Animal Health Technician

Charles River; Laval (administrative region); On-site; CAD 49,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Starting salary $23.75/hr

Evening/weekend premiums

Annual performance bonus

Benefits from day one

3 weeks vacation + 5 personal days

Training and career growth

Employee events

Job summary

Charles River in Canada is seeking an In Vivo Technician to support the Toxicology team in Sherbrooke, Laval or Senneville (Qc). You will care for laboratory animals, administer injections and gavage, collect samples, and record observations to support high welfare standards and preclinical research.

We offer training, TB testing, competitive compensation, benefits from day one, and opportunities for career advancement in a collaborative scientific environment.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Animal Health, Environmental & Wildlife Management, Biotechnology, or related field.
• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Animal Science, or related discipline.
• High school diploma plus 2–3 years as Technical Assistant in a research center or 4–5 years in a veterinary clinic.
• Ability to perform physical work and lift up to 20 kg.
• Ability to understand written English.

Responsibilities

• Care for and monitor laboratory animals to ensure health and well-being.
• Administer test items and medications, including injection techniques and gavage.
• Collect biological samples such as blood and urine.
• Record study observations and data (body weight, food intake, clinical signs).
• Handle animals safely and compassionately.
• Maintain clean, compliant animal housing environments.
• Contribute to pre-clinical research supporting human and animal health.

Skills

Observation skills

Problem solving

Animal welfare interest

Scientific research interest

Physical ability (lift 20 kg)

English comprehension

Education

Diploma in Animal Health, Environmental & Wildlife Management, Biotechnology, or related field

Bachelor's degree in Biology, Animal Science, or related

High school diploma + 2–3 years as Tech Assistant or 4–5 years in veterinary clinic

Job description

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For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Sherbrooke, Laval, or Senneville (Qc)

Make a Difference Behind Life-Changing Discoveries

At Charles River, the work you do every day contributes to the development of new medicines and therapies that improve lives around the world. As an In Vivo Technician, you'll play a vital role in supporting scientific research while ensuring the highest standards of animal care and welfare.

Whether you're a recent graduate looking to launch your career or an experienced animal care professional seeking your next opportunity, we'll provide the training, support, and career development you need to succeed.

What You'll Do

As a member of our Toxicology team, you will:

• Care for and monitor laboratory animals to ensure their health and well-being.
• Administer test items and medications, including various injection techniques and gavage.
• Collect biological samples such as blood and urine.
• Record study observations and data, including body weight, food consumption, and clinical signs.
• Handle animals safely and compassionately.
• Maintain clean and compliant animal housing environments.
• Contribute to critical pre-clinical research that advances human and animal health.

What We're Looking For

You could be a great fit if you have:

• A Diploma in Animal Health, Environmental & Wildlife Management, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• A Bachelor's degree in Biology, Animal Science, or a related discipline.
• High school diploma, combined with either 2 to 3 years of experience as a Technical Assistant in a research center or 4 to 5 years of experience as a Technical Assistant in a veterinary clinic.
• Strong observation and problem-solving skills
• A genuine interest in animal welfare and scientific research
• The ability to perform physical work, including lifting up to 20 kg
• The ability to understand written English

Please note that upon being hired, you will have to undergo an annual tuberculosis test covered by the company.

Why Join Charles River?

• Competitive starting salary of $23.75/hour
• Evening, weekend, overtime, and holiday premiums
• Annual performance bonus
• Comprehensive benefits from day one
• 3 weeks vacation plus 5 personal days
• Training, mentorship, and career advancement opportunities
• Engaging employee events and activities

Choose the Location That’s Right for You

All locations offer free parking, EV charging stations, and convenient transportation options.

Begin a Meaningful Career Where Science, Compassion, and Discovery Come Together

Join a team that's helping bring tomorrow's treatments to life while making a positive impact on the health of communities worldwide.

About Safety Assessment

Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state-of-the-art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market. Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.

About Charles River

Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people's lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life. Based on your position these may include: bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e-mail message to [e-mail]. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.

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