Animal Technician - MLC 2086
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 (Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 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.
Full time hours are 36 hours per week and part time hours are 18–24 hours per week.
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
Job descriptions should be reviewed on a regular basis and at the annual appraisal. Any changes should be made and agreed between the post-holder and their manager.
The above lists are not exhaustive and the post-holder is required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, cooperatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the MRC.
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 License
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
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.
