Animal Care Provider

Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) / Montreal Clinical Research Institute; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation time

Personal leave

Holiday time off

Group insurance

Telemedicine

Employee Assistance

Cyclist facilities

Central Montreal

Collaborative culture

Job summary

The Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) is seeking an Animal Care Technician to provide daily care for laboratory animals, maintain clean and safe facilities, and ensure compliance with protocols.

Reporting to the Animal Facility Manager, you will work with the animal health technician and veterinarian to support welfare, perform basic treatments, cage management, and participate in laundry and sterilization tasks in a fast-paced biomedical setting.

Qualifications

• Certificate of Professional Studies (AEP) in Animal Care or equivalent.
• Experience in animal care (research facility, veterinary clinic, or related setting).
• Knowledge of hygiene, biosafety, and occupational health and safety regulations.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work (prolonged standing, handling heavy cages).
• Fluency in spoken/written French; working knowledge of English is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care for laboratory animals (feeding, watering, monitoring, enrichment).
• Change cages and maintain facilities per procedures (bedding, cleaning, disinfection).
• Participate in laundry room activities: washing, drying, and supplying clean supplies.
• Sterilize equipment using autoclave or equivalent and maintain clean laundry areas.
• Follow biosafety procedures, wear PPE, report anomalies or malfunctions.
• Monitor animals’ health, assist with basic treatments, prepare diets, and assist veterinarian as needed.

Skills

Animal care

Biosafety

Health & safety

Manual/dphysical labor

French (fluent)

Education

AEP in Animal Care

Job description

The Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) is a world-class biomedical research center that puts science to work for health. The work of our teams contributes to major advances in research. We provide an environment where scientific rigor and collaboration drive the advancement of knowledge.

What you’ll love

• Contribute to work that has a tangible impact on health and research.


• Thrive in a rigorous, collaborative, and supportive environment.


• Take part in challenging projects and continuous improvement initiatives.

Job Overview

Reporting to the Animal Facility Manager, the Animal Care Technician provides daily care for laboratory animals and ensures that the environment remains clean, safe, and compliant with current standards.

He or she works closely with the Animal Health Technician and the Facilities Coordinator to support animal welfare, maintain the quality of the facilities, and ensure compliance with protocols.

This position is ideal for a meticulous individual who is comfortable with physical and repetitive work and who wishes to play a hands‑on role within a biomedical research center.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care for laboratory animals (feeding, watering, monitoring appearance and behavior, enrichment, and general condition of cages).


• Change cages and maintain facilities according to established procedures (bedding, cleaning, disinfection, and maintaining order and cleanliness).


• Participate in laundry room activities: safely handling cages, emptying them (soiled bedding, accessories), mechanically and manually washing cages and equipment, drying, and assembling and preparing clean supplies.


• Sterilize equipment (using an autoclave or other equipment) in accordance with current protocols, and ensure the cleanliness of the laundry areas and the equipment used.


• Strictly follow biosafety and cross-contamination prevention procedures, comply with health and safety guidelines (including wearing PPE), and report any anomalies or malfunctions in equipment or infrastructure.


• Monitor the animals’ general health, administer authorized basic treatments, prepare and distribute wet food and special diets, and perform basic technical care (clipping nails, trimming teeth, simple treatments) according to approved protocols, in collaboration with the animal health technician and the veterinarian as needed.


• Work with the animal care team to ensure the continuity of services and care, and perform any other related tasks associated with the role.

What You Bring to the Table

• A Certificate of Professional Studies (AEP) in Animal Care, or training or experience deemed equivalent.


• Relevant experience in animal care (research animal facility, veterinary clinic, or related setting).


• Knowledge of hygiene, biosafety, and occupational health and safety regulations.


• Ability to perform physically demanding work (prolonged standing, handling heavy cages and carts, repetitive tasks) in a noisy, controlled environment.


• Fluency in spoken and written French; working knowledge of English (a plus), if needed for the position.

Desired Skills

• Good knowledge of safe handling techniques for rodents and other laboratory animals.


• Ability to observe and quickly detect abnormal clinical or behavioral signs.


• Rigorous adherence to SOPs and experimental protocols, as well as in record-keeping.


• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail (cage condition, enrichment, food, water), and strict adherence to animal welfare standards.


• Punctuality, reliability, a strong sense of professional ethics, and the ability to follow precise instructions.


• Ability to work independently or as part of a team, remaining calm and flexible in the face of unforeseen events and changes in priorities or protocols.

Key Information

• Schedule: Full-time (36,25 hours/week).


• Position type: Fixed-term contract for 1 year, renewable.


• Work location: In-person, at the IRCM, in the heart of Montreal.


• Application deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; the position will remain open until it is filled.


• Salary: Competitive compensation based on the current pay scale, including an on-call bonus, depending on experience.


• 20 days of vacation after one year.


• 10 days of personal or sick leave.


• Additional time off during the holiday season.


• Group insurance.


• Access to telemedicine for you and your family.


• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).


• Facilities for cyclists (secure parking and showers).


• Accessible location in the heart of Montreal.


• Collaborative and respectful work environment.

To learn more about the IRCM: https://www.ircm.qc.ca

Selection Process

Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Background checks may be conducted depending on the nature of the position.

The IRCM values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

Accommodations may be provided upon request at any stage of the recruitment process. To request accommodations, please indicate this in the \"Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about yourself?\" section of the application form.