Animal Care Technician, Animal Resource Centre

Description

The Animal Resource Centre in the Cumming School of Medicine is currently seeking a Full-time Limited Term Animal Care Technician for approximately 24 months.

This position reports to the Manager, Animal Units in the Health Sciences Animal Resource Centre.

This position plays an important role in the provision of animal research service and supports all aspects of animal welfare. Responsible for completing all aspects of the animal welfare and husbandry process. May be a risk for developing allergies from animals or latex. The Animal Resource Centre is a highly complex facility, requiring flexibility in the work schedule to accommodate peak times and emergencies.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Provides animal care for all species of laboratory animals used in research, which includes feeding, watering and changing cages following Standard Operating Procedures for prevention of exposure to disease
• Monitors and assesses general animal health, and reports problems to the Veterinarian or appropriate lab technician
• Provides basic treatment for animals under direction of Facility Veterinarian, carries out technical procedures such as subcutaneous, foot pad, IP injections, tissue sampling, sephonous blood sampling, urine, blood glucose monitoring, fecal collection, checking plugs, palpating for pg, irradiating mice, setting up breeding pairs, euthanization of animals and colony management
• Induction, maintenance and monitoring of animals under anaesthesia
• Provides custodial duties to maintain facility sanitation procedures
• Interacts with facility users in a pleasant and respectful manner
• Ensures at all times that work complies with animal, facility and good laboratory standards
• Keeps supervisor informed of activities and seeks problem solving assistance where required, as well as bringing forward suggestions for more efficient operation of the unit
• Responsible for operation and basic maintenance of equipment
• Responsible for keeping skills up-to-date and taking courses that will assist in personal and professional development
• Works with chemicals and medications safely and properly, e.g. dilutions, using appropriately marked containers and using protective gear

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Carries out duties independently, with minimal supervision
• Provides well developed, consistent technical support and animal care services to users of the Animal Resources Centre facility and ensure that proper procedures are always followed. Ensures that other HSARC staff and users also follow proper procedures through education and guidance
• Acts as a resource and provides coaching to Researchers, Lab personnel and Graduate Students as well as other staff within the HSARC
• Provides care of animals used in research in compliance with the University and Canadian Council of Animal Care, failure to do so could impact on the animal care and research outcomes
• Efficient and proficient use of IRISS and the animal tracking system (MOSAIC) to access pertinent information about protocol activities and animal usage occurring within the HSARC
• Uses good judgment and problem‑solving skills to identify and report health problems with animals
• Provides basic treatments for animals as directed by the Veterinarian, including administering medications, sampling for and performance of diagnostic tests, as well as euthanization of animals as the need arises
• Interacts with staff members and users of the facility, in a pleasant helpful manner
• Must follow strict safety standards to avoid disease or contamination
• Operates equipment and performs equipment maintenance, following safety regulations always
• Provide regular maintenance and ensure safe operation of equipment in the area such as laminar flow change stations, ventilated caging systems, autoclave and anesthetic delivery systems, as well as assess needs for and evaluation of new equipment
• Keeps records and performs procedures used for research animal identification in the animal tracking system (MOSAIC)
• Provides animal care for all species of laboratory animals used in research, which includes feeding, watering and changing cages following Standard Operating Procedures for prevention of exposure to disease
• Proper and proficient use of animal tracking systems to ensure that data and animal information is current and up to date
• Detailed record keeping using the animal management system (MOSAIC) is required for a variety of tasks, including cage maintenance, breeding colonies and animal identification, ear notching and tagging and weaning animals, billing records, population census along with other duties and responsibilities. This includes daily log sheets and monthly log sheets, wherever applicable
• Monitors and assesses general animal health and reports problems to the Veterinarian or appropriate lab technician
• Provides basic treatment for animals under direction of the Veterinarian, carries out technical procedures such as subcutaneous IP injections, tissue sampling,…