirement to travel to all British Racecourses (usually regional focus)
• Occasional obligation to stay away from home for major meetings and operations
• The nature of horse racing dictates that duties will be performed during weekdays, evenings, weekends and holidays and therefore will require the job-holder to work outside of normal working hours

EmployerBritish Horseracing Authority

Location: Newmarket, Suffolk

Salary;£67,500 FTE

Closing date: 8 Nov 2024

You can apply here: