Veterinary Research Officer

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is a multi-functional organisation which provides a wide range of services both directly and through specialist state agencies operating under its aegis. The Department has a wide and diverse customer base which includes farmers, taxpayers, consumers, food processers and other commercial operators, those involved in sea fishing, forestry, bioenergy, research as well as diverse EU institutions, other State Bodies and special interest groups. The Mission of the Department is to ‘to lead, enable and regulate the sector in a way that optimises its contribution to social, economic, and environmental sustainability, ensuring food safety, public health and animal health and welfare’.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Veterinary Research Officer is a professional veterinary grade in the Civil Service.

The laboratories of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) currently comprise of seven laboratory divisions (Pathology, Bacteriology and Parasitology; Virology; Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs); Food Microbiology, Food Chemistry and Plant Sciences) located within a central laboratory complex at Backweston and at other sites around the country. Research Officers may be assigned to work in one of the central laboratory divisions (Pathology, Bacteriology and Parasitology, Virology or Food Microbiology) or in one of the RVLs. The Laboratories support the Department in implementing official controls in respect of animal health, plant health, food safety and the safety of animal feed. The Laboratories also provide for the diagnosis and investigation of diseases of farmed animals. This enables the early recognition of new/emerging and World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH)-listed diseases and the surveillance & monitoring of the patterns and frequencies of endemic diseases (including zoonotic diseases). The Laboratories undertake applied research and development work in support of DAFM’s one health policies and as appropriate, its publication.

Research Officers may be assigned to a diagnostic and investigative role where the officer will be required to have a working knowledge of a range of laboratory-based diagnostic disciplines and to become competent in the post-mortem examination of farmed animals and in on-farm animal disease investigation. Officers may also be encouraged to develop a specialist interest in non-laboratory-based disciplines that are identified by laboratory management as priorities to support the diagnostic and surveillance functions of the service.

Alternatively, and particularly within central laboratory divisions, Research Officers may be required to focus on a more specific discipline (e.g. anatomical pathology, bacteriology, virology, veterinary public health, veterinary risk assessment etc.) or sector (e.g. pigs, poultry, equidae, etc.), developing in-depth expertise and providing technical advice, risk assessment, investigative and supportive role to RVL colleagues, other DAFM Divisions, the livestock and agrifood sectors.

Research officers may be required to partake in or assist with laboratory contingency response, planning, training and the provision of scientific or clinical opinion and other laboratory supports in the investigation of suspect food safety incidents or disease detections in animals including for suspect WOAH-listed diseases.

In all of these posts, the successful candidates are expected to function as members of close-knit multi-disciplinary teams, this requires good interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability and a positive and enthusiastic approach to collaboration within the team and with colleagues in other teams and divisions. While specialisation is encouraged and supported in all roles this will be directed towards the stated goals and needs of the organisation, prioritising above all the collaborative delivery of the principal duties of the role as assigned.

Note: Successful candidates who are appointed to an RVL post may have a period of up to three months placement in Backweston during the first 12-18 months of service for the purposes of training and induction. Travel and subsistence will be paid at conference rate for this training period.

Principal Tasks:

Applicable to all Research Officers

• Provide veterinary interpretation and timely reporting of laboratory findings and test results and where indicated, appropriate follow-up

• Provide expert technical advice to DAFM colleagues, veterinary practitioners and industry groups

• Contribute to maintenance and development of accreditation within the laboratory

• Maintain and develop expertise through relevant continual professional development (CPD), engagement in applied research collaboration both internally and externally and publishing findings in peer reviewed scientific journals, periodic reports, at scientific meetings, in the veterinary and farming press as appropriate.

Applicable to Research Officer Panel 1 - Diagnostic and Investigative role

• Carry out post-mortem examinations on farmed animals, and act as the case manager for those cases

• Interpret and report a broad range of clinical pathology test results

• Provide advisory support to veterinary practitioners

• Undertake field investigation of disease problems as appropriate – e.g. suspected cases of exotic or emerging disease

• Develop and maintain collaborative links with external peers

Applicable to Research Officer Panel 2 – Microbiology role

• Research Officers engaged in the disciplines of microbiology (virology, bacteriology, parasitology, food microbiology) and/or animal disease risk assessment

• Develop and oversee specialised testing processes for the diagnosis of specific infectious pathogens of animal and zoonotic concern

• Provide diagnostic support to colleagues engaged in diagnostic work

• Advise on laboratory aspects of veterinary public health and food safety where appropriate

• Contribute to National Reference Laboratory functions

• Develop and maintain collaborative links with EU reference laboratories and peers

VACANCIES

The Department currently has two vacancies for the role of (Veterinary) Research Officer in Backweston Agrilabs, Co. Kildare for a Microbiology role and in Kilkenny RVL for a Diagnostic and Investigative role.

