Animal Care Technician

About SickKids

Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built – nor could it be maintained – without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.

When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world’s best in paediatric healthcare.

Position Description

The Animal Care Technician provides complete animal care including, clean housing, adequate food and water, appropriate environmental enrichment; maintains adequate health records and monitors health of animals and adequate environmental parameters in the assigned work area. The technician is to follow the room schedule and meet the facility requirements (SOPs) and standards. Takes responsibility for the assigned and communicates on any issues during the daily supervisory rounds. The Animal Facility must be staffed on weekends and statutory holidays so some weekend work and sharing of statutory holiday work is expected.

Here's what you'll get to do

• Cage changing (approximately 200+ per day)
• Provide Feed and water to all animals
• Maintaining procedure rooms and supplies in housing areas
• General housekeeping in assigned area. Floors, glass, counter tops, removal of garbage and dirty laundry and doors and including procedure rooms in your assigned area.
• Detailed record keeping (Health records, cage cards)
• Weekly census taken of animals in your area weekly.
• Daily monitoring of animals for health issues. Health issues must be recorded and reported to the veterinarian as per SOPs. Follows veterinarian's recommendation regarding treatment (frequency) and euthanasia. Updates the veterinarian on the status with urgent health issues before leaving the area for the day.
• Maintains treatment kits in the assigned area.
• Animal Care Technician must be available to communicate with research staff, supervisor and the veterinarian via e-mail and or telephone.
• Technicians must check their e-mails a minimum of 3 times per day (When you arrive, before lunch and before you leave for the day)
• Provision of technical assistance with experimental treatment administration (injecting, gavaging, topical, and blood collection) and activities related to colony management.
• Monitoring of research staff compliance with the LAS policies on infection prevention and control and reporting any breaches to the Animal Husbandry Supervisor.
• The Animal Care Technician is often assigned to one area of the facility but must gain a full knowledge of each species requirements and each procedure required of them (as per the SOP of that area)
• All Animal Care Technicians should be able to assist in the operating some of the physical plant equipment in an emergency and should be familiar with the flow of that area of the facility.

Here's what you'll need

• Graduate of a 1-year Animal Health program or equivalent experience (minimum 2 years)
• Keen sense of observation.
• This is a physically demanding position. Should be able to lift a minimum of 15kg (feed bags)
• Able to communicate well. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Be reliable, responsible, and willing to tackle any other assigned duties. Team player.
• Fluent in English, with strong written and oral communication abilities
• CALAS within 2 years of employment.
• Understand the automatic watering system at the room level
• Understand the vented rack at the room level
• Proficient at performing SQ, IP, IM, topical treatments and oral gavaging
• Proficient at performing all 3 methods of euthanasia (CO2, cervical dislocation, IP phenobarbital injection)
• Ear notching and tail clipping, setting up breeding cages, checking for plugs
• Demonstrate commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion objectives

Here's what you'll love

• This position is eligible for employee benefits coverage including; health and dental.
• A focus on employee wellness with our new Staff Health and Well-being Strategy. Self-care helps us support others.
• A hospital that welcomes and focuses on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
• The opportunity to make an impact. Regardless of your role or professional interest, you will be making a difference at SickKids and contributing to our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.
• For more on why you'll love working at SickKids, visit our careers site.

Employment type

• 37.5 hours per week
• 1 year contract with modified benefits (health and dental)

Our Commitment to Diversity

The children and families we care for are from a variety of communities, and so are our employees. We welcome and encourage everyone to join our organization and be part of our team.

When requested, SickKids will provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and assessment process. Information received related to access or inclusion will be addressed confidentially.

Thank you for your interest in joining SickKids. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. In accordance with our Hospital policy, employment at SickKids is conditional upon the Hospital’s receipt of all necessary documentation.

How to Apply

Tip: Combine your cover letter and resume into ONE document of 20 pages or less as you cannot upload multiple documents as part of your application.

If you are still experiencing technical difficulties please email [email protected] to send us a short description of the issues you are experiencing. Please note that we will not accept resumes sent to this inbox but we are happy to respond to requests for technical assistance.