Animal Technician

Sunderland College; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holidays

Flexible working

Pension scheme

Discount platform

Health plans

Wellbeing support

Free parking

Job summary

Sunderland College in Sunderland is seeking an Animal Technician to support animal care and practical teaching across courses in Animal Care and related subjects.

The role involves maintaining welfare, assisting learners, and helping diversify the animal collection while working within a busy FE environment. The post supports hands-on learning and safety-first practices in animal facilities.

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification (or equivalent) in Animal Care, Animal Management or a related subject.
• GCSE Grade 4/C or above (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics.
• Relevant practical experience in animal husbandry and animal welfare.

Responsibilities

• Provide high standards of daily animal care, including feeding, watering, cleaning enclosures and monitoring animal health and welfare.
• Prepare animals, equipment and resources to support practical teaching sessions and student learning activities.
• Maintain animal accommodation, enrichment programmes and biosecurity procedures to ensure a safe and stimulating environment.
• Support students during practical activities, promoting safe working practices and positive animal handling techniques.
• Keep accurate records relating to animal welfare, stock levels, treatments and routine husbandry tasks.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the animal collection and facilities, helping to enhance the learner experience and practical opportunities available.

Skills

Driving licence

Animal care experience

Animal welfare knowledge

Organisation

Communication skills

Teamwork

Safeguarding awareness

Education

Level 3 qualification

GCSE English & Maths

Practical animal husbandry experience

Job description

Animal Technician

Agriculture, Engineering and Animal Care

Location: Sunderland Salary: £25,949 per annum pro rata Post Type: Part Time Hours per Week: 18.5 Contract Type: Permanent Closing Date: 23.59 hours GMT on Thursday 29 October 2026 Reference: 0849-26

About The College

Sunderland College has been delivering highly successful courses for more than 20 years and is one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the North East with approximately 14,300 students. The College has two campuses across the city of Sunderland, offering a wide range of academic and vocational provision for school leavers and adults. The College aims to develop and positively shape lives, communities, and the economy through teaching, learning and development of skills. Our students consistently achieve outstanding results and Sunderland College has been ranked in the top 25% in the country for student achievement rates. In October 2024, we were ranked as Ofsted outstanding, and we are proud of our diverse student and staff community that provide our students with bespoke education pathways to help them achieve their future career goals.

Please see the following link to our 2024 Ofsted Report, in which we were graded as being Outstanding across all areas - Ofsted-Report-Outstanding

Our Journey & Values

As an employer, we prioritise cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, where our staff can thrive and grow. We recognize that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to investing in their professional development and overall wellbeing.

Taking Teaching Further & Additional Incentives

If you’re making the move into further education teaching, you may be eligible for the Taking Teaching Further (TTF) programme a funded route to help industry professionals retrain as FE teachers.

In addition, for roles in high-need subjects or regions you may also benefit from the government’s targeted retention incentive (formerly “levelling-up premium”) payments, worth up to £6,000 for eligible teachers in their first five years and teaching certain shortage subjects.

Please note eligibility for both TTF and the Targeted Retention Incentive varies by role, subject area and provider, they do not apply to every vacancy.

Find out more about both initiatives through the links below.

• Taking Teaching Further - Taking Teaching Further
• Targeted Retention Incentive - Targeted Retention Incentive

About The Candidate

We are looking for a passionate, reliable and professional individual who is committed to delivering the highest standards of animal care and welfare while supporting an outstanding learning experience for our students. The successful candidate will be a strong team player with excellent communication skills, a positive attitude and the ability to build effective relationships with colleagues and learners. They will be organised, adaptable and able to take pride in maintaining safe, welcoming and well‑managed animal facilities.

As a Changemaker, this person will make a positive difference every day by creating a safe, engaging and inspiring environment for students to learn practical animal care skills. They will champion high standards of animal welfare, support students to develop confidence and employability skills, and contribute new ideas that enhance both the learner experience and the development of the animal provision. By leading through example, they will help students achieve their potential and prepare them for successful careers in the animal sector.

