Animal Technician

Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell

Salary: £27,406 per annum 

Band: MRC-6a-S2

Contract type: Fixed Term (until 31 March 2028)

Hours: Full time (36 hours per week)

Location: Harwell, Oxfordshire, on-site

Closing date: Sunday 1 November 2026 

 

Job Description

Overall Purpose:

To work in the MLC team and provide high quality husbandry and experimental procedures to fulfil scientific needs. This includes ensuring that the needs of the animals are met in terms of clean cages, food, bedding and health checks. Working under Home Office licensing (The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, amended 2012) to carry out procedures needed to help advance medical research, with meticulous record keeping of all animal-related work.

Main Duties/Key Responsibilities:

• Checking the health and welfare of experimental mice
• Cleaning and watering of animal cages
• Addressing the welfare needs of mouse colonies
• Maintaining cleanliness in the animal rooms
• Computerised record keeping
• Reading and adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and risk assessments
• Taking samples for genotyping

Additional Information:

Must be able to work overtime to cover animal requirements.

Working Relationships:

Member of a team working under supervision of a line manager and ward supervisor.

Person Requirements

Education/Qualifications/Training Required:

Essential:

5 GCSEs or equivalent at grade C or above

Institute of Animal Technology level 2 Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science and Technology

Home Office Licence

Previous Work Experience Required:

Essential:

Experience of working with animals, or in a capacity in which a caring approach in the post is required, and attention to detail are essential (for example, in kennels, care homes, working with young children)

Desirable:

Basic animal husbandry

Knowledge and Experience:

Essential:

Genuine interest in the welfare of animals

Basic computer skills, including the ability to use digital record keeping systems and common software packages such as Excel

Desirable:

Experience of working to SOPs

Personal skills/Behaviours/Qualities:

Essential:

Excellent attention to detail

Ability to work as part of a team under supervision

Self-motivated and positive influence on other team members

Ability to carry out manual tasks such as cage changing 

Equality & Diversity

The MRC values the diverse skills and experience of its employees and is committed to achieving equality of treatment for all.  Our objectives are that all individuals shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their skills, aptitudes and abilities.  The MRC is committed to the engagement and retention of the best possible talent and to creating an environment that encourages excellence in scientific research through good equality and diversity leadership and management. 

Corporate/Local Responsibilities & Requirements

The post-holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the MRC’s: 

Code of Conduct

Equality and Diversity policy

Health and Safety policy

Data Protection and Security policy

The above lists are not exhaustive, and the post-holder is required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post.  All employees are required to act professionally, cooperatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the MRC.