Overview:
This role will support the Fish Health Manager in optimising fish health and welfare across all farm operations at Kames, looking at broodstock and spawning, freshwater and saltwater. A rare opportunity to join our award-winning department and gain exceptional experience in fish health across all aspects of fish farming.

The Role:
This is a rare opening working directly with our Fish Health Manager, who won Rising Star at the industry awards and helped win us overall Best Animal Welfare through the outstanding level of fish health monitoring that we prioritise at Kames. The role gives an exceptional level of learning and experience, as Kames is fully vertically integrated with our own brood stock programme, and punches above its size in terms of innovative research and development, with our connection to academia very strong. Our family farm also operates an 'all hands on deck' approach, meaning that real, practical experience across the whole life cycle is gained. 

Main duties will include:

• Fish health planning
  ·       Collaborate with the Fish Health Manager and farm managers to coordinate health management and monitoring of stocks.
  ·       Support farm managers to develop preventative measures and treatment plans to minimise the risk of disease outbreaks.

• Health monitoring and diagnostics
  ·       Perform required fish health monitoring and diagnostic sampling.
  ·       Log and communicate findings and reports with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
  ·       Monitor stock performance (e.g. mortality patterns, feeding and growth trends).
  ·       Undertake related administrative duties such as report writing, data entry, and regulatory compliance.

• Research and development
  ·       Assist in academic and commercial projects aimed at improving fish health and welfare.
  ·       Attend relevant fish health meetings and conferences and feedback key information to relevant stakeholders.
  ·       Undertake relevant training courses as approved by the Fish Health Manager (e.g. diagnostic sampling, fish health and welfare, parasite identification). 

• Production operations (Freshwater and Saltwater)
  ·       Occasionally assist with production operations that may include grading, vaccinations, treatments, or harvesting.
  ·       Occasionally assist with site husbandry on weekends, where there are health focused activities. 
  

Why Kames?
Kames is a unique place to work. We are the leading trout producer in the UK and the only farm to grow trout in the sea, which we’ve pioneered for over 50 years. We’re passionate about the exceptional quality of our fish. We are also Scotland’s oldest family fish farm and have a long-standing record of innovation, connection to academia and education, a belief in valuing people and knowledge alongside technology, and caring for our environment and our community. This is not just our workplace; it’s our home.

Kames won Best Aquaculture Company in the UK in 2022 and Best Animal Welfare in 2023 at the industry awards, and our core principles of quality, sustainability and community underpin both our everyday working life and our future strategy.

What we’re looking for:

• Essential
  Relevant degree in Aquaculture, Biology, Veterinary/Animal Science, Zoology or a related field.
  Knowledge in animal physiology and pathology.
  ·       Experience in a lab environment – e.g. molecular biology, microbiology.
  ·       Experience in aquaculture.
  ·       Competence in MS office.
  ·       Have a full and valid UK driving license.
  ·       Allowed to work in the UK.

• Personal Attributes
  ·       Able to work collaboratively as a team, a good communicator with strong interpersonal skills. Able to prioritise and multitask under pressure to the required standards and deadlines.
  ·       Enjoys hands-on fieldwork, remote location working, and being on the water.
  ·       Comfortable working in a farm environment and flexibility to travel to remote regions of Scotland.
  ·       Inquisitive and passionate about fish or aquaculture.

• Desirable
  ·       At least 2 years of experience in aquaculture, ideally in a fish health-related role.
  ·       Keen interest in biology and academic research.
  ·       Experience working at sea or on water.

The Detail:
We offer an excellent financial package depending on experience, with a salary of £27,750 to £32,250. Normal hours of work are Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.  Company bonus, pension scheme, overtime pay, training and occupational sick pay are all available.

The position is based at our HQ in Kilmelford, and will require occasional travel to our other sites.

Please send a CV and covering letter to careers@kames.co.uk or send us a message outlining your experience through the form below.