Official Veterinarian (OV) in Meat Establishments
OV – Meat Establishments Talent Pool - Add your CV to our database for future roles as an Official Veterinarian (OV) in Meat Establishments with HallMark
At HallMark, we don’t just offer jobs—we provide meaningful career paths. As an OV, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring food safety, animal welfare, and regulatory compliance across the UK. We partner closely with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to uphold and advance industry standards.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re seeking veterinarians at all stages of their careers to join our OV talent pool. Whether you're an experienced OV, a member of the RCVS eager for new challenges, or a recent graduate from an RCVS-recognised university with strong English proficiency (IELTS level 7 or veterinary OET grade B), we want to hear from you! See RCVS English Language Requirements for details.
Talent Pool Opportunities
Experienced OV (current OV qualification)
Non-OV RCVS Veterinarians (RCVS-registered vets seeking OV qualification for meat establishments)
International Vets from RCVS-Recognised Universities
Locations: Lincolnshire, Birmingham, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Wiltshire, Warwickshire. Map of locations available on request.
What We Offer
Comprehensive Benefits: Competitive salary, corporate health plan, car allowance or company car, retailer discounts, pension contributions, and coverage of RCVS fees.
Diverse Opportunities: Participate in our 'farm-to-fork' approach with duties across abattoir inspections, farm visits, lab work, export certification, import controls, TB testing, auditing, and clinical services.
Relocation Support: Assistance for those relocating for the future roles.
Full Training & Certification: We fund the OV certification course at Bristol University for non-qualified candidates.
Work-Life Balance: Local assignments to reduce travel, and a manageable staff-to-manager ratio for balanced workloads.
Visa Sponsorship: Fast-track visa sponsorship and support where required.
Role Overview
As an OV in the meat industry, you’ll uphold the highest standards of animal welfare and food safety. Key responsibilities include:
Inspection: Conducting ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections, verifying compliance with animal welfare and food safety standards, and ensuring Food Business Operators (FBOs) follow safety protocols.
Compliance & Enforcement: Monitoring FBOs’ adherence to legal requirements, gathering evidence for enforcement actions, and escalating non-compliance issues as needed.
Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement: Leading plant inspection teams, assessing team competencies, and building productive relationships with FBOs and stakeholders.
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OFFICIAL VETERINARIAN (OV) JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Purpose: The FSA’s strategic plan commits to the development of alternative or complementary delivery models, including their sustainable funding – for meat and other food businesses.
The Official Veterinarian primarily
Provides a technical and leadership role, in an approved premise providing technical advice and direction to the plant inspection team to ensure the efficient and consistent Delivery of Meat Official Controls and associated tasks, as defined within the Manual for Official Controls (MOC).
Builds and manages effective relationships with the plant Food Business Operator (FBO) and other stakeholders and takes responsibility for health and safety management at plant level.
Key Responsibilities
Statutory duties:
Inspection tasks:
Assessment of food chain information.
Conducting ante-mortem inspection of animals for slaughter.
Verification of animal welfare compliance: including assessment of the suitability and competence of persons applying for a temporary Certificate of Competence (TCoC), and verification of Certificates of Competence (CoCs) for staff working at the premises
Conducting postmortem inspection: if this task is delegated to Official Auxiliaries, the post holder must regularly check the work of the OAs and in the case of animals having undergone emergency slaughter outside the slaughterhouse, carry out the inspection personally.
Verification of compliance with Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy and Animal By-Products requirements
Health marking
Verification of slaughter hygiene standards
Verification of FBO compliance the microbiological criteria
Verification of FBO traceability systems
Verification of food safety management systems
Action following controls:
Collection and communication of inspection results
Assessment of and decision making in relation to food chain information, live animals, animal welfare and meat
Enforcement
Verify that the FBO complies with legislative requirements through their own food safety management procedures.
Gather evidence to support targeted enforcement for the FSA and other enforcement agencies as required.
