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Head of Veterinary Services

  • Bern, Region Bern, Switzerland
  • Temporary

About the role

UniBE is quintessentially Bernese.
With us, you can expect a culture of respect and a healthy working environment. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Leading and coordinating the veterinary team, including allocation of responsibilities, service planning, staff development and continuity of veterinary coverage across EAC facilities
  • Managing and participating in veterinary facility rounds, including on-site visits
  • Managing the Health Monitoring programs, vendor surveillance, and quarantine programs. Organizing the diagnostic and therapeutic measures in case of diseases and injuries in animals, aligned with their experimental purpose; implementing quarantine measures in case of outbreaks
  • Centralizing and coordinating animal & bio-material imports, exports and transfers between EAC facilities including oversight of all documentation, shipment procedures, in collaboration with facility heads and teams, transport providers and the competent authorities
  • Managing operations and control of the veterinary pharmacy and deputizing the clinical veterinarian
  • Monitoring of pertinent quality reports and certificates
  • Consulting scientists in experimental models' design and optimization (anesthesia, analgesia and post-operative care, imaging, 3Rs and culture of care)
  • Ensuring regulatory compliance with internal guidelines, local and national regulations in collaboration with the AWOs and cantonal authorities
  • Preparing Standard Operating procedures and guidelines relevant to all facilities
  • Implementing consistent veterinary standards across facilities, reviewing their effectiveness and coordinating corrective actions
  • Supporting education and training of personnel working with animals for procedures and database (pyrat)
  • Participating into the Veterinary team education through seminars and Journal Club
  • Providing on-call veterinary service during working time and participating in week-end shifts
  • Degree in Veterinary Medicine and national license
  • Five-year experience in the field with the relative species; laboratory fish (especially Danio rerio) experience very welcome
  • Postgraduate specialisation in lab animal medicine
  • ECLAM/ACLAM certification is a plus
  • Fluency in English and German or commitment to learn it at a professional level
  • Pro-active and goal-oriented attitude; capacity to present complex issues with the appropriate detail and clarity level, understanding the needs of all the various stakeholders (e.g. Veterinary Authorities, scientists)
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Interest in scientific dissemination and in implementing new ideas
    Salary range according to the Univ. of Bern ranges, roughly 130K CHF / annum High degree of creative freedom in an academic setting Inspiring work environment Access to cutting-edge technology and innovation