The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has launched a recruitment campaign for two new deputy chief veterinary officers.

The successful candidates will be "key members of the DAFM senior management team" and will report to the chief veterinary officer (CVO).

DAFM said the new appointees will work primarily within the 'One Health, One Welfare' business area of the department.

The strategic goal of this area is to "promote and safeguard public, animal and plant health and animal welfare for the benefit of consumers, producers and wider society”.

The successful candidates will work with the CVO and colleagues to develop, deliver and lead "through evidence-informed and evidence-based policy making, the department’s animal health, animal welfare, public health and food safety policy framework".

They will create and maintain systems and processes that allow the department to respond to any animal health or food safety incident, along with national and EU changes that impact on the sector.

They will also support on-farm productivity through the National Farmed Animal Health Strategy, including surveillance, biosecurity and control strategies and the responsible use of veterinary medicines.

The new appointees will engage with authorities to agree on veterinary health certification requirements to facilitate safe trade in animals, products of animal origin and animal by-products.

They will represent the department nationally and internationally at events, meetings and negotiations.

The department said that candidates for the positions must have a primary degree in Veterinary Medicine that entitles the holder to be registered with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI).

They should have proven experience and a record of achievement, at senior level, in strategy and policy development.

DAFM said candidates should have a "deep understanding of the Irish agriculture sector" and must have the ability to communicate complex veterinary and scientific research evidence and outcomes "clearly and succinctly in English".

They should have "a political awareness and sound judgment in dealing with policy and operational matters", along with "an ability to build effective relationships".

DAFM said that applications must be submitted no later than 12:00p.m on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

The annual salary scale for the positions, based at Agriculture House in Dublin, ranges from €139,682 to €158,112, depending on length of service.

Last year, DAFM confirmed that Dr. June Fanning had been appointed as the department's new chief veterinary officer.

Dr. Fanning, who had previously held the position of deputy chief veterinary officer, took over the position from Dr. Martin Blake.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Michael Sheahan, also a former deputy chief veterinary officer at the department, was appointed as director of animal health and welfare and regulatory affairs at beef and veal company, Buitelaar Group.