Specialist Animal Technician

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; Harwell; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research center in Harwell is seeking a Specialist Animal Technician to join their team. The role involves performing husbandry tasks across various specialized units, conducting animal procedures, and ensuring welfare and compliance. The ideal candidate should have 5 GCSEs including science and experience in a lab or animal facility. Strong care for animal welfare and strict adherence to aseptic techniques are essential. The position offers a competitive salary and a chance to contribute to critical biomedical research.

Benefits

Defined-benefit pension scheme

Excellent holiday entitlement

Employee shopping/travel discounts

Salary sacrifice cycle-to-work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a laboratory or animal facility under SOPs.
• Genuine care for animal welfare and high standards of ethics.
• Ability to follow strict aseptic techniques.

Responsibilities

• Perform husbandry for germ-free, gnotobiotic, and immunocompromised colonies.
• Operate and maintain germ-free isolators and IVC systems.
• Conduct animal procedures under ASPA.

Skills

Animal care

Aseptic techniques

Regulatory compliance

Basic computer skills

Teamwork

Education

5 GCSEs (grade C/4 or above), including science

Job description

Job title: Specialist Animal Technician
Location: Harwell
Salary: £30,911 - £32,843
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full time (36 hours per week) however part time hours (25 – 30 per week) will be considered

About Us

The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell (MLC) is located in an expanding science and innovation park in Oxfordshire and is an internationally renowned centre at the forefront of genetics research. As the hub of the new National Mouse Genetics Network, the specialist facilities and capabilities of the MLC support a number of research groups across the UK to accelerate our understanding of human disease.

About the Role

Join Our Specialist Animal Technician Team and Help Shape the Future of Biomedical Research

Are you an experienced and adaptable Animal Technician looking for your next challenge? We’re expanding our dynamic team and seeking a skilled professional to work across three units that support world-class research:

Germ-Free Units: Work in axenic and gnotobiotic environments using isolators and aseptic techniques.

Immunocompromised Units: Follow high-barrier Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support vulnerable animal models.

Quarantine Unit: Play a key role in high-health surveillance and smooth barrier transitions.

You will rotate across these areas, supporting husbandry and procedural work, ensuring welfare and compliance to regulatory standards.

This is a hands-on role involving routine and specialised husbandry, experimental procedures, and close interaction with researchers and facility teams. The post-holder will be instrumental in maintaining sterility, biosecurity, and animal welfare in high-containment environments.

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a supportive, skilled team contributing to critical biomedical discoveries. No two days are the same — and your work will make a real impact.

About You

You will need to hold/have:
· 5 GCSEs (grade C/4 or above), including science
· Experience of working in a laboratory or animal facility under SOPs
· Genuine care for animal welfare and high standards of ethics
· Ability to follow strict aseptic techniques and regulatory compliance
· Basic computer skills, including the ability to use digital record-keeping systems and common software packages (for example, Excel)


Key Responsibilities
• Perform husbandry for germ-free, gnotobiotic, and immunocompromised colonies
• Operate and maintain germ-free isolators and individually ventilated cage (IVC) systems
• Conduct animal procedures (e.g., dosing, sampling, phenotype scoring) under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA)
• Monitor animal health and welfare; escalate and act on clinical observations
• Maintain meticulous digital records using a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and in line with SOPs
• Work flexibly across specialist units, including weekend and rota-based duties
• Contribute to quarantine operations and aseptic workflows
• Participate in audits, and health and sterility monitoring programmes
• Liaise with scientists and the wider animal care team to support studies

Benefits:

Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits, from a defined-benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement, to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and a salary sacrifice cycle-to-work scheme. In addition, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the work of a world-class medical research organisation.

How to Apply

If you are ready to take on this exciting role and be part of a team dedicated to ground-breaking research, we would love to hear from you.

The closing date for applications is 24th August 2025.