Description

Permanent Position x 2 - location negotiable in regional Queensland

Our frontline veterinarians use their knowledge of veterinary science to support and promote an animal biosecurity and welfare system that protects Queensland’s economy, environment, lifestyle and human and animal health.

This opportunity is suitable for recent veterinary graduates or more experienced veterinarians looking to move to an operational state government role.

As a frontline Operational Veterinarian, you will:

• Exhibit qualities that support a work environment that values individual and team performance and continuous improvement.
• With support and guidance from senior colleagues, work independently to:
  • conduct animal disease investigations and surveillance activities, which may include property visits for necropsy and/or sample collection, ensuring accurate data collection, analysis, reporting and stakeholder communication is completed in a timely manner.
  • undertake analysis based on sound epidemiological principles including risk assessment, to resolve and/or manage animal biosecurity and welfare enquiries and notifications in a timely manner.
  • provide animal welfare advice including veterinary opinions to support animal welfare investigations.
• Support team and organisational capability development through knowledge sharing and coaching of colleagues within the broader team (e.g. frontline biosecurity officers).
• Develop and maintain effective local relationships, networks and partnerships with veterinary professionals, and wider government, industry and community stakeholders to promote good animal biosecurity and welfare practices in line with national standards and Queensland codes.
• Represent with supervision the Animal Biosecurity and Welfare Program at forums, conferences, meetings and on committees as required.
• Drive own professional development program to develop and maintain knowledge, contemporary awareness of local animal biosecurity and welfare issues and understanding of veterinary science for this role. This includes creating and contributing to professional networks.  
• Contribute to the execution and monitoring of animal disease activities for prevention, surveillance and incident response.
• Contribute to the existing systems for animal health information collection, validation and analysis to ensure risks to trade and public health are effectively managed.
• Contribute to the provision of scientifically authoritative advice and risk assessments that will influence policy and planning.  
• Undertake tasks as a designated officer appointed to exercise statutory powers under legislation with support and guidance from senior colleagues.
• Actively work in biosecurity emergency or disaster responses as required. Training to apply everyday work capabilities within a biosecurity emergency or disaster response will be provided.  
• The above tasks and duties may require field work in remote areas and/or being based away from home for periods of 1 week (for business-as-usual work), with the potential for longer deployments in an emergency response (e.g. 2-week rotations).

To apply: https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobtools/jncustomsearch.viewFullSingle?in_organid=14904&in_jnCounter=223154465

Closing date: 3 June 2026

Requirements

Licences and registrations

• A current ‘C’ class drivers’ licence.
• Registration with the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland.

Mandatory qualifications

• It is a mandatory requirement for a professional officer to possess an Australian bachelor’s degree (AQF level 7 or equivalent) or higher in Veterinary Science that is eligible for registration in Queensland. 
• For international qualifications, the applicant will need their qualification assessed, to determine comparability with the Australian Qualifications Framework. The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training can assist with these assessments for Queensland residents.   

Key competencies

• All employees are expected to role model leadership behaviours. This role requires the leadership competencies of an individual contributor as outlined in the Leadership competencies for Queensland.

Vision

• Makes insightful decisions – Accepts decision making responsibility and demonstrates judgement about when to escalate issues

Results

• Builds enduring relationships – Communicates in a clear, succinct and deliberate manner, adjusting the message so that it resonates with different stakeholders.
• Drives accountability and outcomes – Contributes to the development of team objectives and recognises own role in achieving results.

Accountability

• Fosters healthy and inclusive workplaces – Demonstrates personal responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of self and others.
• Demonstrates sound governance – Demonstrates respect and appreciation for legislation and policy frameworks by consistently operating to key standards

Additional requirement

• It is a requirement for this role to participate in an on-call roster and out-of-hours work which will be compensated in accordance with the relevant legislative instruments. The minimum expected commitment for this requirement is five weeks per year.