Bovine IVF Laboratory Technician

at  Vytelle

Job Title: Bovine IVF Laboratory Technician
Reporting to: International Manager of Laboratories
Direct Reports: None
Primary Location: Melbourne VIC, Australia
Salary Range: Commensurate with experience
Status: Full-Time

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Flexibility with workdays; IVF processes are time dependent and may include some weekend work.
• Ability to learn and follow specific techniques
• Outstanding attention to detail
• Quality driven
• Excellent manual dexterity and visual acuity
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Highly skilled communicator and relationship-builder
• Strong communication skills: Quality, Brevity, Clarity
• Risk tolerance and ability to deal with ambiguity
• “Figure It Out” skills
• Bias for execution
• Ability to understand new issues quickly and make wise decisions
• Ability to inspire confidence and create trust
• Ability to work under pressure and plan personal workload
• Ability to translate highly technical processes/products into practical customer
• solutions
• Balance between critical review and positive mindset
• An appreciation of and an ability to positively resolve issues arising from different cultures

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Diploma level qualification minimum / bachelor’s degree (highly desirable) in a relevant scientific field (veterinary medicine, livestock, bovine reproductive medicine or equivalent)
• Minimum 2 years related life science/ bovine IVF work experience
• Industry knowledge and a strong passion for IVF and/or eagerness to learn and commit
• Previous laboratory experience in an academic and/or professional setting
• Knowledge of oocyte, sperm and embryo biology
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to details and technicalities
• Excellent organizational and technical skills
• Excellent interpersonal and multi-tasking skills
• Ability to travel is required
• Must be proficient in English

ROLE OVERVIEW

We are looking for highly skilled Bovine IVF Laboratory Technicians as they will form an integral part of our global team to help bring certainty to genetic progress in livestock. Our IVF Technicians work alongside team members to perform all duties associated with embryo production, data entry, and communication while adhering to all laboratory standard operating procedures.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

• Complete Vytelle’s specialized training program designed to prepare team members for work in the IVF laboratory
• Work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment while adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs), processing directives, production standards, policies, health and safety directives and regulations
• Maintain flexibility for working hours as IVF processes are time-dependent
• Follow established IVF processes including preparation of fertilization plates; washing, collecting and grading oocytes and maturation; semen processing; embryo culture processes including differentiating embryonic age, quality and other factors, observing cleavage after fertilization and moving viable embryos to new culture plates, evaluation, preparing embryos for loading and freezing
• Conduct oocyte quality assessment at collection; identify and report any anomalies detected during collections
• Assist with maintaining integrity of media
• Collection of semen samples and analyze and evaluate semen processing data
• Record and communicate oocyte collection including conducting laboratory experiments to observe and apply control mechanisms to ensure quality and successful embryo production rates
• Maintain embryo production data records through charts and reports
• Maintain accurate labeling and traceability of media and embryo production
• Assist with laboratory maintenance; sanitize working areas and equipment; follow production inventory by controlling quantity and quality of equipment in the laboratory and LN2 management protocols; maintain and calibrate test and processing equipment, glassware and plastic dishes and processing areas to ensure all supplies contained in the laboratory meets critical production standards
• Travel as required