ABOUT US

Animal Care and Veterinary Services’ (ACVS) vision is: Advancing excellence in research through collaborative and innovative service, education, and animal welfare.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Formal certification in ‘Animal Care Husbandry’ via a recognized post-secondary institution
• RLAT certification is preferred

Experience:

• Two years of recent experience providing animal husbandry within a professional setting
• One year experience providing lab animal husbandry within an ACVS-directly managed facility, or equivalent Canadian research setting is preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to provide timely, and consistent animal husbandry and care in alignment with all policies, procedures and Standard Operating Procedures specific to Western’s animal care and use program and ACVS-directly managed facilities
• Demonstrated multi-sensory understanding of and response to animal ‘health and welfare’ observations for multiple research species in the context of approved Animal Use Protocols
• Demonstrated ability to effectively restrain multiple research animal species
• Ability to administer treatments to sick animals by following pre-approved Sick Animal Response algorithms while under the direct supervision of a SAR Technician or ACVS Veterinarian
• Proven attention to detail, organizational and multi-tasking skills with the ability to maintain accurate records
• Proven ability to work successfully in a team environment, e.g. supportive of team-members, active contributor to team goal-setting and achievement
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with peers, clients and supervisors in a timely fashion
• Ability to maintain a high degree of diplomacy, composure, and confidentiality
• Moderate computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite; proficiency with email communications, web form completion, and basic database entry
• Ability to follow ACVS’s Code of Conduct, including but not limited to: strong customer service orientation; proven team participant; proven effective communicator; proven discretion & diplomacy
• Demonstrated ability to consistently utilize ergonomically sound processes in accordance with Western’s Rehabilitation Services assessments and Occupational Health & Safety guidelines while performing the physical activities

In accordance with all standard operating procedures and ergonomically sound practices, the Animal Care Technician is primarily responsible to undertake: husbandry for research animals and related documentation within ACVS-directly managed facilities; animal rooms maintenance and documentation; cage supplies stocking, preparation and disposal; facilities, equipment/supplies maintenance and cleaning; sick animal response reporting; and support for the Animal Facility Maintenance Attendant as required during periods of increased demand, as assigned by ACVS management. The role must understand research animal norms and common species-specific conditions. The role must be available to work with all species in all areas of the facilities as described on the approved Animal Use Protocols (AUPs) and in accordance with operational requirements, e.g. weekdays, evenings, weekends, holidays. As with all positions within ACVS, this role requires the individual to consistently demonstrate sincere compassion for research animals, high adaptability, attention to detail, efficient multi-tasking, effective teamwork and communications skills, and discretion.