1. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal Rights invites applications for the post of Trainee Junior Veterinary Officer/Veterinary Officer in the Veterinary Regulation Department in the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal Rights.

2.1 This appointment is subject to a probationary period of twelve (12) months. 

2.2 The salary for the post of Trainee Veterinary Officer is Salary Scale 10, which in the year 2021 is equivalent to, €21,267 per annum, rising by annual increments of €407.67 up to a maximum of €23,713.

2.3 The salary for the post of Junior Veterinary Officer is Salary Scale 9, which in the year 2021 is equivalent to €22,633 per annum, rising by annual increments of €447.33 up to a maximum of €25,317.

2.4 A Junior Veterinary Officer  will be promoted to the grade of Veterinary Officer in Scale 8 (€24,091 x €486.83 - €27,012 in 2021) on completion of 2 years service in the grade of Junior Veterinary Officer, subject to being in possession of a Warrant to practice as Veterinary Surgeon and subject to satisfactory performance.

2.5 A selected applicant in possession of a Warrant to practice as Veterinary Surgeon and who has not less than two (2) years of professional practice after obtaining the Warrant will be appointed Veterinary Officer in scale 8 (€24,091 x €486.83 - €27,012 in 2021).

2.6 A Veterinary Officer (Scale 8) will progress to Scale 7 (€25,656 x €531.17 - €28,843 in 2021) on completion of six (6) years professional practice after obtaining the warrant, subject to satisfactory performance provided that the qualifying period of six (6) years  will be reduced to four (4) years in the case of Veterinary Officers in possession of an approved  and recognised post-graduate qualification in MQF Level 7. 

2.7  An appointee to the grade of  Junior  Veterinary Officer or Veterinary Officer will be entitiled to such other benefits and be subject to such other conditions as may be stipulated in any pertinent agreement between the Malta Government and the competent Unions. A Trainee Junior Veterinary Officer, appointed in accordance with 4.3, shall not be entitiled to the conditions and benefits emanating from the Veterniary Class Agreement until the Warrant included in 4.1 (iii) is attained and the other officer is appointed Junior Veterinary Officer. Failure to obtain the Warrant by 30 June 2022, will lead to automatic termination of the post.

2.8 Lateral applications in the same grade from public officers are not allowed.

2.9 Accepting appointment in this grade signifies that any pending applications within the Public Service are automatically considered renounced, unless the latter are applications for SAAC positions or applications for a definite position when the officer concerned holds an indefinite appointment.

2.10 This post has been designated for the purposes of sub-article 5 of article 4 of the Public Administration Act and in terms of Directive 14, since it involves inspectorate  functions.  The relevant conditions laid out in the Public Administration Act and Directive 14 apply.

3. The job duties for the post of Trainee Junior Veterinary Officer/ Veterinary Officer may be viewed in Annex A attached to this Circular.

4.1 By the closing time and date of this call for applications, applicants must be:

The advice of the Department of Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs within the Identity Malta Agency should be sought as necessary in the interpretation of the above provisions.

The appointment of candidates referred to at (b), (c), (d) and (e) above would necessitate the issue of an employment licence in so far as this is required by the Immigration Act and subsidiary legislation.  Jobsplus should be consulted as necessary on this issue.

4.2 Qualifications at a level higher than that specified above will be accepted for eligibility purposes, provided they meet any specified subject requirements.

Moreover, candidates who have not yet formally obtained any of the above-mentioned qualifications will still be considered, provided that they submit evidence that they have been approved for the award of the qualifications in question, or successfully completed the necessary ECTS/ECVETS credits, or equivalent, taken as part of a recognised higher MQF level programme of study, as required in the afore-mentioned eligibility criteria, by the closing time and date of the call for applications.

4.3 Applications will also be received from persons who satisfy the requisits in 4.1 (i) and 4.1 (ii) and who have formally obtained, or have been approved for the award of a qualification of  veterinary medicine and surgery, as recognised by the Veterinary Surgeons' Council in accordance with the Veterinary Service Act (Cap. 437), but who are yet to obtain the warrant to practice as a Veterinary Sugeon. If selected, such candidates will be appointed Trainee Junior Vetrinary Officer until the attainment of such said warrant. Upon attainment of the warrant, a Trainee Junior Veterinary Officer will be appointed Junior Veterinary Officer. Failure to obtain the warrant to practice as Veterinary Surgeon by 30 June 2022, will lead to termination of traineeship appointment. 

4.4 Public Officers holding a grade in a particular stream, and who were granted Officer in Scale status by virtue of a Grievances Unit decision in the same scale as that of a higher grade in that stream, are eligible to apply for grades open to officers holding such higher grade within the stream that carries the same scale as that of the Officer in Scale status.

The years of service since the effective date of appointment as Officer in Scale are reckonable for the purpose of satisfying any requisite years of service stipulated in calls for applications. 

Any other eligibility requisites for the post must be met in terms of this call for applications.

4.5 Applicants must be of conduct which is appropriate to the post applied for (applicants who are already in the Malta Public Service must produce an updated Service and Leave Record Form (GP 47) issued not earlier than one (1) month from date of application; those applying from outside the Service must produce a Certificate of Conduct issued by the Police or other competent authority not earlier than one (1) month from the date of application and state whether they have ever been in Government Service, giving details).

4.6 Applicants must be eligible to take up their due appointment, in terms of 4.1 to 4.5 above, not only by the closing time and date of this call for applications but also on the date of appointment.

4.7 Prospective applicants should note the requirement to produce MQRIC recognition statements in respect of their qualifications from MQRIC, or other designated authorities, as applicable, as per provisions applicable to this call for applications (see link below).