Animal Assistant Jobs in Saskatchewan (NOW HIRING)

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) is western Canada's regional college of veterinary medicine. It is part of a comprehensive academic health sciences group on the university campus, with access to facilities including the Canadian Light Source and the Biomedical Beamline and Saskatchewan Centre for Cyclotron Sciences, VIDO. For further information, please visit https://wcvm.usask.ca.

The Animal Care Unit (ACU) is a multi-species research facility with a Level 2 biocontainment area, Aquatics Lab, and outdoor paddock area for livestock.

NOTE: Due to biosecurity protocols with facility animals, applicants who have poultry or swine as pets or production animals at home or come into contact with them at outside facilities or farms cannot be considered for this job.

Primary Purpose: The purpose of this position is to provide on floor supervision to the Animal Care Unit during weekends. The incumbent will be responsible to work alongside the ACU team and work with the ACU Director. The purpose of this position is to provide functional direction and guidance to unit technical staff on weekends, provide care to animals and assist with technical instruction and with labs for veterinary technology students.

Nature of Work: This position reports to the ACU Director. This position assists with providing supervision, day to day task assignment of technical staff on weekends and some administrative tasks. The unit operates according to CCAC guidelines, Laboratory Safety Guidelines, and UACC policies and procedures. The facility provides services to the research community and WCVM teaching activities involving animals, requiring daily interaction with staff, faculty and students, as well as non-USask entities. It is often a fast-paced environment, requiring the ability to multi-task while working under pressure. Ensures husbandry and technical coverage is provided within the unit; animal handling/husbandry and manipulation is part of the position. This position works in conventional, Containment Level 2, aquatic and livestock animal facilities, and is exposed to animal dander, waste and bedding, and at times a noisy environment.

Typical Duties or Accountabilities:

• Provides direct, on the floor supervision of technical staff and assists the ACU Director with management of the casual weekend employees life cycle through activities such as orientation, and onboarding, coaching and performance feedback. 
• Responsible for a diverse team and ensuring staff are working within operational and procedural standards while satisfying quality operations and customer service needs of the university and campus partners.
• Work within a collaborative leadership team with the ACU Director and senior ACU technicians to ensure smooth operations and maintenance.
• Works and communicates effectively with other units within the University.
• Reduces risk by remaining current with and adhering to university policies, guidelines and processes, collective agreements, relevant legislation, and regulatory code compliance.
• Ensures adherence to CCAC published guidelines, UACC approved protocols, policies and procedures, and Laboratory Safety Guidelines.
• Oversees the well-being of all animals in the Unit's care.
• Provides support to the ACU Director to develop and maintain facility Standard Operating Procedures and all necessary facility documents.
• A contact for Principal Investigators.
• Responsible for ensuring facility maintenance.
• Recognizes and resolves potential OH&S issues

Education: Minimum post-secondary education or equivalent experience involving animals, animal care and research. Graduate level degrees are not necessary but would be an asset (MSc or PhD).

Licenses: Registered or eligible for registration with the Saskatchewan Association of Veterinary Technologists (SAVT) or DVM from a recognized veterinary program. Eligibility or current licensing with SVMA an asset. Candidate may be required to pursue RLAT certification with the Canadian Association of Laboratory Animal Science.

Experience: Three to five years of shift supervision, and/or leadership experience within a large, complex facilities management organization and or customer-oriented workplace. Experience with working with laboratory and domestic animals as well as exotic and aquatic species in a barrier maintained research facility. Experience operating a skid steer, UTV, truck and stock trailer/flat deck is an asset. Experience with local Animal Care Committees and other CCAC related committees is an asset.

Skills:

• Proficient technical skills demonstrated in the various fields mentioned above
• Demonstrated proficiency in personnel supervision, leadership and conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrated effective organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Innovative problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills both verbal and written, finance and resource management, and effective relationship-building capabilities.
• Ability to share leadership and management duties, working as a collaborative team
• Experience balancing long-, medium-, and short-term goals in a changing work environment and the ability to prioritize workload to complete daily activities and meet deadlines and demonstrated effective and sound judgment
• Experience working in a diverse and inclusive environment.
• Proficient with multiple information systems, software programs, and applications (e.g. AiM, Banner, Microsoft Office, PeopleSoft).