Chief Veterinary Officer with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission

The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission invites applications for the role of a Chief Veterinary Officer. The Chief Veterinary Officer is a key leadership role within the Commission. As the professional lead for veterinarians and veterinary services in QRIC, you would be responsible for facilitating connectedness and collegiality among the cohort of veterinarians across the broad range of activities undertaken by QRIC.

Role Responsibility and Accountabilities

The Chief Veterinary Officer is a key leadership role within the Commission. As the professional lead for veterinarians and veterinary services in QRIC, you would be responsible for facilitating connectedness and collegiality among the cohort of veterinarians across the broad range of activities undertaken by QRIC. As the successful applicant, you will have comprehensive view of racing system risks, gaps and opportunities and will provide expert technical advice on animal health and animal welfare, to the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Chief Stewards, General Managers, and other key personnel as required.

Our Chief Veterinary Officer will participate and represent QRIC in relevant internal and external forums (to advise or lead on matters) as required. You would be expected to collaborate, influence and act as a sounding board for leaders at all levels across the Commission and across the Queensland racing sector. Reporting to the Commissioner, the role of the Chief Veterinary Officer is responsible for the management of veterinary service provision at thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound race meetings across Queensland, including the management of the Commission’s employed and contracted OnTrack-Veterinarians (OTV’s).

Our Chief Veterinary Officer works closely with members of the Executive Leadership Team and strives to continuously improve the veterinary operational decision-making capabilities and therefore welfare outcomes for racing animals in Queensland. The role also has key accountabilities for assisting with analysis and research, collaboration with industry and continuous education of racing participants. Additionally, your responsibilities will include: 

• Act as an independent advisor and examiner at thoroughbred, harness, greyhound race meetings throughout Queensland and provide appropriate, professional veterinary services.
• Lead and develop the Veterinary services team to ensure operational requirements, veterinary capability and service levels are met for the organisation and industry.
• Develop an operating model and organisational capability that meets the needs of the business, is scalable, cost effective and contemporary.
• Oversee the day-to-day provision of veterinary services at race meetings in Queensland including roster preparation, liaison with OTV’S and management of operational veterinary capability on a dayto-day basis.
• The preparation of expert witness statements and veterinary opinion statements to support the legal framework and disciplinary actions.
• Develop and implement effective policy frameworks to effectively manage all veterinary care matters across all Commission functions.
• Providing expert, evidence-based advice to drive key reform agenda through policy implementation and participant education projects.
• Ensure appropriate risk management strategies are in place to effectively respond to incidents relating to veterinary practices.
• Through the Commissioner and General Manager External Affairs, deliver critical media and community announcements and education in relation to emergency response and veterinary care initiatives. • Ongoing professional development of the Commission’s OTV’s.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with veterinary practitioners, internal and external stakeholders, and industry participants to achieve best practice standards and reform agenda.
• Manage financial planning, forecasting and budget preparation for the Veterinary Services function.
• Promote the safety culture of QRIC by reporting all incidents and hazards and ensuring work is undertaken in the safest way possible, following all WHS legislation, policies/procedures, and guidelines relevant to the job.
• Demonstrate ethical behaviour and integrity as required by the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994.