Animal Care Technician

**Schedule**

There is some flexibility with the schedule but must equate to working 7 hours on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 7:00am-5:00pm each day.

**Education Level**
2 year College Diploma

**Career Level**
Intermediate

**Animal Care Technician**

(JD#: JD0048)

Located within the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Animal Facility (AF) is a primary service division whose purpose is to serve the McMaster research community and ensure animals housed at our seven sites are cared for ethically and humanely.

**Job Summary**:
Responsible for providing support to the University research community as it relates to the use of animals in biomedical research and teaching. Performs routine technical procedures and animal husbandry and ensures procedures are followed according to standard operating procedures, guidelines, and legislation.

**Purpose and Key Functions**:

- Perform routine technical procedures ensuring strict adherence to established standard operating procedures, guidelines, and legislation.
- Participate in required safety and security procedures, and conduct animal husbandry and care while following established standard operating procedures and regulatory compliance requirements.
- Provide technical assistance to researchers including surgical assistance, preparation, and post-surgical monitoring.
- Wrap instruments for sterilization prior to surgery.
- Perform minor surgeries and technical procedures including sampling, bleeding, injection and all procedures involving the use of anaesthetics and related equipment.
- Participate in health monitoring, which includes health assessments, quality assurance, treatment and post approval monitoring, of all animals under the direction of the veterinary staff.
- Monitor technical procedures, performed by others using the facilities, for deviations from established standard operating procedures.
- Monitor endpoints and report issues to veterinary staff.
- Provide department policy and procedure information to others.
- Provide animal care and husbandry for all species including specialty animals in the facility.
- Develop and modify standard operating procedures.
- Complete cage cards with the appropriate animal information.
- Document and maintain breeding records for inspection and census information.
- Document treatment logs detailing the historical and current treatment regimes for animals.
- Document initial observations from gross pathology and provide reports to veterinary staff.
- Calculate blood volume, drug dosage, and intravenous fluid rates.
- Review weight charts to ensure that the animals are within the required limits for the study.
- Use a variety of facility equipment such as microscopes and centrifuges.
- Calibrate scales used to weigh animals.
- Analyze and troubleshoot equipment failures and complete the required repair.
- Maintain breeding colonies which includes breeding, feeding, weaning, and keeping records of activities, under the oversight of the veterinary staff.
- Observe the health condition and behaviour of animals and report injuries, disease, or abnormal behaviour to supervisor or designated person.
- May be required to make recommendations regarding the euthanization of animals in accordance with standard operating procedures.
- Assemble animal cages, and prepare shipping crates as required.
- Set up and collate materials for teaching including course packages, materials, and equipment.
- Attend and participate in department meetings.
- Exchange technical and scientific information with others.
- Maintain the confidentiality of ongoing research and development.
- May be required to assist in the wash area which includes, but is not limited to, cleaning equipment such as, rack washers, bottle washers, and autoclaves.

**Requirements**:

- 2 year Community College diploma in Veterinary Technology or related field.
- Requires 2 years of relevant experience.

**Assets**:

- Experience in animal handling, especially rodents
- Experience calculating drug dosages

**How To Apply**

**Employment Equity Statement**

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

- Human Resources Service Centre at
905-525-9140 ext. 222
- HR (22247), or
- Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
- School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

**Vaccination Policy Statement**

The Universi