Staff - Union Job Category BCGEU Okanagan Support Staff Job Profile BCGEU OK Hourly - Research Assistant and Technician I Job Title Auxiliary Animal Care Technician Department UBCO | Shared Research Platforms | Biosciences Facility | Vice Principal Research Office Compensation Range $26.89 - $30.83 CAD Hourly This role is anticipated to be 0.2-0.4FTE At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. This position is responsible for the daily maintenance and care of laboratory animals; this includes cage changing, providing food and water, performing health checks, administering medications as per written instructions and reporting any signs of ill-health.

This position also includes the general cleaning and maintenance of the facility, record keeping, and inventory. This position includes ensuring ongoing awareness of facility environmental needs and making recommendations for adjustments or changes to ensure ongoing operational proficiency. Formal reporting to the Manager, Biosciences Facility.

This position can expect to interact with a variety of people working with teaching and research animals, including, but not limited to; technical and support staff, research faculty, their staff, and students. This position may have contact with various UBC departmental staff, as well as laboratory animal product distributors. Provides basic animal husbandry, handling, restraint, health, behavior and welfare surveillance of laboratory animals, along with continuous awareness of current species-specific welfare issues.

Performs health checks on various laboratory animals and recording observations.



Records and maintains animal data. Provides animal husbandry; this includes providing food, water, clean housing, and enrichment to animals, including changing animal cages and water bottles, operating a cage dumping station, a cage washer, a bottle filler, and a pass-through sterilizer.

Maintains the facility's cleanliness and organization, including routine sweeping and mopping of floors, as well as scheduled cleaning of rooms, vents, and cage racks. Maintains facility equipment as required on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Provides medications to animals as per written instruction (such as eye drops, topical antibiotics, oral medications in food or water).

Assists with the collection of biological samples. Receives, collects and records inventory of animals, food, bedding, and other supplies, repeatedly lifting up to 20kg. Participates in performing administrative operational functions including implementing CCAC recommendations at the direction of the Facility Manager and helping facility to meet CCAC standards/guidelines.

Provides feedback on building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and makes recommendations for adjustments. Responds to emergency calls as directed to by the manager. Inappropriate judgement exercised by the position may impact the success of the facility, leading to increased expenses and time loss.

Additionally, inappropriate judgement may also have detrimental consequences in regard to animal and human health and welfare.





Supervision Received The position reports to the Manager of UBCO Biosciences Facility Services UBC Okanagan.

Supervision Given

This position does not involve supervision, but the position involves reporting to the Team Lead and/or Facility Operations Manager any observations of facility users not following approved processes.

Registered Lab Animal

Technician (CALAS/AALAS) certification an asset; An Animal Health Technology degree is an asset. Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Demonstrated ability in performing standard technical and related husbandry procedures on common species of laboratory animals.

Ability to operate and maintain the instrumentation and equipment utilized in the animal facility. Effective oral and written communication, interpersonal, organizational, problem solving and computer skills. The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally.

A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world. Recent ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence.

An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged.

Human Rights

Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person. however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

📌 Auxiliary Animal Care Technician (Kelowna)
🏢 The University of British Columbia
📍 Kelowna