Animal Technologist

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Animal Technician

Biological Services, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences

The University\’s Biological Services department is recruiting for a Animal Technician to join our busy team. After appropriate training, you will be involved in the basic care and welfare programmes for laboratory species used for medical research within Cardiff University.

You will need basic numeracy and literacy (for example NVQ 1/GCSE level D-G), and be able to evidence a caring attitude to animals, together with a proven ability to meet animals\’ husbandry and welfare needs.

We can offer you the chance to work in a vibrant organisation, with great benefits and opportunities for progression. We are a proud Living Wage supporter.

Please contact CallawaySA@cardiff.ac.uk for an informal, confidential discussion about the role.

This post is fixed term for 2 years, full-time (35 hours per week) and is available to commence as soon as possible.

Salary: £23,176 – £24,344 per annum (Grade 2)

Your employment is conditional on a satisfactory health screening review which shows no pre-existing animal related allergy. In the event that the health screening confirms an allergy, due to health and safety implications, it will not be possible to confirm your appointment and the offer of employment will be withdrawn.

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 6 August 2025

Closing date: Wednesday, 20 August 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE

Providing technical support to the animal research community of Cardiff University

As the biggest university in Wales – and a major employer, with more than 7,000 staff – we are an ambitious and innovative university located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. We can offer you the chance to work in a vibrant organisation, with great benefits and opportunities for progression.

Duties And Responsibilities

Key Duties

• To ensure the husbandry and welfare of a range of small laboratory animal species, recognising when to refer a problem to others.
• To work in a manner that ensures compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
• To maintain accurate records as required under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
• To ensure compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for various tasks relating to the role.
• To assist in the maintenance of breeding colonies (under delegation) including accurate record keeping of breeding performance, updating databases and analysing routine data/information as required.
• To handle and respond appropriately to routine enquiries from internal customers, following established procedures, ensuring messages/calls/instructions are promptly referred to the relevant people for action.
• To ensure information linked to cost recovery within BIOSV is timely and accurately recorded.
• To ensure area of responsibility (holding rooms and procedure rooms) are maintained to exacting standards of hygiene through cleaning and undertaking routine care of equipment (e.g. PAT Testing).
• To assist with ancillary tasks such as deliveries of animals and consumables and disposal of waste: clinical, offensive and recycling.
• To participate actively within the work team, setting an example and showing a flexible approach to delivering team results.

General Duties

• Abide by all University policies and undergo appropriate personal and professional development.
• Perform other duties which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.
• Uphold the Professional Services Values & Behaviours or local equivalent.

Please note: A Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check, occupational health assessment and security screening will be carried out for the successful candidate.

Person Specification

We want to employ people with a wide variety of experiences. We welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We are particularly seeking applications from candidates who come from backgrounds that are underrepresented at the University, including people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.

We are looking for a team player who will work with colleagues to provide a great service to staff and students. You don’t need to have worked for a University before; this is an opportunity to show your potential and start or continue your career at Cardiff University.

Your application will be assessed against the following essential and desirable criteria for the role. Please copy and paste this section into a new document and give clear examples of how you can evidence meeting each criteria by writing under each one. You can draw on elements from any aspect of your life (e.g. work, home, education/qualifications or community life) as long as you focus on their relevance to the role.

Please note that these are also the criteria shortlisted applicants will be assessed against at interview and/or by other means (e.g. a skills test).

Essential Criteria

• Minimum of 5 GCSE’s
• Evidence of a caring attitude to animals and a proven ability to meet the husbandry and welfare needs of the animals.
• Experience of recording data into template forms (e.g. Excel/word)
• Evidence of effectively communicating information, both orally and in writing
• Evidence of working well as a team member and providing advice and guidance to other team members where necessary
• Evidence of dealing promptly, effectively and courteously with requests for information or services
• An awareness of the need for strict confidentiality
• A willingness to work weekends and Bank holidays on a rota basis
• Proven ability to follow instructions and work independently within set procedures/practices
• A willingness to undertake further training and development

Desirable Criteria

• Work related experience or NVQ level 2 in an animal care course.
• Experience of using and maintaining basic laboratory equipment.
• Experience of working in a technical support environment.
• Organised approach to work and flexible in response to changes in the daily activity levels.
• Ability to speak/understand Welsh or a willingness to learn.

Additional Information

Confidentiality essential

Willingness to work weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis

How We Will Support You In Performing This Role

We want to support and develop you in the role, using a combination of the following to help you reach your full potential.

• Regular one-to-one meetings with your team leader.
• An experienced and supportive team around you.
• Support to undertake job-relevant training and development, as identified by your Line Manager. This could be informal or could be an apprenticeship leading to a formal qualification, such as Business administration NVQ.
• A staff mentoring scheme.
• Support to learn Welsh or to update language skills.
• Voluntary wellbeing checks (for jobs in Security and Campus Facilities).

Salary Range Min.

23,176

Salary Range Max.

23,414

Job Category

Technical

Grade

Grade 2 #J-18808-Ljbffr