Job Purpose

To manage a Biological Services Animal Facility by planning, overseeing and reviewing activities to ensure effective and efficient day-to-day operation. To provide a professional, high welfare and legislatively compliant service to researchers and a positive, safe working environment for all technical staff within a well-maintained facility. The Facilities Team provides both husbandry and welfare support, as legally required under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) as well as specialist technical support for researchers who work with laboratory animals.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Management of a Biological Services animal facility, including oversight of staff, to fulfil researchers’ requirements. Communicate clearly, promptly and effectively with all researchers, facility staff and Named personnel. Trouble shooting and being proactive in resolving issues. Manage special projects to investigate novel techniques, procedures or equipment to improve support provided by the department

2. Purchase and maintain stocks of equipment and consumables to ensure the smooth running of the facility. Preparation of data for invoicing, placing purchase orders, maintaining service reports, equipment logs and departmental record/information systems and databases (e.g. tick@lab).

3. Managing, motivating and developing a team of technical staff to ensure excellent animal service provision to researchers. Undertake inductions, appraisals, recruitment, in-house training and CPD and monitoring staff performance in relation to research needs.

4. Responsible for the fabric and equipment within the facility is fit for purpose and meet both researchers developing scientific needs and are compliant with Home Office guidelines. Includes managing and enforcing biosecurity measures to protect against potential disease outbreak. To be the primary contact for Estates and buildings and external contractors for any work undertaken within the allocated facility.

5. Display a full understanding of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act and other relevant UK legislation to ensure and maintain compliance within Biological Services

animal facilities. Includes having an in-depth knowledge of project licenses, severity conditions, adverse effects and endpoints and identifying and proposing opportunities to promote and implement the 3R’s.

6. Provide advice and assistance to researchers to facilitate their experimental programmes. Includes advice on complex breeding strategies, colony management, animal imports/exports and transfers and ensuring accurate records of activities are maintained.

7. Act as the Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO) for allocated designated areas and fulfil this role as required by Home Office Legislation. Contribute to the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) by reviewing project licences (PPL’s) and attending the AWERB when required.

8. Responsible for ensuring all activities within the Biological Services animal facility are carried out in line with Health & Safety and legislative requirements of the University and relevant external agencies. Includes producing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) and Risk assessments.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar role. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4), or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).

A2 Relevant animal technology qualifications e.g. Certificate/Associateship/Membership of the Institute of Animal Technology, HNC in Biological Sciences with Animal Technology modules etc.

A3 Certificated attendance and assessment at an accredited Personal Licensee training course

A4 Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO) training and qualifications.

A5 Well-developed and thorough understanding of relevant Home Office and Health and Safety legislation.

A6 A good understanding of the control and management of disease transfer and biosecurity

A7 Demonstrable knowledge of University and departmental policies and procedures regarding safety, security, personnel matters etc.

A8 Demonstrable knowledge and proficiency in the use of IT systems including Word, Excel and databases.

A9 Demonstrable knowledge of managing an animal facility.

A10 Security clearance for working in animal facilities (will be arranged before appointment).

Desirable:

B1 Management qualifications.

B2 Degree qualifications in an appropriate animal or biomedical science–related subject.

B3 Experience of working at a senior level within a University research environment.

B4 Registered Animal Technician (RAnTech) qualification.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Proven ability to effectively and clearly communicate to a wide variety of staff and researchers at all levels.

C2 Proven ability to develop and motivate staff through coaching, motivation and managing performance.

C3 Capable of working on own initiative and proactively solving problems that arise.

C4 Able to work flexibly to meet service demands.

C5 Commitment to the highest standards of animal husbandry and welfare.

Desirable:

D1 Able to deliver lectures and workshops relating to Home Office modules and competency training.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Significant, demonstrable experience working under ASPA within an animal facility.

E2 Significant experience as a Home Office Personal Licence Holder.

E3 Experience as a Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer.

E4 Experience in control of assigned budgets.

E5 Supervisory/management experience.

Desirable:

F1 Previous experience of managing technical staff and research projects in a small to medium sized facility.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £40,247 - £45,163 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended (permanent). Relocation support will be provided where appropriate.

The successful applicant will be subject to security checks by Agenda Screening Services.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

Closing Date: 6 March 2025 at 23:45