Auxiliary Animal Care Technician

Staff - Union

Job Category

CUPE 116

Job Profile

CUPE 116 Hourly - Research Assistant /Technician 2

Job Title

Auxiliary Animal Care Technician

Department

Research Support | Modified Barrier Facility | Animal Care Services

Compensation Range

$27.24 - $29.82 CAD Hourly

Posting End Date

October 17, 2025

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

Job End Date

Ongoing

Full-time during training (6-8 weeks). Casual, on-call ongoing based on seniority, operational needs and availability of employee. Employee must provide a minimum of 1 shift per week availability. Shifts are not guaranteed.

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 Description 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 Modified Barrier Facility (MBF).

Animal Care Technicians (ACTs) within the Modified Barrier Facility are responsible for the daily maintenance and care of small laboratory animals. These positions ensure the cleanliness of the facility and the maintenance of adequate supplies of food and bedding materials. The successful incumbent ensures the highest quality of laboratory animal care and research support by pursuing and improving methods of animal husbandry and resource utilization.

The Animal Care Technician will work together with other technicians and veterinarians in a time-sensitive, regulated environment governed by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and UBC Animal Care Committee (ACC). This position requires strict adherence to protocols and standard operating procedures that prevent accidental introduction of disease or confounding research variables.

The work environment is technically complex with the use of computerized animal anesthesia machines, diagnostic laboratory equipment, specialized surgical equipment, and digital environmental monitoring tools. Work may involve the use of potentially hazardous material or may be located in areas where such materials are used. Work will require the use of personal protective equipment.

Organizational Status
This position reports to the Operations Manager and takes direction from the MBF Supervisors. Works closely with other ACTs, registered veterinary technologists (RVTs) and Clinical Veterinarians. Liaises with researchers and their teams.

MBF is a 22,000 sq. ft. animal facility capable of holding 7,000 rodent cages. MBF is a multi-barrier facility, equipped with conventional and barrier zones and ample procedural space, which includes Containment Level 1 & 2, as well as information technology, and material management.

MBF is part of Animal Care Services (ACS), the largest animal care program in Western Canada and the second largest in Canada, 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 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 Associate Vice President Research & Innovation.

Work Performed

Provide 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, restraint, and health, behavior and welfare surveillance of small laboratory animal species, along with continuous awareness of current species-specific welfare issues in accordance with Canadian Council of Animal Care guidelines. This includes inventories and record keeping for each animal; maintaining breeding colonies of various animals which include breeding, feeding, weaning, and keeping records of activities; performing rounds to observe and check the physical health and well-being of laboratory animals; preparing health reports; isolates infected or ill animals and reports to veterinarian; general housekeeping and maintenance of facility and equipment.

Performs minor technical procedures, including ear notching, sample collection, injections, euthanasia, necropsy, topical treatments, blood, tissue and organ collection as necessary under the direction of the Operations Manager, Supervisors or Veterinarian.

Receives and packs live animal shipme