Stockperson

**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) either based at the Galloway Buidling on Garscube Estate or at Cochno Farm & Research Centre to provide 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 and stockworker should analyse 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. Stockworkers 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. Stockworkers 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. Participation in training such as 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.
6. Identifying suitable animals for teaching, preparing appropriate restraint of animals and monitoring animals during teaching events to make sure they are not overused. Enthusiasm and effective communication for teaching and exchange of information to students and junior staff members. This includes students on EMS and during practical classes.
7. 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.
8. 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**

**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
C5. Good organisational, time and people management skills, with the ability to plan and schedule own workdays ahead
C6. Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
C7. 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 c