Animal Health Technician - Roodeplaat at Deltamune

POSITION PURPOSE

• The Animal Health Technician assists with day-to-day activities in support of Deltamune’s Animal Studies Unit at the Roodeplaat site, focusing mainly on providing animal care, husbandry, and welfare.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Compliance with entrance and exit procedures in animal holding areas.
• Removal/cleaning of bedding as required.
• Ensuring that feed and water are available to animals, especially once cleaning is complete.
• Cleaning and disinfection of animal holding facilities, this includes the cleaning of storage areas, animal holding equipment, and animal enclosures.
• Cleaning of the water supply system to maintain its functioning.
• Correct disposal of wastes including animal bedding and manure according to QMS.
• Reporting any abnormality with the animals immediately to veterinarians.
• Reporting any abnormalities (room temperatures out of specification, high ammonia levels, etc.).
• Assistance in other animal holding areas as required, and as trained.
• Preparation of animal holding areas/enclosures for animal arrivals.
• Handling of animals for cleaning, as trained.
• Animal restraint for daily activities of the species housed.
• Animal restraint for specific procedures.
• Invansive and non-invasive marking of animals for identification purposes.
• Collection of various body fluids and tissues using various techniques
• Administration of substances by various routes
• weighing of animals
• Offloading and loading of animals.
• Assist with Excel data entry.
• Offloading of deliveries (grass, bedding, feed, etc.).
• Compliance with any stock/consumables management processes.
• Compliance with the Deltamune quality management system.

SPECIFICATIONS

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of a grade 12
• National Diploma: Animal Health
• Be registered with SAVC as Animal Health Technician

KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge of and experience with general animal husbandry will be an advantage.
• Experience working in a quality management system environment will be an advantage.

SKILLS / ATTRIBUTES / COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to communicate effectively, written as well as spoken, in English.
• Passion for animals and to exhibit empathy and compassion towards them.
• Be willing to learn in all aspects of the Unit (including becoming computer literate)
• Be compliant with biosafety requirements & use personal protective equipment supplied.
• Ability to work well within a team.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Willing and able to work additional hours if necessary.
• Willing and able to be trained to work in a biosafety level 3 environment.
• Willing to undergo a medical examination to prove medically fit for biosafety level 3 clearance.