Technical Assistant Postmortem & Farm Services

Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa

Palmerston North

On-site

NZD 51,000 - 68,000

Full time

23 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

UniSaver employer contribution (up to

5 university holidays each year

Subsidised Southern Cross Healthcare

Job summary

Massey University's School of Veterinary Science (SoVS) seeks a Technical Assistant for the Postmortem and Farm Services Clinic team on the Manawatū campus in Palmerston North. The role spans veterinary pathology and clinical farm services, supporting training, research, and animal health initiatives.

The position is full-time and permanent, with after-hours work as needed. You will help prepare materials, maintain facilities, and ensure safety and welfare across large-animal handling and

Qualifications

Experience handling large animals in a clinical or field setting.
Full, clean driver’s licence is required.
Forklift licence and gantry operation certification are desirable.
Willingness to work after hours to meet operational needs.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple practical, technical, and administrative tasks.

Responsibilities

Maintain modern clinical and teaching facilities, including hygiene standards, waste disposal, consumables, formalin preparation, and laundry.
Maintain and service a range of equipment used in clinical, teaching, and operations.
Operate forklifts, gantries, and related equipment safely.
Prepare necropsy materials and facilities for student teaching and research activities.
Support humane management of end-of-life situations when required.
Assist with routine care of hospitalized farm animal patients.
Support research activities and projects.
Perform administrative and record-keeping duties.
Contribute to a safe, efficient, and well-organised working environment for staff, students, clients and animals.

Skills

Animal Handling

Animal Welfare

Veterinary Support

Necropsy

Biosecurity

Farm Management

Husbandry

Restraint

Pathology

Laboratory Support

Equipment Maintenance

Facilities Management

Hygiene

Decontamination

Compliance

Health and Safety

Recordkeeping

Administration

Coordination

Logistics

Research Support

Troubleshooting

Adaptability

Teamwork

Communication

Tools

Forklift licence

Gantry operation certification

Job description

The School of Veterinary Science (SoVS) is seeking applicants for a Technical Assistant position in our Postmortem and Farm Services Clinic team based on Massey University's Manawatū campus in Palmerston North.

The primary goal of the Postmortem department and Farm Services Clinic is providing exceptional hands-on learning opportunities for veterinary students including necropsies and farm animal veterinary procedures. The Postmortem department also supports a number of research projects.

This position is a full-time, permanent opportunity.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role

This unique role offers the opportunity to work across areas encompassing both veterinary pathology and clinical farm veterinary services, supporting the training of future veterinarians while contributing to research and animal health initiatives. No two days are the same, with activities ranging from animal handling and technical support through to facility operations and teaching preparation.

Key responsibilities include:

Maintaining modern clinical and teaching facilities, including upholding hygiene standards, managing waste disposal, monitoring and replenishing consumable supplies, preparing formalin solutions, and completing laundry requirements.
Maintaining and servicing a range of clinical, teaching, and operational equipment.
Operating forklifts, gantries, and other equipment safely and effectively.
Preparing necropsy materials and facilities to support veterinary student teaching and training activities.
Contributing to animal welfare outcomes, including supporting the humane management of end-of-life situations when required.
Assisting with the routine care of hospitalised farm animal patients.
Supporting research activities and projects.
Completing associated administrative and record-keeping duties.
Contributing to a safe, efficient, and well‑organised working environment for staff, students, clients, and animals.

As part of Massey's world-leading School of Veterinary Science, you'll contribute to a programme internationally recognised for excellence in animal health, welfare, biosecurity and sustainable production.

Mōu | About you

You'll bring a practical, hands-on approach and a genuine confidence working with large animals in a dynamic environment. Comfortable working across a range of tasks, you can adapt to changing priorities, maintain high standards of animal welfare and safety, and contribute positively as part of a collaborative team.

We are looking for someone who has:

A full, clean driver's licence.
Experience towing and manoeuvring trailers (desirable).
Forklift licence and gantry operation certification (desirable).
Demonstrated experience working safely and confidently with large animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, camelids, and horses.
Flexibility to work after hours as needed to support operational requirements.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage a variety of practical, technical, and administrative tasks while adapting to changing priorities.
A high level of physical fitness, with the ability to undertake regular manual handling, animal restraint, cleaning duties, and work both indoors and outdoors.
The resilience and professionalism to work in environments involving euthanasia, necropsies (post-mortems), surgical procedures, and the handling of sick, injured, or deceased animals.

Ko ngā hua o te tūranga? | What's in it for you?

Massey University supports flexible working and a healthy work-life balance, with access to campus facilities and staff benefits. You will also receive up to 6.75% employer contribution to the UniSaver Superannuation Scheme, five university holidays each year, and a subsidised Southern Cross Healthcare plan for you and your whānau.

The salary for this position will depend on skills and experience but will be in the range of Grade 3 ($50,960 - $67,551).

Further enquiries should be directed to Karla Pearce, Clinic Manager at K.Pearce@massey.ac.nz.

Desired Skills and Experience