ANIMAL TECHNICIAN I (BAND LEVEL 3)
Animal Care and Veterinary Resources
(Contractual Position to March 31, 2026; Possibility of Extension)

BACKGROUND

We are growing! Animal Care and Veterinary Resources (ACVR) at Memorial University is responsible for the oversight of all animal care and use at the University and its affiliated institutes. Program services are delivered through four core facilities associated with the St. John's campus, along with several satellite facilities. ACVR is responsible for maintaining and operating the program within the federally-mandated guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care to ensure program compliance for institutional accreditation. Development activities are focused on enhancing the programs, facilities and services to position Memorial University as a location of distinction for the highest standards of animal care and use, while ensuring further growth in research.

DUTIES

The successful applicant will perform technical work, in a team environment, caring for laboratory research animals. ACVR is a multi-species and multi-facility unit, as such, the successful applicant must have the ability to work with various lab animal species, and is expected to work in each facility as required. This is a junior technical position that requires significant on-the-job learning in regards to laboratory animal species-specific care and husbandry practices. Duties include providing clean feed, bedding, and enrichment for animals including swine and rodent species, performs routine animal cage change and swine room cleaning and enrichment procedures; daily evaluation of animals for normal/abnormal status of assigned animals, reporting any problems to the Veterinarian. Dependent upon experience, may assist Clinical or Senior Technical staff with animal handling and restraint. Maintains and submits required written records, charts, logs, and inventories as required; performs routine facility sanitation procedures of all functional work areas according to sanitation standards; acts as back-up for cage wash staff for sanitation and disinfection of caging and equipment in a mechanical environment; performs other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience (1-3 years) in feeding and caring for animals in a laboratory or clinical environment; graduation from a veterinary technology or assistant program; or any equivalent combination of experience and training. Experience working in a laboratory animal research environment with knowledge of handling, restraining, observing, and caring for a variety of laboratory animals and/or operation of various types of facility sanitation equipment is preferred. Good oral and written English communication skills. Ability to follow directions, be thorough in performing assigned tasks, and to organize work. Ability to use a computer, read and interpret documents such as operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. The candidate must be able to lift 40 lbs., work in a laboratory animal environment, and be available to work some weekend and holiday rotations as required.

SALARY $47,057 - $55,196 per annum (CUPE Local 1615)

CLOSING DATE April 8, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. NST

COMPETITION NUMBER MUN03165

Please note that we will ONLY accept applications for this position through our website https://www.mun.ca/hr/careers/

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, preference will be given to applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. Memorial University is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, people of any sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; Indigenous peoples; visible minorities and racialized people; and people with disabilities.

The personal information requested in your application is collected under the authority of the Memorial University Act (RSNL 1990 c M-7) for the purpose of identifying and recruiting candidates; assessing applicant qualifications; and maintaining records pertaining to the administration of employment with Memorial University of Newfoundland.

If you are a successful candidate, this information will form part of your permanent employment record and will be used for other activities related to the employment process. This information may be disclosed to government departments and agencies as legally required; and to third party service providers, as necessary to administer programs and activities.

If you have any questions about the collection, use and disclosure of the information on this form, please contact MyHR, Department of Human Resources, at [email protected].

Please be advised that we are unable to provide updates on current competitions.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.