AMTRA Recruitment

AMTRA is appointed by the DEFRA Secretary of State to act as a registration body for SQPs (Suitably Qualified Persons - animal medicines advisors) prescribing and supplying POM-VPS and NFA-VPS medicines.

AMTRA is a not-for-profit organisation, working since 1986 to carry out that primary role as a registration body, but more broadly to support the long-term future of the sector, in particular through a focus on standards. AMTRA manages the registration for about 6000 SQPs, and seeks to enhance both the quality of the service they provide and wider understanding of that role.

AMTRA Chair

Recruitment for the next AMTRA Chair comes off the back of a period of significant growth and visibility for AMTRA. The Chair acts as a respected ambassador for AMTRA across government, regulators, industry and the profession and has a responsibility to support a profession that provides huge value and positive impact to animal health and welfare due to the extensive expertise of SQPs. The Chair has an ongoing role in helping AMTRA navigate change in the veterinary medicines and regulatory landscape and raising the profile, recognition and value of SQPs.

Role description

The independent Chair of the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) provides strategic leadership and governance. Key responsibilities include:

  • Reviewing and driving organisational strategy
  • Working closely with the Executive team to ensure a well-run organisation
  • Engaging with government, industry sectors, and stakeholders

Core Leadership Responsibilities

  • Strategic direction: Working proactively with the Board and Council to shape AMTRA’s long-term future and adapt to evolving market needs.
  • Regulatory oversight: Defending and ensuring delivery of AMTRA's statutory and appointed role in managing the register of animal medicine advisors.
  • Stakeholder engagement: Building strong collaborative links across stakeholders, government bodies, consumer groups, and the animal health and welfare sector.
  • Sector advancement: Championing enhanced training, new technologies, and mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) for advisors.

Person specification – AMTRA is looking for someone who

  • Understands how to lead organisations through change.
  • Can bring people together around a shared vision.
  • Has credibility across industry, government, regulation or professional sectors.
  • Can challenge constructively while supporting the executive team.
  • Has a passion for education, professional development and high standards.
  • Is committed to animal health and welfare and has demonstrable experience of holding senior/leadership roles in the animal health and welfare sectors.
  • Understands how professional roles evolve (particularly in the animal health sector) and the need to adapt to changing societal and industry needs.

Core skills and attributes

Strategic leadership
  • Providing strategic leadership rather than operational management.
  • Collaboration with a close-knit team
  • Horizon scanning.
  • Understanding future trends and opportunities.
  • Setting long-term direction.
Board and governance experience
  • Experience chairing boards, councils, committees and/or advisory groups.
  • A solid understanding of governance and accountability ideally in the veterinary/animal health sectors.
Sector influence

Experience in one or more of:

  • Animal health and welfare (livestock/companion animals/equine)
  • Veterinary professions
  • Education and training
  • Regulation
  • Professional bodies
  • Public policy
Relationship building

Able to engage effectively with key stakeholders:

  • VMD
  • Defra
  • Veterinary organisations such RCVS and BVA
  • NOAH
  • Marketing Authorisation Holders and product manufacturers
  • Retailers
  • Farmers
  • Academic institutes
  • Companion animal / livestock / equine stakeholders
  • Educational partners
  • SQPs/trainers/employers
Ambassadorial skills
  • Public speaking.
  • Media confidence.
  • Stakeholder engagement.
  • Representing AMTRA externally.

Commitment

The time commitment of the role is variable around AMTRA’s needs: it amounted to an illustrative 27 days in the last 12 months, being a mixture of full days and shorter periods.

Currently there are four in-person Board meetings a year, a number of on-site meetings at the AMTRA office in Suffolk, and online meetings including monthly Officer meetings, Council meetings and others, plus a number of ambassadorial events around the UK and stakeholder meetings that the Chair would be required to attend.

Please submit a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role and anaccompanying CV to: [email protected] by 30 September 2026.