Internal Only - Senior Animal Technician

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This post is currently open to employees of Cardiff University only.  Please do not apply if you do not have a current contract of employment with the University.

Internal Only - Senior Animal Technician

A full-time, open-ended position is available with immediate effect in Biological Services (BIOSV) within the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences.  Aligned to our well established high standards for animal care, candidates should have a proven track record in laboratory animal management.

Salary:  £19,612 - £21,814 per annum (Grade 3).  It is not expected that an appointment be made above £19,612 per annum, point 11.

Closing date: Thursday, 5 August 2021

External applications are currently not being considered for this post.  If the decision is made to open the post to external candidates, the strapline at the top will be removed and you will be given ample time to apply – please check back periodically for details.

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Job Description

Provide a service within BIOSV managed areas to colleagues and research groups by maintaining levels of relevant materials, along with ensuring equipment is regularly serviced and repaired if necessary. Advising, training and supervising staff and students on the appropriate use of such materials and equipment using established guidelines. Other basic technical support to research groups will be expected such as health monitoring, euthanasia and tissue harvesting. Key duties include:

• Maintain rooms & equipment as necessary ensure area of responsibility is kept sterile, clean, tidy and in good working order.
• Provision of Home Office regulated techniques under BIOSV licenses & other scientific licences where applicable.
• Cleaning, feeding & watering experimental, breeding & stock animals.
• Basic pre and post-operative health care under guidance.
• Undertake stock control, ensuring adequate security and levels of stock are maintained and stock is distributed/disposed of as required
• Deal with routine enquires from internal and external customers in a professional manner, following established procedures, referring complex enquires to relevant staff members, ensuring all relevant facts and information needed is recorded and passed on.
• Assist in the maintenance of breeding colonies including accurate record keeping of breeding performance, updating databases and analysing routine data/information as required.
• Recording room environmental data on a daily basis.
• Record keeping of receipt & issue of animals; including, where applicable, details of health monitoring, experimental procedures & post-operative care routines to assist staff in the preparation of technical data/materials for future reference such as publication or teaching purposes
• Aligned to the BIOSV service levels, contribute to planning and managing small projects ensuring the effective use of resources

• Participate actively within the work team, setting an example and showing a flexible approach to delivering team results.
• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

1.   Proven track record of lab animal care including maintaining breeding colonies of normal and GAAs
2.   Evidence of knowledge and use of Health and Safety regimes specific to animal research facilities
Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

3.   Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a wide range of people in both verbal and written form, to
include where necessary the provision of accurately recorded data
4.   Evidence of working well as an effective team member, providing advice and guidance to other team members where necessary
5.   Ability to deal promptly, effectively and courteously with requests for information or service
6.   Be willing to work weekends and Bank Holidays on a rota basis
Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving

7.   Ability to use initiative in solving problems and responding to queries ensuring compliance with standard procedures, practices and relevant legislation
8.   Ability to work on own initiative and unsupervised to deadlines, planning, organising and setting priorities for own work, as well as managing small projects if appropriate
Qualifications and Education

9.   IAT qualified to Certificate level or equivalent level NVQ
10.  Either Home Office personal licence or Certificate indicating successful course completion of HO modules 1-2-3 or a minimum of 5 GCSEs to include a biological science
Desirable Criteria
1.    A willingness to undertake further training and development
2.    Involvement in occasional basic training or supervision of trainee animal technicians and/or researchers

Additional Information

To provide technical support to Research Programmes using laboratory animals within the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences on the Heath and Cathays Park campuses.