Antimicrobial Resistance Project Officer

*To apply please attach your CV and Cover Letter as one document and convince us of your suitability for the role and understanding of antimicrobial resistance then complete the application details*

* Please note this role is a 2-year fixed term – part-time (minimum 21, maximum 27 hours per week over at least 4 days)*

Background

VetTeamAMR forms one project in RCVS Knowledge’s Quality Improvement campaign.

The aims of the Quality Improvement work are:

To provide the veterinary profession with useful Quality Improvement resources which are supported and developed by vets and veterinary nurses.

To facilitate a culture change towards the implementation of quality improvement in practice

To enhance the awareness and dispersion of quality improvement skills in the profession

To attract new sponsors and supporters

VetTeamAMR contributes to this campaign by using the principles of Quality Improvement to provide targeted support for continuous improvements in good antimicrobial stewardship in farm animal, companion animal, and equine veterinary sector.

The improvement of professional capacity and capability for effective infection prevention and control and good antimicrobial stewardship in human medicine has been recognised as essential within the UK’s five-year National Action Plan for tackling antimicrobial resistance. 

This project aims to extend these ambitions to fully include veterinary professionals and practices.

Job purpose

The Project Officer will work closely with the Quality Improvement, Digital, and Communications teams; the VetTeamAMR Clinical Leads, Stewards, Steering Group and Ambassadors; RUMA, VMD and other major organisations, to implement, coordinate, and promote VetTeamAMR.

VetTeamAMR unites and empowers veterinary professionals to establish, maintain, and improve good antimicrobial stewardship, for animal health and welfare standards and to provide positive inspiration and leadership towards One Health efforts.

The role requires a highly practical, organised, and dynamic individual, with a can-do attitude. Working with Clinical Leads, the Project Officer will maintain the VetTeamAMR products and coordinate high-level stakeholder collaboration.

Key responsibilities

Maintain the audit and benchmarking tools, the VetTeamAMR community, and the training materials.

Coordinate and deliver the Companion Animal Audit tool with our business partners and according to the prepared specification work.

Manage and engage the VetTeamAMR governance committees and working groups.

Manage the analysis, interpretation, and reporting process so that the project reflects RCVS Knowledge’s charitable objectives in the presentation and reporting of findings.

Secure speaking opportunities and manage media and public affairs for the Clinical Leads and Steering Groups. On occasion, to deliver presentations to promote the work and increase uptake of VetTeamAMR. This may involve attending events which involve travel and working outside of normal working hours for which time off in lieu will be agreed and travel and subsistence will be reimbursed.

Work with the internal team, our volunteers, and antimicrobial stewardship Champions, to engage veterinary teams in antimicrobial stewardship using social media, our websites, online and in-person events etc.

Manage and run the antimicrobial stewardship awards.

Maintain VetTeamAMR project documentation and the database.

Manage the antimicrobial stewardship content on our websites.

Deliver the work within the remit of the wider Quality Improvement stream. This involves a solid understanding of Quality Improvement techniques.

Provide administrative support internally and with the people that we work with.

Work with the Digital and Communications Team and our external business partner/s to design and implement IT interfaces, online networking forum/s, and internal and external communications.

Other

Transform conversation and meetings into actions.

Horizon scan for opportunities and threats from within and outside the profession.

Maintain effective two-way communication with the people we work with, being organised, allowing enough time and advanced notice when working with others.

Assist with management of diaries, organise travel and accommodation where necessary.

Act as a main antimicrobial stewardship contact for emails and external callers. Deal with queries professionally, efficiently and in a sensitive manner.

Maintain a good working knowledge of all aspects of the organisation, including the Quality Improvement Project, to take the role of a well-informed ambassador.

Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to promote a culture of continuous improvement within the veterinary profession.

Undertake training and attend professional development.

Contribute to the wider activities of RCVS Knowledge as appropriate.

Undertake any other duties commensurate with the objectives of the post.

Required skills, knowledge & experience

A science-based degree or relevant qualification or equivalent experience

Knowledge of veterinary medicines to be able to have conversations and understand discussions about categories of antibiotics, anti-parasiticides, and anthelmintics.

Well-developed planning and organisational skills

Highly self-motivated, conscientious, confident, pro-active, innovative, with ability to work independently on own initiative as well as of part of a wider team, to work accurately to tight deadlines

Organised, deadline driven, able to prioritise between conflicting demands

A strong work ethic and positive ‘can-do’ approach

A people-person, customer-focussed, team player, with diplomacy and tact

Able to produce high-quality, clear and persuasive material, tailored to different audiences and formats (email, print, web, social)

Confidence in meetings and in communicating/networking with a range of stakeholders

Passionate about antimicrobial resistance, Quality Improvement, veterinary care, veterinary practice and customer service

A grounded understanding of the barriers and facilitators in which this work operates

Enthusiastic, conscientious, positive, constructive, self-motivated and results-driven

In touch with relevant hot-topics and political and contextual developments within the profession

Agile and responsive to changes and developments

Adaptable to new technology

Ability to challenge the status quo and put in place systems to deliver improvement

Ability to make operational decisions within policies and procedures, using knowledge and experience, but will refer upwards on more complex issues when necessary

Honesty, integrity, understanding of professionalism

Desirable skills, knowledge & experience

RVN or MRCVS

Experience of working with a practice management system

Ability to use Microsoft Office

Experience of web editing and CMS (e.g., WordPress)

*To apply please attach your CV and Cover Letter as one document and convince us of your suitability for the role and understanding of antimicrobial resistance then complete the application details*

Date for 1st interviews w/c 25th September 

Date for 2nd Interviews: w/c 2nd October