Research Animal Care Technician-Facility Coordinator

Department: Human Health and Nutritional Sciences
Position covered by the Collective Agreement with USW Local 4120

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant.

SuccessFactors: Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

General Purpose

The Research Animal Care Technician/facility coordinator is responsible for animal health and welfare, facility maintenance, and training of animal and facility users.Currently, our facility has 15 rooms, housing 3 different species with anywhere from 5-100 cages/room.

They will provide training and support on animal husbandry and policies to faculty, staff, and students.

Duties and Responsibilities

This position will be responsible for the daily upkeep on monitoring of the HHNS Animal Facility in accordance with the recommended guidelines of the Canadian Council of Animal Care (CCAC), the University Animal Care Committee (ACC) and the University Health and Safety committee.

They will also be responsible for:

• Facility management and oversight, including coordination and delegation to other staff and volunteers
• Facility inspections and monitoring for safety, health hazards and CCAC compliance
• Equipment operation, cleaning, and maintenance (where possible), cleaning and loading cage washers and preparing rooms, complying with the SOP and research protocols
• Reviewing facilities for biohazard issues and overseeing biohazard protocols, compliance, and disposal
• Management of the physical and psychological well-being of animals by maintaining environmental comfort, social interactions, and freedom from pain
• Daily animal care and monitoring health per husbandry requirements
• Administration and monitoring of anaesthetics and analgecis, injections, etc. being cognizant of a variety of pharmaceuticals including dosage, pharmacological dynamics, and treatment durations
• Performing fecal and urine collections and sample analysis
• Animal tagging and/or other identification methods
• Disease monitoring
• Maintaining animal care records
• Maintaining records of use of controlled substances (narcotics, etc.)
• Inspecting, maintaining and monitoring facility equipment and managing as required
• Cage cleaning and management of cage and room environments including decontamination, sterilization/sanitization, filter changes, and inspections
• Ordering and receiving shipments relating to the facility
• Developing and recommending SOPs for animal facilities and updating and maintaining compliance with animal care legislation, health and safety requirements, etc.
• Liaising with other animal users and facilities staff
• Supporting faculty and students with information about animal husbandry, research protocols, etc. as required

Requirements

• Two year community college diploma in Veterinary Technology or a related field
• Registered Veterinary Technician or Registered Laboratory Animal Technician designation
• 24 months’ previous experience including practical experience in animal husbandry
• Knowledge of animal life-support systems and their operation
• A working knowledge of: Animals for Research Act, Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals, and CCAC guidelines

Employee Type: Regular
Position Number: 10911747
Classification: USW, Local 4120 Salary: Band 5
USW Local 4120 Wage Grid

Delete if not applicable:
*Tentative evaluation; subject to final review.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 09/18/2024
Closing Date: 09/25/2024