Post Mortem Assistant

Wales Veterinary Science Centre; Aberystwyth; On-site; GBP 23,000; Full time

Job summary

A veterinary center in Aberystwyth seeks a temporary post mortem assistant for maternity cover. Key duties include assisting with post mortem examinations, maintaining health and safety protocols, and proper disposal of carcasses. Essential skills include practical farm animal management and strong attention to detail. Training may involve laboratory duties. This full-time role offers a salary of £22,500 pro rata, working 30 hours per week, with flexibility required.

Benefits

Pro-rata holiday allowance of 20 days plus bank holidays

In-house training provided

Qualifications

• Ability to handle dead animals and tissue samples.
• Excellent attention to detail with protocols.
• Good record-keeping and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare the post mortem room for examinations.
• Assist with post mortem examinations and record keeping.
• Clean and disinfect the post mortem area and equipment.
• Store and label tissue samples appropriately.
• Arrange ordering of consumables as required.

Skills

Practical farm animal management

Handling dead animals

Attention to detail

Good record-keeping skills

Interpersonal skills

Flexibility

Job description

An opportunity has arisen for a temporary 18 th month period post mortem assistant to provide maternity cover at the Wales Veterinary Science Centre, Aberystwyth.The Centre provides post mortem examination services of farm animals for private veterinary surgeons and their farm clients for disease diagnosis purposes, contributing to a UK-wide disease scanning surveillance network. We also provide post mortem examination of wildlife and carry out laboratory testing for our veterinary clients including BVD, sheep scab and parasitology. A detailed job description and person specification can also be found on our website.

Detailed Job Description

A full-time post mortem assistant is required to provide for maternity cover for 18 months in the first instance. Working under the direction of the duty Veterinary Disease Investigator (VDI) and paying specific attention to the health and safety regulations and risk assessments, key aspects of the role include:

• Preparing the post mortem room to receive carcasses and for undertaking the post mortem examination
• Assisting the duty VIO with the post mortem examinations
• Ensuring that all dissected carcasses and their contents are disposed of appropriately
• Keeping detailed records of the number and type of all carcasses prior to their removal from site
• Cleaning and disinfection of the post mortem room and all equipment used
• Washing of all protective clothing worn in the post mortem room as and when required
• Storage and detailed labelling of tissue samples collected at post mortem examination
• Processing and packing of tissue samples for the duty VIO and their dispatch to specified laboratories for diagnostic testing
• Arranging the ordering of consumables as required
• A willingness to be trained to carry out smears and staining to rule out specific diseases prior to the post mortem examination being undertaken
• Be aware of health and safety of themselves and others
• Support other areas of the Centres activities as required

In addition, the successful candidate may receive training to undertake laboratory duties including receiving and checking in samples, preparing samples for testing and performing veterinary diagnostic laboratory tests (in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 quality standards).

Person Specification

The Centre has only a small number of employees in which effective team-working and excellent interpersonal relations are essential for the smooth running of the various activities undertaken.The person appointed therefore needs to fit in with these requirements as well as providing high level support in the post mortem room as specified above.

Essential skills

• A good understanding of practical farm animal management
• A willingness to handle dead animals and tissue samples without being phased by the experience
• Attention to detail and ability to follow precise written protocols
• Good record keeping skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• A willingness to be flexible in both work routines and hours worked

Desirable skills

• Ability to speak Welsh

Terms and conditions

• 4 days per week
• 7.5 hour working day (08.30 to 17.00) 30 hours per week, but flexibility expected due to seasonality of work
• Pro-rata holiday allowance is 20 days plus bank holidays.
• Training by a range of media, including inhouse training must be undertaken.
• Location: WVSC Laboratory, y Buarth, Aberystwyth.
• Salary: £22,500 pro rata depending on qualifications and experience.

Deadline for applications: 6 February 2026. To apply for this position, please send a CV and covering letter outlining your suitability for the post to [e-mail].

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