Animal Health Technician - Rainbow Chicken

Role Purpose:
Conduct disease surveillance, data capturing and analysis thereof to comply with DALRRD legal requirements. Ensure testing programs are adhered to, interpretation of test results with reference to vaccination schedules, statistical data analysis and trending. Training and auditing of staff on bio-security, animal welfare and vaccination principles. Plan, lead and control related animal health activities.
Required Knowledge:

• Principles, practices, and theory of biological analysis, including emerging technologies
• Supervisory/technical principles & practices
• Complex testing and analysis
• All technical and environmental legislation and regulations
• Principles and practices of applied research
• Health/Safety/OHSA/ISO practices and regulations applicable to a laboratory
• Laboratory information management and reporting systems

Required Skills:

• Able to work independently with little direction in a fast-paced work environment
• Computer literacy,
• Logical thinking,
• Analytical thinking,
• Decision-making

Required Qualification:

• Diploma in Animal Health with SAVC registration
• Valid drivers license

Required Experience:

• Minimum 3 years working experience in the animal health industry
• Strong competency in animal health.

Key Responsibilities:
Diseases and Flock Health Surveillance

• Plan, organize, and control the disease surveillance using prescribed test methods or as per customer and legal requirements.
• Keep abreast of current technical regulations through research, attending seminars and webinars, and making any required adjustments to testing procedures where applicable.
• Function as Internal Auditor on biosecurity audits at planned intervals.
• Evaluate and interpret test results derived from Avian Necropsy, Bacteriology, Molecular Biology, and Serology to establish trends and identify disease outbreaks under flock with early warning to Veterinary Executives for decision-making.
• Evaluating and interpreting test results against vaccination schedules and testing schedules, draw conclusions where applicable and provide results to customers in a manner that is understandable and useful to the farmers.

Quality Assurance and Support

• Work closely with Laboratory Manager in developing and maintaining high-performance testing and record keeping.
• Planning and lead research projects in trial facilities and allocate technical teams to relevant aspects of the research trials. Conduct research, write up of research findings and producing reports.
• Implement safety protocols around testing programs and ensure full compliance to Health & Safety requirements in testing departments.
• Monitor performance of the testing departments, identify risk and weaknesses and non-conformances, implement corrective and preventive actions to eliminate the non-conformances and review the implemented activities at set frequencies to ensure effective. Evaluate the results of the verification activities and draw up trend analysis over time to present information in usable format for collaborative decision making.
• Ensure staff training is done as per training schedule.
• Review testing programs, procedures and reports for accuracy, completeness and compliance.
• Plan and conduct follow-up technical/ biosecurity audits to ensure that all corrective actions have been successfully implemented and maintained.
• Meeting deadlines for SANAS/ DAFF requirements.

Staff Development

• Identify and develop the identified calibrated standards to ensure information transfer is done without error.
• Train staff in root cause analysis, problem solving, validations and verifications to improve on performance overall performance.
• Train staff on Health & Safety requirements pertaining to their technical activities.
• Subject matter expert.

Information Management and Reporting

• Manage information through the Laboratory Information Management System software (LIMS).
• Collate and analyze performance data and charts against defined parameters.
• Keep the Laboratory Manager informed of the progress of studies and audits and discuss problems.

Equipment Assurance

• Ensure all departmental equipment used for testing is maintained in the correct and safe condition and oversee that the safe working conditions are met by all staff using the equipment.
• Ensure equipment safety SHE programs are in place and relevant to comply with legislative requirements.
• Manage site top risks relevant to chemicals, media, kits and programs for testing.
• Ensure that all equipment documentation is done in accordance with standard operating procedures.

Consumables Administration

• Budget and stock management based on procedural requirements, test numbers and test frequencies.
• Understanding impact of global events and effect of stock availability for imported stock items.
• Develop programs to ensure only approved, valid consumables are available for use.