Experienced Animal Technician

LOCATION: Cambridge

SALARY: £26,942 - £30,805

REF: ALS 3033

Agenda are recruiting for an Experienced Animal Technician for one of their clients. The role is fundamental to enable cutting edge research to take place. The role will be responsible for delivering exceptional standards of animal welfare when carrying out a range of duties such as animal husbandry, observations, technical procedures, and various laboratory tasks.

You will support, mentor and train others, hold a Home Office Personal Licence enabling you to perform regulated procedures and hold a higher level of responsibilities.

Basic Requirements:

• Provide daily husbandry, including feeding, watering, and monitoring animal health and behaviour.
• Establish and manage breeding programs, including weaning, sexing, and applying appropriate identification methods.
• Maintain complex breeding strategies in collaboration with researchers, observing phenotypes and other relevant factors.
• Administer post-operative care and manage animals with specific phenotypic traits.
• Ensure compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to husbandry and procedural work.
• Maintain accurate records of environmental conditions, animal details, and procedures.
• Keep a personal log of training, competencies, and procedural activities as required by regulatory bodies.
• Monitor and review data input processes to ensure accuracy.
• Assist with experimental protocols, including dosing via standard routes (e.g., intraperitoneal, subcutaneous).
• Conduct procedural monitoring, such as body scoring, weighing, and tumour assessments.
• Monitor animal health status, reporting any adverse observations to relevant licence holders and welfare officers.
• Ensure all procedures comply with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and understand delegation protocols.
• Participate in reviewing experimental study forms and contribute to the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) process.
• Once authorised, provide technical assistance with experimental protocols including:

• Dosing using standard routes; intraperitoneal, subcutaneous etc.
• Undertaking procedural monitoring including body score observations, weighing and tumour monitoring.
• Monitor the health status of all animals through observation and regular health reports, reporting any adverse observations to the Personal Licence Holder, Project Licence Holder and NACWO.
• Has a good understanding of Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and performs duties in a way that complies with the legislation.
• Understands when procedures can be delegated to a non-Personal Licence Holder.
• Take an active role in reviewing experimental study forms and the AWERB review process.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide day to day husbandry, maintenance and care of animal colonies.
• Maintaining and establishing complex breeding strategies in liaison with researchers.
• Follow strict Standard Operating Procedures for husbandry and procedural work.
• Teach animal care skills and techniques to new technicians.
• Take an active role in reviewing documents and processes.
• Maintain detailed and accurate records relating to environmental conditions, animal details and procedure.
• Maintain a personal log of training, competencies and procedural activities as required by the home office.
• Provide technical assistance with experimental protocols to include dosing, observations and health status checks.
• Take an active role in reviewing experimental study forms and the AWERB review process.
• Promote and foster a Culture of Care including the 3R’s and our core values.