Animal Care Technician

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Disability coverage

Life insurance

Job summary

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Vancouver, BC is seeking an Animal Care Technician for the Resource Facility to provide husbandry and facility maintenance to support preclinical research. The successful candidate will ensure animal welfare, uphold high ethics, and be detail-oriented.

This on-site role reports to the Manager, Resource Facility. The position involves up to five on-site days per week, working within an accredited facility holding CCAC certification, with responsibilities spanning

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in a life sciences discipline is desired.
• Previous experience working with and caring for animals is an asset.
• Detail-oriented with good organizational, time management and observational skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Good interpersonal and clear communication skills.
• Ability to exercise mature judgment, discretion, and initiative.
• Capable of lifting to 25kg.
• Ability to work rotational weekends and statutory holidays.
• Basic computer skills include spreadsheets and word processing.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine husbandry duties associated with animal care for mice and rats.
• Ensure cleanliness of the entire facility, including but not limited to, cleaning and disinfecting floors, surfaces, cage systems, and equipment maintenance.
• Monitor and ensure overall health and welfare of animals in accordance with CCAC guidelines.
• Conduct daily health checks of all animals and keep detailed documents and records.
• Receive incoming animals ordered from vendors.
• Maintain animal health records within environmental facility parameters.
• Ensure data is entered into software systems and organize health records in an accurate and timely fashion.
• Remove biohazardous waste, sharps, and other biological waste as per established procedures.
• Monitor and maintain inventory supply (feed, bedding, etc.); seek to ensure procedure rooms are always stocked and functional.
• Collect tissue samples for genotyping.
• Assist and participate in technical procedures and studies in collaboration with in vivo Research Associates.
• Assist with formulation preparation.
• Use professional concepts and SOPs to solve a variety of problems.
• Routinely performs weighing animals, anesthesia administration and euthanasia.
• Work within established guidelines, policies, SOPs and safety requirements.
• Prioritize urgent and important responsibilities, such as animal care, facility maintenance, and meetings pertaining to studies that are being conducted.
• Act in accordance with Company policies, including, for example, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and ensure policies are understood and followed by direct reports, if any.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Animal care

Detail-oriented

Teamwork

Communication

Lifting 25kg

Education

Post-secondary life sciences

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Who We Are:

Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XENE) is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to drug discovery, clinical development, and commercialization of life-changing therapeutics for patients in need. We are looking for great people who thrive in a respectful, collaborative, inclusive, and productive culture to join the Xenon team.

What We Do:

We are advancing an exciting product pipeline to address indications with high unmet medical need, including epilepsy, depression and pain. Our Phase 3 azetukalner program represents the most advanced, clinically validated potassium channel modulator in late-stage clinical development for multiple indications. In March 2026, we announced positive topline data from our Phase 3 X-TOLE2 study of azetukalner in focal onset seizures (FOS), and we anticipate submitting a New Drug Application to the Food and Drug Administration in the third quarter of 2026. Our Phase 3 epilepsy program also includes a second FOS study, X-TOLE3, which would support regulatory submissions outside the U.S., and the X-ACKT study in primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which would support regulatory submissions for an additional epilepsy indication. We also have multiple Phase 3 azetukalner clinical trials underway in major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar depression (BPD), based on topline data from our Phase 2 X-NOVA clinical trial. In addition, we are proud of our strong heritage in human genetics, deep understanding of ion channel biology, and expertise in novel chemistries to enable potent, selective ion channel targeting. We continue to advance an early-stage pipeline of novel therapeutic candidates, including Phase 1 studies for XEN1701 and XEN1720 (targeting Nav1.7) and XEN1120 (targeting Kv7), which are being developed for pain. Backed by a strong balance sheet to support our growth plans, we continue to build a fully integrated, premier neuroscience company with strong discovery, clinical development, corporate, and commercial operations.

About the Role:

We are seeking an Animal Care Technician for the Resource Facility, to join our animal care team. This position will provide husbandry and facility maintenance to support preclinical research in drug discovery. The successful candidate has experience handling and ensuring the welfare of animals, holds high ethical standards in animal care, and is responsible and detail-oriented. You will be working in an accredited research facility holding Good Animal Practices (G.A.P.) certification from the Canadian Council on Animal Care (C.C.A.C).

This position reports to the Manager, Resource Facility and will be in the Vancouver, BC, Canada location. The level of the position will be commensurate with the candidate’s education and industry experience. This role is an on-site, lab-based position requiring up to five on-site days per week.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform routine husbandry duties associated with animal care for mice and rats.
• Ensure cleanliness of the entire facility, including but not limited to, cleaning and disinfecting floors, surfaces, cage systems, and equipment maintenance.
• Monitor and ensure overall health and welfare of animals in accordance with CCAC guidelines.
• Conduct daily health checks of all animals and keep detailed documents and records.
• Receive incoming animals ordered from vendors.
• Maintain animal health records within environmental facility parameters.
• Ensure data is entered into software systems and organize health records in an accurate and timely fashion.
• Remove biohazardous waste, sharps, and other biological waste as per established procedures.
• Monitor and maintain inventory supply (feed, bedding, etc.); seek to ensure procedure rooms are always stocked and functional.
• Collect tissue samples for genotyping.
• Assist and participate in technical procedures and studies in collaboration with in vivo Research Associates.
• Assist with formulation preparation.
• Use professional concepts and SOPs to solve a variety of problems.
• Routinely performs weighing animals, anesthesia administration and euthanasia.
• Work within established guidelines, policies, SOPs and safety requirements.
• Prioritize urgent and important responsibilities, such as animal care, facility maintenance, and meetings pertaining to studies that are being conducted.
• Act in accordance with Company policies, including, for example, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and ensure policies are understood and followed by direct reports, if any.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Post-secondary education in a life sciences discipline is desired. Strong desire to learn and apply technical skills.
• Previous experience working with and caring for animals is an asset.
• Detail-oriented with good organizational, time management and observational skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team. Participate in cross-functional activities, as needed.
• Good interpersonal and clear communication skills.
• Ability to exercise mature judgment, discretion, and initiative.
• Capable of lifting to 25kg.
• Ability to work rotational weekends and statutory holidays.
• Basic computer skills include spreadsheets and word processing.

Our Total Rewards program includes base salary, target bonus, and stock options, as well as a full range of benefits including medical, dental, vision, short-& long-term disability, accidental death & dismemberment, and life insurance programs, Employee Assistance Program, travel insurance, and retirement savings programs with company matching contributions.

Xenon encourages time to rest and re-charge through vacation, personal days, sick days, and an end-of-year company shutdown. Xenon highly values employee development and has an expanding Training, Learning & Development program, including a Tuition Assistance program for advanced degrees.