This recruitment campaign provides for the establishment of two panels, the first reflecting the requirements of a diagnostic and investigative role and a specialised panel reflecting the requirement to appoint persons with pre-existing expertise in veterinary bacteriology/parasitology/virology/risk assessment.

Research Officer Panel 1: Diagnostic and Investigative role

Research Officer Panel 2: Microbiology (virology, bacteriology, parasitology, risk assessment)

Following an assessment process, candidates who achieve the qualifying standard will be placed on an Order of Merit from which one appointment to each stream will be made. The posts will be offered to the candidate ranked first for each and, if refused, to the remaining candidates in sequence until each post is filled. While it is anticipated that only one appointment to each stream will be made as a result of this competition, the Order of Merit will remain in place for a period of up to two years from the date of the first appointment, or until exhausted, and may be used to fill further vacancies in other DAFM Laboratories, if any, that may arise during that period.

In cases where a candidate applies to participate in more than one stream of the competition, a single process will be used but the candidate will be assessed separately for each stream.

In the event that a candidate achieves a place on more than one panel, the candidate will be offered one or more appointments as vacancies arise until such time as the candidate is appointed or until the various panels expire. Candidates who refuse an offer of appointment to a specific panel and location will retain their placing on that panel but forfeit their right to be offered an appointment to that location under that panel.

Temporary Vacancies

In the event that temporary vacancies for this post arise during the lifetime of the Order of Merit, the Department reserves the right to offer such temporary posts on the basis of the results of this competition. Candidates who accept such a temporary post retain their placing on the Order of Merit and the acceptance of such a temporary appointment in no way interferes with the normal process of appointing candidates to permanent posts that may arise.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Essential Requirements:

Candidates must have on the 5th May 2026:

· A recognised Veterinary Degree (MVB or equivalent) such that the candidate is registered, or is eligible for registration, as a Veterinary Practitioner with the Veterinary Council of Ireland. Candidates must be registered prior to any offer of appointment

· Excellent team working qualities and communication skills

· Reasonable proficiency in spoken and written English

· Post-graduate work experience as follows:

(i) Research Officer Panel 1 – Minimum of 2 years’ post-graduate experience in farm animal veterinary clinical practice, herd or flock health medicine, or farm animal diagnostic pathology, relevant to this position

(ii) Research Officer Panel 2 - post-graduate experience in a laboratory or research environment engaged in one of the following disciplines – bacteriology, biology, parasitology, virology, veterinary public health, molecular biology, bioinformatics, epidemiology, animal health risk assessment.

· A current valid driving licence at date of offer and/or access to a car/transport

Desirable Requirements

• Applicable to both panels:

• Board certification or other post-graduate qualification in a relevant clinical, epidemiological or laboratory-based diagnostic discipline.

• Post-graduate qualification in a veterinary science or an allied discipline (e.g. Master’s Degree/PhD).

• Track record of publications in the peer-reviewed veterinary or scientific literature.

• Post-graduate experience in a laboratory, research, relevant industry or animal health risk assessment role.

Competencies

Applicants should have all the attributes required of a Veterinary Research Officer and in particular they must demonstrate, by reference to specific examples from their career to-date, that they possess or have the capacity to acquire the qualities, skills and knowledge required for the role of Research Officer as identified in the following competency framework.

1. Leadership

2. Analysis and Decision Making

3. Management & Delivery of Results

4. Interpersonal and Communication Skills

5. Drive and Commitment

6. Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self Development

APPLICATION PROCESS

How to Apply

Candidates must clearly indicate on their application the panel or panels which they wish to be considered for. All applicants must ensure that they meet the specific requirements for those panels as laid out above. Each panel will remain in place for a period of two years from the date of first appointment, or until exhausted.

In cases where a candidate applies to participate in more than one stream of the competition, a single process will be used but the candidate will be assessed separately for each stream.

In the event that a candidate achieves a place on more than one panel, the candidate will be offered one or more appointments as vacancies arise until such time as the candidate is appointed or until the various panels expire. Candidates who refuse an offer of appointment to a specific panel and location will retain their placing on that panel but forfeit their right to be offered an appointment to that location under that panel.

Only Online Applications can be made and should be submitted via the Apply Now button below.

All sections of the form must be fully completed online and in full.

Closing Date

Your online application must be lodged no later than 12 noon on Tuesday 5th May 2026.

All queries relating to this recruitment campaign should be directed to dafm@cpl.ie with the subject heading ‘Research Officer’.