ANIMAL WELFARE OFFICE | TE TARI ORANGA KARAREHE
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLIANCE

•    Do you want to work alongside the brightest minds in NZ?
•    Is making a difference important to you?
•    Do you want to achieve a real work-life balance?

This role might be exactly what you are looking for and we want to talk to you about a career in research.

About our team/Mō te tīma

At the Animal Welfare Office (AWO) we support biomedical research activities at the University of Otago - New Zealand’s first university. Our job is to make sure we maintain the highest international standards of the welfare and ethical treatment of research and teaching animals. We take our jobs seriously and work alongside amazing scientists who do ground-breaking research and make a real difference to humanity and veterinary medicine.

We work in the state-of-the-art modern biomedical research and containment facility based in the Eccles building, with flexible animal and microbiological research space for multiple research groups from across the University. With everything we need being right at our fingertips, our team is empowered to perform our roles to the best of our abilities.

The role/Te mahi

As an Animal Practices and Compliance Officer you will work in a team to support the Animal Welfare Officer with the provision of a high level of animal care and welfare.

You will develop, monitor, audit and review the animal practices within the Animal Care Programme, ensuring compliance with relevant welfare and ethics policies, procedures, codes and legislation.

In addition, you will be providing clinical veterinary advice as well as training staff and students on these practices.

Your responsibilities will also include:

• Leading the establishment of an operations manual for legislative compliance for animal welfare and animal ethics, and AAALAC for potential accreditation.
• Leading and developing the assessment process to monitor compliance within all University facilities for reporting to senior management on performance, issues and trends, and potential areas of risk.
• Developing the monitoring of AUPs post- approval for compliance with AUP requirements and the University operations plans under the University Code of Ethical Conduct for the use of Animals in teaching, testing and research.
• Conducting investigations on matters of compliance to identify areas for improvements and enhancing animal welfare.
• Preparing and assisting with the implementation of animal care and use systems and services across the University as and when required.
• Providing veterinary clinical guidance on animal use protocols and supporting research staff and animal technicians.
• Prescribing veterinary medicines for research and welfare, in compliance with the ACVM act 1997.

Your skills and experience/Kā pūkeka me kā wheako

• Registered veterinary qualification with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.
• Working knowledge of relevant New Zealand legislation, standards, and codes of practice.
• Knowledge of animal welfare and ethics in research and teaching.
• Auditing and investigation experience, an Auditing qualification or willingness to gain a qualification in this area.
• Recent clinical experience with small animals.

Ideally, you will also have experience in research and teaching animal welfare and ethics experience with laboratory animals (but not essential) or an interest in research combined with the desire to explore a new discipline.

We will provide all the necessary training and support to ensure your success.

Further details/Pūroko

This is a permanent, full-time (37.5 hours per week) position, located in Dunedin.

Applications for part-time hours may also considered – please make your preference clear on your covering letter.

Access to a vehicle and a current driver’s licence are required.

We offer a competitive remuneration package depending on experience and qualifications plus the opportunity to develop and expand your career. Being part of the University of Otago also means access to a wide range of the staff benefits, including 5-week annual leave and generous superannuation contribution.

The appointment range for this position is $94,974 to $103,056 per annum.

Application/Tono

To submit your application (including CV and cover letter) please click the apply button. Applications quoting reference number 2400820 will close on Wednesday, 22 May 2024.

Applications may be reviewed as submitted and candidates may be invited to interview immediately. The University reserves the right to close this vacancy at any time.