About The Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing Animal Care provision at Bede, supporting both students and animals within a practical learning environment. Due to significant growth in learner numbers and the expansion of the animal collection, the role will play a key part in maintaining high standards of animal welfare while ensuring students have access to a wide range of hands‑on learning experiences.

The successful candidate will work with a diverse range of animal species and contribute directly to the delivery of practical teaching sessions, making a real difference to students' learning and development. This role offers the opportunity to develop technical skills across animal husbandry, welfare monitoring, enrichment, health management and educational support, while gaining experience within a busy further education setting.

As the animal provision continues to develop, the postholder will have opportunities to broaden their knowledge of different species, contribute ideas for enhancing the learning environment and work alongside experienced teaching and technical staff to support the future growth of the department.

Role Responsibilities

• Provide high standards of daily animal care, including feeding, watering, cleaning enclosures and monitoring animal health and welfare.
• Prepare animals, equipment and resources to support practical teaching sessions and student learning activities.
• Maintain animal accommodation, enrichment programmes and biosecurity procedures to ensure a safe and stimulating environment.
• Support students during practical activities, promoting safe working practices and positive animal handling techniques.
• Keep accurate records relating to animal welfare, stock levels, treatments and routine husbandry tasks.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the animal collection and facilities, helping to enhance the learner experience and practical opportunities available.

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification (or equivalent) in Animal Care, Animal Management or a related subject.
• GCSE Grade 4/C or above (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics.
• Relevant practical experience in animal husbandry and animal welfare.
• Ability to work safely and effectively within an animal care environment, including an understanding of animal welfare, health and safety, and biosecurity requirements.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a personal vehicle for business use.
• Experience of working with a range of animal species in a professional animal care, education, zoo, farm or veterinary environment.
• Sound knowledge of animal husbandry, welfare, health monitoring and enrichment practices.
• Experience of maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and biosecurity within animal facilities.
• Ability to safely handle and restrain a variety of animal species in accordance with welfare requirements.
• Good organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks and work effectively in a busy environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work positively with students, staff and visitors.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Commitment to safeguarding, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable Skills & Experience – (Optional)

• Experience working within a further education, school, zoo, farm or animal rescue environment.
• Experience supporting learners or training others in practical animal care activities.
• Knowledge and experience of working with a diverse range of animal species.
• Experience of animal enrichment planning and implementation.
• Familiarity with animal record-keeping systems and stock control processes.
• First Aid qualification or willingness to undertake training.
• Animal transport, manual handling or relevant industry-specific training.
• Understanding of current trends and developments within the animal care industry.

What’s in it for you?

Join EPNE and you’ll be part of a culture that prioritises your development and wellbeing, which is why all employees receive an extensive benefits package.

• Enjoy a generous holiday allowance ranging between 35-48 days per year, plus public holidays - (Excluding Term Time Only contracts)
• Generous family leave and flexible working options (dependent on role)
• LGPS or Teacher Pensions Scheme - depending on role
• Access to myLifestyle benefits platform providing retail discounts and more.
• We offer dental, eye care & health cash plans.
• Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
• Free parking on most campuses.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

At Education Partnership North East (EPNE), we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences. We know that diverse perspectives strengthen our teams to enhance the education and support we provide to our learners and communities.

We recognise that talented individuals may not always follow a traditional career path and may hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If you are excited about the role and believe you can make a positive contribution, we encourage you to apply.

As a Disability Confident Employer and Armed Forces Covenant Member, and with Ofsted Outstanding status across all campuses, we are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and high-performing environment where everyone can thrive.

Due to the nature of this post, you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure Check.

We believe in equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are committed to PREVENT and safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

Please contact Georgina Johnstone, [e-mail] should you wish to have an informal chat about the role.

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