Follow risk based procedures to take fair and proportionate enforcement actions to ensure compliance is achieved working with FBOs to create action plans to achieve compliance.
Understanding of all areas of non-compliance, the stage of escalation and active monitoring through to compliance or with a view to taking further action to control the risks at the establishment
Gathering and secure storage of evidence
Responsibility for all timely enforcement and it’s escalation
Completion and collation of paperwork and electronic enforcement systems
Delivery and recording of informal enforcement activity
Drafting, service and recording of formal enforcement after consultation and direction from the FSA Field Veterinary Coordinator (FVC)
Verify continued compliance with public health, animal health and animal welfare
Collection of evidence of repetitive non-compliance or serious deficiency with public health, animal health and animal welfare To liaise and provide evidence to FVC in regard to all formal enforcement action;
Carry out formal enforcement action under the direction of the FVC;
To proactively liaise with other enforcement bodies as required
Act as a witness of fact and professional witness in legal cases as required including producing a witness statement to the required standard.
Knowledge of how to identify potential food fraud opportunities relevant to the meat industry and how to escalate and report suspicious activities.
Encourage and support the use of “best practice” in all aspects of operations, giving appropriate and timely advice
Verification of compliance with Third Country requirements (as/when required)
Carry out veterinarian activities in line with specific Third Country requirements and as requested by the FSA
Certification of product
Technical leadership of the plant inspection team:
Responsible for the technical leadership and performance of the plant inspection team by, providing appropriate advice, coaching, support, and ensuring technical compliance through supervision of tasks. - Seek direction for FSA field management where appropriate.
Assessment of on-going technical, competencies of OAs, ensuring that they are demonstrating competency and supported to undertake all tasks associated with their role.
Assessment of ongoing competencies of Plant Inspection Assistants (PIAs)
Cascade technical information as required and discuss the practical implications with the plant inspection team.
Participation on the practical training at the plant, of Trainee OA (tOA), probationary OVs (pOV) and Veterinary Students to ensure it is carried out appropriately.
· Awareness of and commitment to all relevant FSA policies
· Provide feedback to Inspection Team Leader (ITL) on OA competence and performance.
· Accurately input data and information (business and personal) into appropriate IT systems.
Stakeholder management:
Establish and maintain productive working relationships with the FSA, plant FBOs and other stake holders (Other Government Departments, Local Authorities, etc).
Raise any changes to the FBO operating patterns in relation to the Statement of Resources with the FSA manager in charge of this work.
Inform FBOs of any legislative changes that have an impact on their operation.
Health and Safety Management
Provide support to FSA field management in implementing the FSA Health and Safety Policy at plant level and provide support to the FSA Field management in completion of risk assessments and the implementation of control measures.
Participate when required to investigate and document accidents and incidents involving the plant inspection team and make initial recommendations for preventative actions.
Participate in plant inductions, ensuring plant inspection teams and visitors are aware of fire, first aid and other emergency procedures and provide them with health and safety information, instruction and coaching as necessary.
FSA Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
Ensure FSA services at the plant are delivered in line with SLA targets.
General
Maintain confidentiality of internal FSA communications and commercially sensitive information.
Identify personal training needs to undertake continuing educational activities including appropriate uptake of FSA training and CPD
Continued familiarisation with the MOC and other guidance documents as appropriate
Any other reasonable requests
Qualifications & Skills
Essential Qualifications:
Veterinary degree (BSc or MSc) and RCVS membership, or eligibility for RCVS registration.
Strong English proficiency (IELTS level 7 or veterinary OET grade B).
Preferred Skill:
Qualified OVs in UK meat establishments.
Strong communication, leadership skills, and attention to detail.
Prior experience in meat hygiene or animal welfare (trainee roles available).
Reliable team players with flexibility and a valid driving license.
Start Dates, Induction, and Training
We are building our pipeline for upcoming roles. Future training and induction dates will be shared with talent pool members as positions become available. Candidates requiring OV certification will be enrolled on a fully funded course at Bristol University.
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