Animal Technician - MLC 2409

View Vacancy -- Animal Technician - MLC 2409
Open Date
02/05/2024, 11:30
Close Date
19/05/2024, 23:55
Research Institute  
MRC Mary Lyon Centre
As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum salary criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK.  At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK.  You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y
Research Institute / Unit Information  

The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell (MLC) is located in an expanding science and innovation campus in Oxfordshire and is an internationally renowned centre at the forefront of genetics research.  As the hub of the new National Mouse Genetics Network, the specialist facilities and capabilities of the MLC support a number of research groups across the UK to accelerate our understanding of human diseases, such as cancer, developmental disorders and neurodegeneration.

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org
Band  
MRC - 6
Location  
Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire
Salary  
£25,596 per annum
Contract Type  
Permanent
Job Type  
Technical & Scientific Professionals
Full Time / Part Time  
Full Time
Job Description  

Overall Purpose: 

To work in the MLC team and provide high quality husbandry and experimental procedures to fulfil scientific needs. This includes ensuring that the needs of the animals are met in terms of clean cages, food, bedding and health checks. Working under Home Office licensing (The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, amended 2012) to carry out ethically justified procedures, with meticulous record keeping of all animal-related work. 

Main Duties/Key Responsibilities: 

• Checking the health and welfare of experimental mice
• Participation in the rota for cleaning and watering of animal cages
• Addressing the welfare needs of mouse colonies
• Maintaining cleanliness in the animal rooms
• Computerised record keeping
• Reading and adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and risk assessments
• Taking samples for genotyping 

Working Relationships: 

Member of a team working under supervision of a line manager and ward supervisor. 

Additional Information: 

Must be able to work overtime to cover animal requirements.

Person Specification  

Education/Qualifications/Training Required:

Essential:

• 5 GCSEs at grade C or above 

Desirable:

• Institute of Animal Technology level 2 Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science and Technology
• Home Office Licence

Previous Work Experience Required:

Essential:

• Experience of working with animals, or in a capacity in which a caring approach in the post is required, and attention to detail are essential (for example, in kennels, care homes, working with young children)

Desirable:

• Basic animal husbandry

Knowledge and Experience:

Essential:

• Genuine interest in the welfare of animals
• Basic computer skills, including the ability to use digital record keeping systems and common software packages such as Excel 

Desirable:

• Experience of working to SOPs

Personal skills/Behaviours/Qualities:

Essential:

• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to work as part of a team under supervision
• Self-motivated and positive influence on other team members
• Ability to carry out manual tasks such as cage changing

Further Information  

Equality & Diversity:

The MRC values the diverse skills and experience of its employees and is committed to achieving equality of treatment for all.  Our objectives are that all individuals shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their skills, aptitudes and abilities.  The MRC is committed to the engagement and retention of the best possible talent and to creating an environment that encourages excellence in scientific research through good equality and diversity leadership and management. 

Corporate/Local Responsibilities & Requirements:

The post-holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the MRC’s:

• Code of Conduct
• Equality and Diversity policy
• Health and Safety policy
• Data Protection and Security policy

All employees are required to act professionally, cooperatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the MRC.

The MRC is a great place to work and progress your career, be it in scientific research or the support functions.The MRC is a unique working environment where our researchers are rewarded by world class innovation and collaboration opportunities that the MRC name brings. The MRC is an excellent place to develop yourself further and a range of training & development opportunities will be available to you, including professional registration with the Science Council.
Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UKRI) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the MRC and UKRI on your CV in the future.
Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.
We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.  The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.