Colony Animal Technician

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 244046**Salary**:

- £23,389 - £28,195- Per Annum**Grade**:

- Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- High Containment and Biological Services, Science, Animal Sciences**Type of role**:

- Administration / Corporate Support
- Science**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time**Number of posts**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
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Location
- UKHSA, Porton Down SalisburyAbout the job

**Summary**:

- The Biological Services Group (BSG) within National Infection Service (Porton) is recruiting for an experienced Animal Technician to provide high-quality animal care and environmental enrichment for the animals. The Animal Technician will guide routine work, overseeing junior staff and supporting senior staff members in regulated work. Working with the wider colonies team, the post holder will maintain the highest standards of animal welfare ensuring the animals and facilities are Home Office compliant. This role is primarily a physical role, ensuring the environment is clean and nutritional requirements for the animals are fulfilled. Weekend work (paid as overtime) is on a rota and will be introduced after a period of induction to the facility.**Job description**:
The post holder will recognize, report and record ill health and welfare issues in _Macaca_ species and be responsible for the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) duties, documenting and communicating issues to relevant team members, e.g., line manager, NACWO or NVS.

**Responsibilities**:
High Containment and Biological Services operate within and supports the wider UKHSA mission to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. The Biological Services Group provides high containment _in-vivo_ research services, with the primary aim of protecting the UK public from a range of health risks. Ongoing areas of work include vaccine batch release testing, influenza, COVID-19, tuberculosis, anthrax, and emerging human pathogens.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

The duties of the role will include:

- Support with basic necropsy examination and removal of specified tissues.
- Contribute to the process of ordering of drugs used at the colonies and maintenance of the drugs supply in line with policies and legal requirements.
- Maintain and regularly update written records and computer databases containing breeding records and duties performed, within specific guidelines. Regular submission of breeding data for ethical review.
- Assist with the supervision of junior staff and specific designated areas such as the post-mortem room, prep-room, surgical procedures room, X-ray processing room, sample receipt and storage areas, (the post holder takes full responsibility of areas in the absence of the Supervisor).
- Participate in the regular review of Standard Operating Procedures, Codes of Practice and Risk Assessments.
- Ensure equipment used within the facility is maintained and serviceable for use at all times, reporting faults as identified and moving equipment as required by projects.
- Take part in rota system for weekend and public holiday working and essential ‘out of hours’ scoring of animals in study.

Appropriate further training and personal professional development will be provided and are positively encouraged.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division and UKHSA.

It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.

**Behaviours**:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace

**Technical skills**:
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

- Technical Skills will be assessed during the interview stage against the Knowledge, Experience/ Skills and Capabilities set out in the job description. Qualification: IAT Membership, level 2 qualification (or equivalent) including HND in Animal Tech

**Benefits**:

- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

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