Animal Health National Lead G7 British High Commission

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Job Category

Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)

Job Subcategory

Development and Humanitarian

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The postholder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team delivering the Official Development Assistance (ODA) funded “Animal Health System Strengthening” project on behalf of the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The postholder will work with visiting scientific experts from Defra’s arms’ length bodies in the UK, particularly The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), to deliver a bespoke package of technical assistance to include surviellance and detection, disease control, emergency preparedness and response, tackling antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and One Health coordination.  Using the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Performance of Veterninary Service (PVS) pathway as the operationing framework, the project will to seek to strengthen animal health systems to better detect, protect and respond to animal disease outbreaks, and thus improve animal productivity and global health security.

This role will require close collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Department of Veterinary Services, Zambia. Zambia, National Public Health Institute, regional and multi-lateral organisations including the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), World Organisation of for Animal Health (WOAH), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), other UK government departments within the British High Commission (BHC), to maximise the impact of the programme in the region.

The project started in April 2022 and is initially funded for three years; the term of employment is up to March 31, 2025. The postholder will be employed by FCDO, on behalf of Defra and based at the BHC in Lusaka and may include possible travel to other parts of Zambia and internationally as relevant.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

• You will plan, prioritise and effectively deliver sustainable outcomes, in collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams, on fast-paced workstreams, through strong personal impact and credibility, sound scientific knowledge, diplomacy and partnership working.
• You will be the National Lead, overseeing engagement and delivery in Zambia. As the principal point of contact, you will work in partnership with national stakeholders including the Director, Department of Veterinary Services, University of Zambia, and international agencies such WOAH and FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), to help assess and understand priorities, and match need with available UK technical expertise.
• You will liaise and link up with other relevant programmes of work delivered at the British High Commission in Zambia, including the IHR Strengthening Project delivered by UKHSA and other investments in livestock.
• You will, within your area of technical expertise, directly contribute to the delivery of key project outcomes for example through the delivery of training, workshops and mentoring.
• You will keep abreast of national developments and strategic priorities as they relate to animal production and animal disease and provide the resident UK team with timely, relevant information.
• You will create, maintain and facilitate professional scientific networks.
• You will ensure Defra is represented at meetings relevant to the strategic and operational delivery of the project in Zambia.
• You will help to define and refine a bespoke package of technical assistance, including workshops delivered by visiting scientists and oversight of sub-contracts delivered in partnership with APHA, Cefas, and VMD.
• You will provide regular monitoring reports to the Global Animal Health ODA Programme Management Office in Defra, London.
• You will regularly report back to the BHC’s One HMG (His Majesty’s Government) Board on project activities and progress.
• You will have an understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
• As the most senior Defra member of staff at the BHC, you will be the point of contact for other projects delivered by Defra in Zambia (Approximately 5-10% of your time), including representation on the Country Board.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Line management of one HEO, with capacity to expand as the project develops.
• Direct management budget not exceeding £100,000 per annum.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Recognised practitioner with proven track record and postgraduate qualifications in biomedical sciences, environmental health, One Health, ecology, animal production/health, epidemiology or veterinary science.
• At least 3 years’ experience of working in animal health systems in developing countries and demonstrable experience in at least two of the following areas: vaccinology, diagnostics, surveillance, risk analysis, emergency preparedness and response, wildlife health or One Health.
• Understanding of the animal health landscape in Africa, with detailed understanding of livestock production and health in Zambia.
• Politically adept and with a good understanding of how reform happens, and how to work in a political space.
• Understanding of global animal health / global health security architecture including the International Health Regulations (2005), international bodies such as WOAH, FAO, World Health Organisation (WHO), UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and regional bodies such as Africa CDC and AU-IBAR (African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources).
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including ability to communicate confidently, concisely and persuasively, and build and exploit communication opportunities to secure project objectives.
• Experience of partnership working – linking with staff across varied organisational functions to address inter-dependencies and to ensure alignment.
• Strong Project Management skills and at least 2 years’ experience of working in technical assistance projects.
• Good IT skills including experience of using Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
• A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable ‘can-do’ attitude that sees ways through challenges.
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Training and development experience.
• Experience of participation in research and development projects.
• Line management experience.
• Demonstrable commitment to own Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

Required behaviours

• Seeing the Big Picture, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing,
• Working Together