Animal Technical Officer

• UQ Biological Resources

• HEW 4

• Fixed-term position for up to 3 years

• Closing date: Thursday 9 February 2023 at 11.00pm AEST (R-21712)

About This Opportunity 

The University of Queensland Biological Resources (UQBR) manages the Biological Resources Facility (BRF) on behalf of the Translational Research Institute (TRI). The facility was commissioned in 2013, operates as a TRI core facility and is critical to successful research outcomes. The Translational Research Institute (TRI) is a unique, Australian-first initiative of ‘bench to bedside’ medical research. TRI combines clinical and translational research to advance progress from laboratory discovery to application in the community.

We are looking to recruit a fixed term Animal Technical Officer role within the breeding wing of the UQBR TRI-BRF facility at Woolloongabba. This position may be required to work at St Lucia, or Herston site as required.

The primary purpose of the position is to provide advanced colony management, animal husbandry and administrative support in order to facilitate projects and services involving breeding animals at the facility. This role may also be required to occasionally work across other areas of the facility below depending on operational requirements.

Key responsibilities will include: 

Animal Husbandry and Breeding Services

• Providing care and husbandry to laboratory animals predominantly laboratory rodents

• Colony Management, monitoring breeding performance of stock, transgenic and knockout lines of mice and maintaining records

• Administration of any treatments

• Specialised animal procedures relevant to the facility needs including euthanasia

Research Services

• Perform both routine and specialised procedures associated with research using animals.

• Review of animal ethics applications, provide feedback particularly on technical services and ensure that proposed practices meet the relevant requirements

• Prepare, administer restricted drugs to animals for research purposes.

Operational

• Complete facility inductions for all users

• Assist in supervision of staff, researchers, and students in relevant areas.

• Provide training in a variety of animal procedures, husbandry and operational duties.

• Cage cleaning and preparation and use of cleaning and sterilising equipment

• Assist with quarterly health monitoring programs, including sample preparation for routine pathology reports.

• Assist with animal ethics committee applications. Undertake experimental procedures in accordance with approval conditions, assist with, and ensure compliance with any associated regulatory and reporting requirements.

• Participation on the weekend/public holiday roster

About You  

Essential

• Completion of a Diploma or Certificate III level qualification in the animal technology industry or other related fields, or an equivalent combination of relevant work-related experience and/or Education/Training.

• Demonstrated experience in managing Complex Genetically Modified rodent production, colony management and genotyping techniques.

• Demonstrated significant experience in small laboratory animal care facilities

• Demonstrated clear and professional written and spoken communication skills

• Demonstrated understanding of the relevant regulatory requirements in regards to Animal Ethics, Biosafety, Biosecurity and Occupational Health and Safety

• Demonstrated strong customer service focus combined with a concern for animal welfare.

Desirable

• Experience and competence with techniques in rodents (injections, sample collection, surgery and euthanasia)

• Experience in supervision and training of staff/students

What We Can Offer 

This is a full-time, fixed-term position for 3 years at HEW level 4.

The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $68,735 - $72,968 plus super of 17%. The total FTE package will be in the range $80,420 - $85,372 per annum. 

For further information about UQ’s benefits, please visit Why Work at UQ and review The University of Queensland's Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2018 - 2021 . 

To discuss this role please contact Karen Knox, Senior Manager (Acting) UQBR TRI BRF: [email protected]

For application queries, please contact [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject line. 

Want to Apply? 

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Cover letter

• Responses to the ‘About You’ section

• Resume 

Please note that you will be asked to add all documents into the one upload box during the application form.

About the Selection Process 

To satisfy pre-requisite questions and ensure your application can be considered in full, all candidates must apply via the UQ Careers portal by the job closing deadline or will not be accepted. 

Other Information 

Medical Clearance : Working with laboratory animals is an inherent requirement of the position. The appointment is therefore subject to, and conditional upon, satisfactory medical clearance(s), including disclosure of relevant medical history, to undertake such work without unreasonable risk to your health and safety. In addition, the Employee is required to fully comply with necessary ongoing health monitoring procedures and control measures associated with the position

Vaccinations and Immunisation : It is a condition of employment for this role that if you are required now or in the future, to work or interact in Queensland Health clinical facility; or in an equivalent, clinical health facility; or health care role; or will be required to perform work tasks that put you at risk of exposure to vaccine-preventable disease you are required to be immunised against, and remain immunised against, certain vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in accordance with the University’s Vaccinations and Immunisation Guidelines (PPL 2.60.08). The employee is required to provide evidence of immunisation against VPDs.

Work Rights:  You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. 

At UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion .  We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in our broader community, whether that be  gender identity ,  LGBTQIA+ ,  cultural and/or linguistic ,  Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples , or  people with a disability . Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to  [email protected]    

If you are a current employee of the University, or hold an unpaid or affiliate appointment with the University, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.