At a Glance
- Tasks: Care for animals, maintain hygiene, assist vets, and provide enrichment activities.
- Company: Join a leading veterinary school with a compassionate team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, staff discounts, and gym access.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for career growth and additional shifts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal care while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Experience with animals, teamwork skills, and a full driving licence required.
The predicted salary is between 20874 - 22780 £ per year.
Grade UE04: £26,093- £28,778 pro rata per annum (based on a 35 hour week)
CMVM- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Part Time: 8 hours per week. 7am-4pm shift time working both Saturday and Sunday every other week (TBC with successful candidate)
Open Ended: Permanent Contract
The Opportunity
Are you passionate about animal care and ready to make a real difference? This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a leading veterinary and teaching hospital, where your work directly supports the health and wellbeing of a wide range of animals. We’re proud of our dynamic and compassionate team of vets, nurses, and assistants—all united by a shared commitment to delivering exceptional patient care. Now, we’re looking for someone equally dedicated to join our Animal Care Team.
Role
This is a hands-on, fast-paced position that plays a vital role in the care of our weekend hospitalised patients. You’ll be involved in a variety of essential tasks, including:
- Cleaning and maintaining kennels, wards and clinical areas to the highest hygiene standards
- Supporting hospital’s infection control protocols
- Feeding and grooming inpatients
- Walking dogs and providing enrichment
- Assisting vets and nurses with procedures involving dogs, cats, and exotic species
- Managing laundry and general patient care duties
Training & Support
We offer a comprehensive 6–8 week training programme to help you settle into the role. You’ll normally shadow our friendly and experienced team during standard daytime hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm) to build your confidence and skills. Any hours worked beyond your contracted time during training will be paid as overtime.
Your Skills And Attributes For Success
- Experience working with animals in a veterinary setting is essential.
- Ability to work alone as well as part of a team is essential.
- Excellent communication skills are essential to this role.
- Full, clean driving licence is essential.
Application Information
Please ensure you include the following documents in your application: CV, Cover letter.
As a valued member of our team you can expect:
- Staff discount for pet treatment.
- Amazing onsite perks:
- Staff discount for on-site gym and exercises classes
- Free car parking with electric car charging points
- Two on site canteens.
- Cycle to work scheme, on-site bike lockers and showers available.
- Additional shift cover opportunities are available, accruing paid overtime for additional hours worked.
- Holiday entitlement of 36 days and 4 days public holiday per annum for full time staff (pro rata).
- A competitive salary.
- An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
- To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
- Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives.
Championing equality, diversity and inclusion. The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants will therefore be unable to apply for and secure a Skilled Worker visa. They will only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Key dates to note: The closing date for applications is 12 December 2025. Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browser's local time zone. Interviews dates to be confirmed.
About Us: As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
About The Team: The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is a one-of-a-kind centre of excellence in clinical activity, teaching and research. Our purpose-built campus, set against the Pentland Hills Regional Park, is home to over 800 staff and a thriving student community.
The School comprises the Roslin Institute, three veterinary hospitals, a pathology unit, innovation centre and a range of research centres and services. We represent one of the largest concentrations of animal science expertise in Europe, impacting local, regional, national and international communities in terms of economic growth, the provision of clinical services and the advancement of scientific knowledge.
Education: The School is widely accredited, enabling our graduates to practise across the globe. We are ranked among the best vet schools in the UK and internationally, evidencing our leadership in veterinary education, research and clinical practice.
Research Impact: In a joint submission to the latest UK Research Excellence Framework exercise, research at the School and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) ranked number one in the UK for agriculture, food and veterinary sciences by combining ratings for each institution. The research environment was rated 100 per cent world leading or internationally excellent, as was the impact of our research on society.
Community: The School holds Athena SWAN Silver, and the Roslin Institute Gold. The campus is home to a thriving and diverse community of staff and students, with access to facilities including allotments, cycle facilities, fitness trails, restaurants and a gym.
Animal Care Assistant - Weekend in Edinburgh employer: The University of Edinburgh
Join the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies as an Animal Care Assistant and become part of a compassionate team dedicated to animal health and wellbeing. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer comprehensive training, generous holiday entitlement, and unique onsite perks such as gym discounts and electric car charging points. Our vibrant community fosters inclusivity and collaboration, making it an exciting place to work in the heart of Edinburgh.
Contact Details:
The University of Edinburgh Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Animal Care Assistant - Weekend in Edinburgh
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We think you need these skills to ace Animal Care Assistant - Weekend in Edinburgh
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