Animal Technician

About Flinders

Our bold vision, captured in our Strategic Plan: making a Difference: The 2025 Agenda, is to be internationally recognised as a world leader in research, an innovator in contemporary education, and the source of Australia’s most enterprising graduates.

To realise this ambition, we recently made a significant organisation change to a six College structure with a professional staff and services alignment.

We recognise the key to our success is exceptional people and we’re seeking an outstanding individual to join the team of our transformed university.

Employment Type:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Position Summary

Availability:
Fixed term until 02/02/2024 Full-Time
Compensation Grade:
Higher Education Officer Level 4
Salary Range:
$66,844-$72,093 p.a. + 17% superannuation.
Reporting to:
Animal Facility manager
Medicine & Public Health
The incumbent will support biomedical research by providing husbandry to a wide variety of species of research animals, and assistance to research programmes by carrying out breeding and technical procedures using established guidelines. They will engage in work that, in the main, is normally prescribed. They will operate within a framework of established procedures, workplace routines, deadlines and expectations. Under routine to general supervision, the incumbent is expected to consult with their supervisor on matters where activity cannot easily be determined by reference to past practices or established procedures.
No supervisory responsibilities are required for this position.

Key Position Responsibilities

The Animal Technician is accountable for:

• Ensuring best practice of animal care and wellbeing by providing animal husbandry including cleaning, feeding, watering and providing environmental enrichment to a variety of laboratory species.

• Breeding and maintaining colonies of in-bred, out-bred and genetically modified animals using established guidelines and procedures.

• Assisting with research programmes by carrying out technical procedures such as anaesthetising animals, taking blood and tissue samples, performing injections, gavages and minor operating procedures.

• Preparing and administering restricted drugs to animals for research purposes.

• Maintaining the health status and integrity of breeding and research animals by monitoring their health and wellbeing and being able to recognise illness in a variety of animals, assisting in their treatment and maintaining clinical record sheets.

• Maintaining records associated with the breeding colonies and research protocols using colony management software.

• Assisting with the preparation and implementation of Safe Work method statements/Standard operating procedures.

• Oversight of the rooms and animals within their area of supervision, including maintaining facility equipment, and providing guidance to Animal Assistant Trainees and work experience students.

• Inducting, training and supporting junior staff members, as well as inducting contractors as required.

• Capacity to supervise the Animal Facility in the absence of the Senior Animal Technician.

•  Out of hours work (including weekends or public holidays) according to roster requirements.

• Current drivers’ licence and willingness to drive the Animal Facility vehicle when required.

• Any other responsibilities in line with the level of the position as assigned by the Supervisor and/or the University.

Key Position Capabilities

• Certificate III in Animal Studies with extensive relevant work experience or equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

• Demonstrated effective communication skills, both written and interpersonal.

• Demonstrated experience in animal surgery including anaesthesia, pre and post-operative   procedures.

• Demonstrable experience and commitment to working with research and genetically modified animals.

• Demonstrable experience in the maintenance of Breeding colonies of Mice, Rats, Rabbits and Guineapigs including Genetically modified animals

• Demonstrable experience in health monitoring and maintaining records.

• Sound knowledge of maintenance of barrier conditions and husbandry of laboratory, native, domestic and farm animals held for research.

• Demonstrable experience in the supervision of staff will be looked upon favourably.

• Knowledge and familiarity with current animal welfare legislation, PC2 and/or quarantine containment requirements, and previous experience working with animals other than laboratory species will be looked upon favourably

Prescribed Conditions for Employment

• A valid National Police Certificate which is satisfactory to the University will also be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.

• Please note that you may be required to provide evidence that you are up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, in line with the Flinders University COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

• Successful candidates are required to undertake allergy testing to identify if they have any animal related allergies that may create a risk or impede on their ability to perform animal facility duties so that reasonable adjustments can be considered if required

How to Apply 

Please review the Key Position Capabilities of the position description and submit a Suitability Statement of no more than 3 pages addressing the criteria. Applications without a Suitability Statement may not be considered. For more information, please see our How To Apply page. 

For more information regarding this position, please contact Roxanne Collingwood

Click here to view the Position Description

Information for Applicants:

A valid National Police Certificate which is satisfactory to the University will also be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.

We are seeking to increase the diversity to improve equal opportunity outcomes for employees, and therefore we encourage female applicants, people with a disability and/or from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders descent to apply.

Please note, late applications and applications sent via agencies will not be accepted.

Applications Close 11:59pm:

27 Nov 2022