The animal care specialist ensures compliance with Animal Care Committee requirements for arm’s length oversight, administration and care of animals held in areas of responsibility. The Animal Care Specialist is responsible for providing care and oversight for the facilities and the animal research subjects through the performance of animal husbandry, cleaning, and maintenance, while ensuring that all required documentations are up to date and available. This role also provides support, expertise, and recommendations to many stakeholders including faculty, students, teaching and facilities staff of the Biology Department and the ancillary facilities. The Animal Care Specialist ensures ongoing compliance with federal, provincial and institutional regulatory bodies including CCAC (Canadian Council on Animal Care), OMAFA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness), and the Western ACC (Animal Care Committee).
NOTE: This position is to cover a Leave of Absence.
Key Responsibilities
- Assisting researchers with animal handling and advising on specialized animal care as needed.
- Evaluating the health and housing of resident animals and providing care as needed, following established SOPs as provided by the ACC, Animal Care and Veterinary Services (ACVS), and/or researchers.
- Advising ACVS about animal health issues, including all sickness and mortalities. Delivering treatments and implementing recommended changes to animal care and husbandry, in coordination with veterinary staff and, where required, Biology researchers and staff.
- Maintaining the facilities and infrastructure in the areas of responsibility and liaising with Facilities Management as required.
- Carrying out routine weekly/monthly facilities tasks (e.g., organizing and storing feed and supplies; ordering animals; organizing records of animal use and care; cleaning the facilities, cages and equipment used in animal housing; maintaining facilities' equipment).
- Ensuring safety of Biology animal facilities including confirmation of required safety training, accompanying safety inspections, maintaining safety equipment.
- Understanding and interpreting ACC, OMAFA, and CCAC policies and the application of animal use protocols to determine animal use compliance.
- Reviewing all new, modifications, and annual renewals of animal use protocols within the Biology Department. Recommending changes to researcher via the ACC.
- Writing, updating and disseminating SOPs in accordance with Western animal care and use policies for animal care and use in Biology.
- Carrying out implementation of Mosaic Animal Management Software in the Department of Biology.
- Providing the regular arms-length rounds as well as participating in periodic regulatory rounds by ACC and ACVS veterinarians. Participating in inspections and accreditation visits by CCAC and OMAFRA.
- Creating new paperwork and forms to comply with changing policies and requirements as needed. Producing reports as needed.
- Providing facility specific training to new users. Providing instruction, training and advice on animal care to students (graduate and undergraduate) and part-time workers / volunteers.
- Ensuring weekend/holiday coverage and providing emergency coverage as needed for Biology animal areas as well as the Advanced Facility for Avian Research.
- Participating in monthly ACC and monthly Facility Supervisor meetings.
Qualifications
Education:
- Four-year BSc in Biology with specialization in vertebrate biology, animal behaviour or related topics.
Experience:
- 1 year of hands-on experience working with vertebrate animals (e.g., fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds).
- 1 year of experience in rearing and/or caring of vertebrate animals in a research setting, including knowledge of their growth conditions, behavior, food preference, habitat, breeding environment, and health monitoring.
Skills, Abilities & Expertise:
- Familiarity with animal "normals" for a variety of animal species and recognize and report animal health issues.
- Ability to implement treatment and medication according to veterinary direction.
- Ability to maintain animal care standards in accordance with university and government policies, regulatory guidelines, and legislation.
- Ability to respect and maintain confidential information.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Ability to foster collaboration and respect among team members.
- Professional manner, tact, diplomacy, and discretion in dealing with all animal facility users.
- Strong judgement, analytical, and problem-solving skills including an ability to formulate and execute action plans.
- Proven ability to multi-task and prioritize with an eye to consistently producing high-quality work and meeting deadlines in a demanding environment.
- Excellent organization, time management, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to quickly adapt to new changes and situations.
- Excellent communication skills to clearly express ideas, and adapt communication style to suit the situation and audience, with an ability to complete detailed records and reports.
- Demonstrated ability to build strong, collegial relationship with students, faculty, and colleagues across the University.
- Ability to ensure a safe working environment by identifying, resolving, and reporting safety hazards.
- Moderate computer skills, including familiarity with any animal management software and Microsoft Office suite.
- Physically able to bend, stoop, reach, climb step stool, push/pull (up to 19 kg), lift (up to 14 kg), retrieve, and carry (up to 5 kg) items.
- Flexibility to work irregular hours and/or in a time-shifted week, including during weekend and holiday times, to be on call or to deal with emergencies related to animal care and animal housing environment.
