Vivarium Coordinator

Date Posted:05/30/2024

Req ID: 37623

Faculty/Division:
UofT Scarborough

Department:

UTSC:
Animal Facilities

Campus:
University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Position Number:

Description:

About us:

The University of Toronto Scarborough is a place of energy, enthusiasm and passion. Our commitment to inclusive excellence attracts the brightest learners, scholars and employees from around the globe.

Our success has been made possible by the opportunity given to us by our Indigenous hosts to operate on their territory, and we cherish our continuing partnerships with these communities.

The University of Toronto Scarborough is an exciting campus with unlimitedpotential. Join us on our journey.

The University of Toronto Scarborough's Vivarium, located within the Office of the Vice-Principal Research & Innovation, takes pride in ensuring the highest standards of animal care.

Our facilities support animal housing, research, and teaching for a variety of species including rodents (mice, rats), hummingbirds, and fish (freshwater & saltwater).

We provide a welcoming, service-oriented, clean, and safe research and teaching environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Your opportunity:

Under the general direction of the Vivarium Director and working closely with Principal Investigators, the Vivarium Coordinator & Technician provides advanced animal and research technical support.

The individual will support the vivarium in training vivarium and lab staff and students on various animal research techniques, the use of equipment, disinfection practices, and animal care.

The incumbent is also responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the vivarium lab and related administrative duties, such as writing/editing standard operation procedures, animal imports/exports and sampling processing.

The individual will also provide on-call support for the vivarium when Vivarium Director is away.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Provides training to vivarium staff, faculty, researchers, and students on the proper and safe use of equipment, animal care practices, and procedures (i.e., orientation training, detailed handson animal training, equipment, etc.,). Schedules user training.
• Serves as a technical resource on laboratory protocols, experimental procedures, and equipment. Assists faculty and researchers in conducting stereotaxic procedures, behavior, and other animal care or labbased research techniques.
• Creates and edits standard operating procedures (SOPs), working instructions, in collaboration with Principal Investigators, Vivarium Staff, and Central U of T initiatives
• Oversees daytoday operational needs for research animal vivarium. Including, ensuring laboratory spaces remains compliant, and that all personnel are informed of, and following procedures related to biosafety, equipment, and proper animal care.
• Providing safety training and ensuring compliance to lab safety procedures and standards
• Operates, maintains and troubleshoots equipment and ensures laboratory and vivarium spaces remain clean and organized.
• Maintains and performs administrative tasks using online cloudbased software. Makes minor purchases and orders. Verifies inventories.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience (e.g., graduate of a veterinary technology program and direct experience with duties and species)
• Minimum three years of recent and related experience providing administration and technical assistance in a vivarium, including animal care practices and regulatory oversight.
• Experience with a multitude of species (specifically, rats, mice, fish, and ideally birds) and a diverse range of research projects/working environments.
• Strong knowledge of vivarium operations (functions, equipment, redundancy, emergency procedures) and processes including the procurement of animals and equipment.
• Experience meeting vivarium and laboratory spaces compliance with regulatory standards (University, CCAC, OMAFRA, biosafety, etc).
• Experience working with vivarium and lab equipment including biological safety cabinets, autoclaves, fume hoods, stereotaxis apparatuses, microscopes, dissecting, etc.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suites e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accomplish assigned tasks within an unpredictable, fast paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work well in a busy teambased environment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong working knowledge of biosafety standards, animal use protocols, and WHMIS.
• Job requires a high level of muscular coordination and/or manual dexterity to execute precision movements (i.e., surgery).
• Applicants are also expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working envir

---