Job Title: Veterinary Officer
Overview
Safari Doctors is a not-for-profit organization that promotes innovative health solutions to transform vulnerable communities by improving accessibility by offering basic and preventative health care services to the remote areas of Lamu County. The initiative specifically focuses on supplying services to the marginalized indigenous Aweer and Bajuni communities that are affected by militant extremism and security operations that have left the communities in even further isolation. Based on this reality, access to basic health care is a luxury that many cannot access or afford.
Position Job Role
The recruitment of a Veterinary Officer is to establish and oversee the Safari Doctors Veterinary Program, including but not limited to the provision of vet services, treatment of animals, and vet office management. The veterinarian will ensure that an optimal standard of care is achieved in line with national guidelines, client satisfaction, good clinical outcomes, and efficient clinical data systems. The position, reporting to the Executive Director, will be vital to ensuring that Safari Doctors Vet Program continues to meet and has a sound and innovative financial model for delivery of vet services.
The successful applicant will be able to:
- Work in volatile conditions and under high pressure.
- Demonstrate effective communication in sharing information, ideas, and experiences in cross-cultural and indigenous contexts.
- Strong communication skills and ability to negotiate
- Be open to feedback and be able to act upon it.
- Commit to working cooperatively and have the understanding to encourage others to achieve objectives in an effective way.
- Be open to change and demonstrate an innovative and adaptable approach.
- Demonstrate high levels of cultural competence.
Core Responsibilities
Veterinary
- Keep up with the dogs’ vaccination, medical treatment, and neutering program on the archipelago on behalf of Safari Doctors and as and when required in cooperation with the local sub-county Veterinary Officer’s office.
- Continuously sensitize the local population on the issue of dog neutering to control the fast-growing numbers in the dog population with its risks and consequences for public health.
- Protect, look out, and immediately take to Safari Doctors vet clinic. whether strays or neglected by owners on a continuous basis
- Take all measures necessary and this all over the Lamu Archipelago to prevent a rabies epidemic affecting the ‘Cats of Lamu’ part of the cultural heritage of the locality.
- Promote the use of veterinary services offered by Safari Doctors vet clinic with the local community, in particular the farmers, and with the international residents, whether during consultations at the vet clinic or in the field.
- Aim at increasing the veterinary income sourced from the above activities as well as fundraising for Safari Doctors veterinary clinic.
- Continuously promote and explain animal welfare and care within the local community.
Management
- Work and promptly liaise and communicate with the Executive Director on all matters as and when required.
- Be hands-on in all kinds of day-to-day operations at the veterinary clinic, demonstrating good practice whether at the vet clinic or during mobile treatment and neutering clinics. Ensure these are conducted in a professional manner and with focus.
- Account for all expenses incurred in a swift and accurate manner. Input data and complete financial records within the required time frames. Suggest and make any savings wherever possible.
- Keep management records. Maintain records of all animals vaccinated, treated, or neutered, and related administrative tasks, including the writing of specific mission’s reports. Improve the quality of reporting
- Oversight and management of clinic premises, including but not limited to coordinating maintenance and cleanliness of clinic/vet office.
- Work with the finance and administrative officer on bookkeeping and financial reporting.
- In general, strictly comply with the code of ethics for veterinary surgeons and veterinary paraprofessionals, together with medical and clinical protocols and responsibilities as prescribed by the profession and required by the public health authorities.
Skill Requirements
a) Be in possession of a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) Degree from a recognized institution.
b) Be registered by the Kenya Veterinary Board
c) Be proficient in MS Office applications.
Interested candidates are to send their applications and curriculum vitae by email to [email protected] with the job title as the subject so as to reach us not later than September 25, 2024.
