District Veterinary Officer

About this role

The District Veterinary Officer (DVO) will work as a member of the Animal Health and Welfare Unit, to ensure the delivery of major animal health projects that include disease surveillance; livestock legislation and enforcement management; emergency preparedness and response; and traceability and product integrity. As the supervisor of the staff in their district, the DVO is accountable for the delivery and quality assurance of the Animal Health and Welfare program in their district. District Veterinary Officers are required to lead disease and animal welfare investigations in their district. By utilising their clinical experience in the prevention, investigation, diagnosis, control, eradication, and treatment of diseases of farmed livestock in Victoria, they will contribute to better veterinary outcomes in these investigations. The successful applicant will manage staff delivering services that contribute to protecting and improving market access, work effectively as a member of a team, enjoy flexible working arrangements, and undertake a wide variety of work across the division, involving;

• Management of animal welfare risks
• Disease surveillance
• Domestic and Export certification
• National Livestock Identification System auditing
• Preparedness and response to animal disease outbreaks
• Response to animal welfare issues

Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications

• Experience liaising and negotiating with government departments, farmers, livestock agents and other industry representatives.
• Good understanding of the livestock industries in Victoria, and of the disease control, emergency management and chemical residue minimisation programs administered by DEECA.
• Significant experience in the use of firearms and captive bolt guns in the destruction of livestock and the ability to work in abattoir and knackery environments.
• An appropriate tertiary degree in Veterinary Science registrable with the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria.
• Detailed knowledge of and experience in the application and review of procedures used in the prevention, investigation, diagnosis, control, eradication and treatment of diseases of farmed livestock in Victoria.
• Demonstrated experience working with and handling farm livestock, including sheep, cattle, pigs and
• horses, and a practical knowledge of their husbandry.
• Leadership: identifies potential issues and setbacks and guides team to optimise outcomes and models the behaviour expected of others. High levels of personal resilience including maintaining composure and focus under pressure and adapting to change.
• Conflict Management: actively deals with conflict to achieve a timely and pragmatic solution and clarifies the problems and seeks options to resolve; clearly and confidently communicates and handles difficult and sensitive communications well.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to work with staff to deliver concise, authoritative, high-quality information and materials.
• Ability to anticipate potential problems and pre-empt required actions; continually liaises with key stakeholders to ensure full understanding of the issues and evaluates implemented courses of action and adjusts as required.

This is a fixed term position available for a period of 12 Months. The work location for this position is Leongatha with hybrid work arrangements available.

To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience.

Please refer to the Key Selection Criteria provided in the Position Description, including the mandatory requirements.

Applications close at midnight on Thursday, 1^st May 2025.  

Other relevant information:

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form and a National Police Check.

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace

DEECA welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and we focus on the essential requirements of the job and being consistent and fair in our treatment of all applicants. We also understand that a balanced life is important to our employees. Talk to us about our flexible options such as working some days from home, starting early or late, working part time, job sharing or accessing paid or unpaid leave.