Job title Senior Scientific Officer - Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies
Location: RSPCA Headquarters
Salary: £31,611 - £33,428
Hours: 35 per week, for a fixed term of three years
Closing date: 31 January 2017
The RSPCA is the largest animal welfare charity in England and Wales. Our purpose is to end cruelty and promote kindness to animals and to alleviate their suffering. The Society’s ultimate goal with respect to animal research and testing is replacement with humane alternatives, and we also work to reduce the use and suffering, and improve the welfare, of animals used in experiments. We were instrumental in developing local Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies (AWERBs) because of the essential role these can play in promoting ethics, the Three Rs and animal welfare, and now wish to employ a Senior Scientific Officer to progress the RSPCA’s work in this area.
The main responsibilities of the post include: developing and implementing the RSPCA’s work to ensure that AWERBs work effectively to fulfil all of their tasks as defined in the legislation regulating animal research and testing in the UK. Key objectives are to champion the concept, role and value of AWERBs and ensure that they are fully supported within their local establishments; ensure that they effectively fulfil all of their roles including consideration of ethical issues; facilitate engagement of scientists with AWERBs; and progress induction processes and training for AWERB members, working with external bodies and colleagues as appropriate. This contributes towards the RSPCA’s objectives to challenge the use of animals (both ethically and scientifically), improve the consideration given to animals, and improve the implementation of laws regulating animal experiments.
The successful applicant should have: An MSc or PhD in a relevant biological discipline, or other applicable degree plus equivalent experience. They should possess excellent knowledge and understanding of national and international legislation, regulations and relevant organisations in government, industry and academia relating to animal use in research and testing, in particular AWERBs and their functions. The abilities to identify issues impacting on the effectiveness of AWERBs, and propose constructive and realistic ways of tackling these, are also essential. Applicants should also have excellent interpersonal, communication and project management skills.
An application form and job description can be downloaded from the RSPCA vacancies web page. Alternatively, you can request an application from: Dr Penny Hawkins, RSPCA Research Animals Department, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, RH13 9RS;
[email protected] quoting reference SSO1517. We do not accept CVs.
Please send your completed application form to the above address by the closing date of: 31st January 2017.
Interviews will be held in February at RSPCA Headquarters, Southwater, West Sussex
The RSPCA offers excellent benefits, including private healthcare, defined contribution pension scheme, childcare vouchers, employee assistance programme and a subsidised staff restaurant.
We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community.
