Vet Careers at Food Standards Scotland

21-03-2024

Are you a qualified vet? Are you interested in starting a career in public health in Scotland?

We’re looking for motivated and driven veterinarians to deliver Official Controls in Food Standards Scotland meat approved premises (abattoirs and game handling establishments) across Scotland. This is a role that has a significant impact on both animal welfare and safeguarding human health.​

We offer:

competitive starting salary of £35,867 (£36,585 from 1 April 2024)

37 hour working week with no on-call requirement

additional pay supplement of £4,000 per annum (upon successful completion of the training programme)

pay progression within the grade until you reach maximum of the band

fully paid and supported in-house training, which is estimated to take between 3-4 months

continuous professional development opportunities, including fully paid training of at least 35 hours per year and paid Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) annual fee

5 weeks annual leave, increasing to 6 weeks after 4 years of service (plus 11.5 public and privilege days per year)

family friendly benefits including paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave (subject to qualifying period), and access to a range of other Civil Service benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme — one of the best pension schemes in the UK, with employee contribution starting at 4.6% and employer contribution from 26.6.% (note that the pay supplement is also pensionable)

generous sick pay entitlement — up to 6 months fully paid sickness leave in any 12 months rolling period

special and volunteering leave

management and peer support throughout your development and career with us

guidance to navigate all requirements to become a Government Vet with FSS (RCVS registration, working visa, support with relocation etc.)

We ask that you:

are a qualified veterinarian from one of the universities approved by RCVS

have at least IELTS level 5 English and achieve level 7 within maximum 18 months from starting employment

work well within a team, communicate clearly and take satisfaction in a job well done

If you think this is something you would be interested in and want to find out more, please get in touch with our Head Veterinarian, Elena McWatt at elena.mcwatt@fss.scot