Animal Care Technician

Staff - UnionJob CategoryCUPE 116Job ProfileCUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 2Job TitleAnimal Care TechnicianDepartmentResearch Support | Centre for Comparative Medicine | Animal Care ServicesCompensation Range$4, $4,845.00 CAD MonthlyPosting End DateMarch 26, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Sept 18, 2025

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

This position is responsible for directly supporting the animal-based research community within the University of British Columbia by providing high level animal care in working closely with the Clinical Veterinarians and Animal Care Teams. The Animal Care Technician (ACT) will provide facility support within the Centre for Comparative Medicine, including basic animal husbandry duties, cage processing, laundry and general facility maintenance.

CCM Technicians are responsible for the daily maintenance and care of specific species of small and large laboratory animals. The position requires thorough knowledge of working with animals exposed to hazardous and bio-hazardous agents, and radioactive compounds. Due to the work involving the use of potentially hazardous material, the use of personal protective equipment, annual TB testing, and adherence to strict safety protocols is expected.

The Centre for Comparative Medicine (CCM) is a rapidly growing and dynamic environment in which staff partner with researchers from both academia and industry. The research encompasses a broad range of topics from furthering our understanding of basic medical sciences, to enhancing our abilities to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease in human and non-human animals.

Organizational Status

This position reports to the CCM Supervisor and may take direction from the CCM Assistant Supervisor. ACTs work closely with the Registered Veterinary Technologists (RVTs) and UBC veterinarians.

CCM is a multi-species facility specialized in supporting animal research at UBC through surgical support, training, diagnostic and pathology support as well as housing. As part of UBC Animal Care Services (ACS), the largest animal care program in Western Canada and the second largest in Canada, CCM is responsible for providing research support to the animal-based research community associated with the University of British Columbia and its affiliates through its veterinary services team, the compliance team, the training team, the procurement team and its facilities. ACS is committed to providing excellence in research support to all UBC researchers with accountability, communication, cooperation, customer service and integrity. ACS reports to the Vice President Research & Innovation.

Work Performed

Providing consistent, high quality and compassionate care to all animals in accordance with the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) guidelines and established research protocols.

Responsible for providing basic husbandry, handling, and restraint for large and small animal species on a daily basis. Duties include health, behavior and welfare surveillance of laboratory animals; along with continuous awareness of current species-specific welfare issues, such as common signs of illness, pain, trauma or depression, in accordance with Canadian Council of Animal Care guidelines. Other duties include: performing rounds to observe and check the physical health and well-being of laboratory animals; isolating infected or ill animals and reporting to veterinarian, and general housekeeping and maintenance of facility and equipment.

Operating a bedding vacuum system, bottle filling system, high pressure spray units and autoclaves.

Maintaining and sanitizing assigned animal rooms, performing appropriate decontamination methods and procedures, including mixing of appropriate cleaning solutions and chemicals to disinfect and sanitize bottles, pails, pans, cages, pens and entire work area.

Cage and laundry processing duties including but not limited to: Operating rack and tunnel washers; assembling clean cage units; ensuring equipment is available and ready at appropriate times, prioritizing laundry tasks and treat soiled laundry to produce clean linen, when required; conducting inventory of consumable supplies as required for cage and laundry processing.

General upkeep and cleaning of the facility, including disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

Performing and reporting periodic minor maintenance, adjustment, repair, and setup tasks of facility related equipment to support facility activities.

May assist RVTs or veterinarians in performing minor techniques, such as blood collection, injections and collecting biological samples for diagnostic purposes.

May support the UBC Animal Care and Use (ACUP) Training Program in basic tasks such as set-up and take-down of training areas.

Demonstrate and explain T2 duties and tasks to new hires.

Assists CCM research staff and users with animal care procedures and techniques.

Follow all safety standards, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and policies.

Recommends revisions to existing policies and procedures to the CCM Supervisors.

Receives and packs live animal shipments.

Packages, labels, processes biological, biochemical, radioactive and hazardous materials out of the facility.

Treat confidentially all information related to research projects, personnel, and locations and agrees not to disclose any such information to any person except as may be necessary in the proper discharge of work obligations.

Keep abreast of developments in the field of animal husbandry and welfare, participating in continuing education programs and maintains necessary certifications.

Report any safety concerns to the ACS Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee (JOHSC).

Perform other related tasks as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Initiative and oversight will be needed to supervise maintenance and stocking activities of medical supplies in the work area. This person must be willing to pay attention to details, be aware of pitfalls and be willing to repeat tasks if necessary. Most of the procedures will require following a protocol already in place. However, there is room for innovative thinking to improve upon existing protocols and provide input into the direction of the project. These positions are expected to exercise some initiative and judgment in establishing priorities and carrying tasks through to completion; new or unusual problems would be referred to supervisor. Incorrect decisions could result in deterioration of animal health, including mortality, and/or disruption or ruination of a research study. Inappropriate judgment exercised by the position may impact the success of the facility, leading to increased expenses and time loss. Inappropriate judgment concerning the use of controlled substances could lead to legal action against the University or revoking of provincial licenses currently held by the University veterinarians.

Supervision Received

Works under general supervision in carrying out familiar phases of duties and responsibilities; receives instructions during orientation and on subsequent new assignments or changes in procedures.

Supervision Given

May distribute work assignments to employees at lower classification levels and initiate new employees into routines, procedures and operation of equipment.

Minimum Qualifications
High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field or graduation from a technical college or institute.

• B.Sc. degree in an animal related field and/or AHT diploma an asset.

• CALAS Registered Laboratory Animal Technician (RLAT) preferred.

• Experience in working with small and large animals in a research capacity.

• Experience working in a CL2 environment.

• Working with industry and/or research teams an asset.

• Must demonstrate a sound theoretical and working knowledge of the principles and practice of laboratory animal science and working knowledge of veterinary technology, biomedical research, medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and intensive/critical care.

• Effective oral and written communication, interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work both independently and within a team environment.

• Ability to be thorough, accurate, and have a high level of attention to detail.

• Ability to perform the physical demands of the job including: working in humid environments with varying temperatures; continuous exposure to animal dander, odors, excreta, dust, and noise, including potentially lethal pathogens and radioisotopes.

• Able to lift up to 25 kgs several times throughout the day and work in an environment that requires continuous walking, bending, stooping, reaching, twisting and turning.

• Ability to operate job-related equipment.

• Ability to effectively use software at a moderate level (e.g., Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel, MOSAIC, Workday).

• Ability to read and comprehend technical material.

• Be willing to maintain and upgrade training.

• Ability to train others.

• Ability to understand and apply policies, SOPs, instructions and applicable Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) guidelines.

• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.

• Ability to listen actively and attentively, and obtain clarification as required.

• Ability to deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner.

• Ability to work toward consensus and resolve differences.

• Ability to demonstrate a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships.

• Ability to resolve complaints and interpersonal conflict in a calm, non-confrontational manner, and by exercising sound judgment.

• Ability to work weekends, evenings and statutory holidays.

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