Animal Attendant

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Main duties and responsibilities:

Animal husbandry (55%)

• Assists in the proper care and maintenance of animals
• Feeds animals according to standards and schedules.
• Ensures animals have access to an adequate source of potable water
• Inspects animal housing conditions
• Cleans and changes cages, pens, enclosures, and ancillary items such as platforms, food bins, water bottles, huts, wood structures and anything inside a cage or pen for a variety of animals, accessories according to established standards and schedules
• Provides appropriate enrichment for different animal species (NHP toys, crinkled paper for mice, bird perches, rat tubes, etc.) …  and ensures the macro environment follows the Canadian Council on Animal Care standards (CCAC).
• Verifies macroenvironment - this includes visual, auditory and olfactory for anything abnormal.
• Verifies that the equipment is functioning normally for the individually ventilated caging system.
• Completes standard reports and logs for all tasks mandated by CCAC.

Animal health-related duties (8%)

• Monitors the general health of the animals and informs the Animal Health
• Technician of any changes via the rodent illness & injury reports.
• Reports in person or via email/phone if urgent matters arise concerning any physical and/or behavioural abnormalities, according to CMARC standards for veterinary care, following job aids. Also reports any deviations to the approved housing standards (example, overcrowding)
• Required to apply various treatments to animals after instructions from the Veterinary Care group (eye ointments, application of green clay over wounds, or providing wet food in a dish).
• Completes standard reports and logs

Receiving and shipping of animals (2%)

• Verifies that the received animals' paperwork matches the order's paperwork
• Following established standards, verifies the sex, the number of animals, and the health condition of each animal and reports any discrepancies
• Prepares and verifies animals for shipment following standards. Shipping is usually for rodents but can also be for primates. Receiving is also rodents, but in addition can be rabbits, cats, birds, aquatic species, primates and other species that may be housed in the future. The task at the ACA level is just packing the animals in transport boxes with appropriate supplies, depending on how far they are travelling.
• Completes standard reports and logs

Facility Maintenance (10%):

• Including hallways, anterooms, procedure rooms, euthanasia rooms, bathrooms in some facilities, office areas
• in some facilities, and lounges in some facilities.
• Sanitizes all animal-related areas according to standards.
• Reports any malfunctioning equipment or facility-related issues
• Performs minor work relating to the construction or repair of cages, enclosures, pens, etc.
• Takes inventory of animals. Assists in the inventory and restocking of animal-related supplies and Equipment
• Disposes of carcasses and waste according to standards
• Completes standard reports and logs

Equipment Processing (18%)

• All caging, racks, accessories and enrichment.
• Cage Wash
• Sanitizes, prepares and sterilizes animal-related equipment according to standards
• Performs scheduled maintenance of processing equipment. Weekly and monthly maintenance of rack washers, cage washers, tunnel washers, autoclaves, dumping stations, filling stations and all associated equipment.
• Completes standard reports and logs

Resource Person (2%)

• Liaise with research staff regarding access to the equipment in the room
• Vet care questions that can be answered in some cases or redirected to AHTs in other cases.
• Demonstrate how to properly use various equipment

Demonstrate use of equipment (3%)

• Assist in demonstrating all duties of an animal care attendant, if required, to new employees

Collaboration and support (2%)

• In collaboration with all team members, ensures that all tasks are accomplished on a daily and weekly basis
• Attends required meetings and training sessions
• Identifies and suggests any potential improvements to the supervisor regarding processes and/or equipment.

The schedule for this position is based on a 5-day shift, including weekends

This position might require the incumbent to support different areas of CMARC depending on the need. 

The use of Personal Protective Equipment is mandatory (including the N95 mask). 

Participation in OHP is mandatory for personnel in contact with non-human primates.

As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:

• Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)
• Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)
• Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
• Competitive vacation policy
• Two (2) personal days
• Two (2) floating holidays
• Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
• Paid time off over the December holiday period
• Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
• Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits

Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.

Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level # (qualifier) on a scale of 0-4.

For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click here.

Minimum Education and Experience:

High School Diploma 6 Months Related Experience /

Hourly Salary:

(MUNACA Level A) $21.99 - $27.24

Hours per Week:

35 (Full time) Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday

Supervisor:

Animal Care Manager

Position End Date (If applicable):

2027-07-16

Deadline to Apply:

2026-04-21

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected].