Vivarium Coordinator & Technician (Surgery/Aquatics)

Date Posted: 04/16/2025
Req ID: 42566
Faculty/Division: UofT Scarborough
Department: UTSC:Animal Facilities
Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)
Position Number: 00055880

About us:

The University of Toronto Scarborough is a place of energy, enthusiasm and passion. Our commitment to inclusive excellence attracts the brightest learners, scholars and employees from around the globe. Our success has been made possible by the opportunity given to us by our Indigenous hosts to operate on their territory, and we cherish our continuing partnerships with these communities. The University of Toronto Scarborough is an exciting campus with unlimited potential. Join us on our journey.

The University of Toronto Scarborough’s Vivarium, located within the Office of the Vice-Principal Research & Innovation, takes pride in ensuring the highest standards of animal care. Our facilities support animal housing, research, and teaching for a variety of species including rodents (mice, rats), hummingbirds, and fish (freshwater & saltwater). We provide a welcoming, service-oriented, clean, and safe research and teaching environment for students, faculty, and staff.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Your opportunity:

Under the general direction of the Vivarium Director and working closely with Principal Investigators and the Clinical Veterinarian, the Vivarium Coordinator & Technician provides advanced animal and research technical support. The individual will support the vivarium in training vivarium and lab staff and students on various animal research techniques, the use of equipment, disinfection practices, and animal care. The incumbent also oversees the daily operations of the vivarium and related administrative duties, such as writing/editing standard operation procedures, sample processing, animal import/exports, etc. The individual will also provide on-call support for the vivarium when the Vivarium Director is away (i.e. monitoring automated systems, on-site emergency support, etc.), and supporting animal care activities on the floor when back-up may be needed.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Provides training to vivarium staff, faculty, researchers, and students on the proper and safe use of equipment, animal care practices, and procedures (i.e., orientation training, detailed hands-on animal training, equipment, etc.,). Schedules user training.
• Serves as a technical resource on laboratory protocols, experimental procedures, and equipment. Conducts stereotaxic surgeries, behavior, perfusion, and other animal care or lab-based research techniques for researchers.
• Creating and editing standard operating procedures (SOPs), working instructions, in collaboration with Principal Investigators, Vivarium Staff, and Central U of T initiatives.
• Oversees day-to-day operational needs for research animal vivarium. Including, ensuring laboratory spaces remains compliant, and that all personnel are informed of, and following procedures related to biosafety, equipment, and proper animal care.
• Providing safety training and ensuring compliance to lab safety procedures and standards
• Operates, maintains and troubleshoots equipment and ensures laboratory and vivarium spaces remain clean and organized.
• Maintains and performs administrative tasks using online cloud-based software. Makes minor purchases and orders. Verifies inventories.
• Assists faculty and researchers in the preparation of grant applications and research reports. Provides assistance in the design, implementation, and analysis of studies (i.e. behavior, surgery, etc).

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience (e.g., graduate of a veterinary technology program and direct experience with duties and species).
• Minimum three (3) years of recent and related experience providing administration and technical assistance in a vivarium, including animal care practices and oversight.
• Experience with a multitude of species (rats, mice, fish, and ideally birds) and a diverse range of research projects/working environments.
• Experience conducting rodent stereotaxic procedures and other advanced techniques (i.e. cardiac perfusion, brain dissections, etc.,)
• Strong knowledge of vivarium operations (functions, equipment, redundancy, emergency procedures) and processes including the procurement of animals and equipment.
• Experienced meeting vivarium and laboratory spaces compliance with regulatory standards (University, CCAC, OMAFRA, biosafety, etc).
• Experience working with vivarium and lab equipment including biological safety cabinets, autoclaves, fume hoods, stereotaxis apparatuses, microscopes, dissecting, etc.
• Proficiency in rodent stereotaxis surgery and other advanced research techniques
• Job requires a high level of muscular coordination and/or manual dexterity to execute precision movements (i.e., surgery).
• Ability to demonstrate proficiency in these highly developed technical skills is critical for this role.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accomplish assigned tasks within an unpredictable, fast paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills (i.e. team player) with the ability to work well in a busy team-based environment.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suites e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook and cloud-based systems.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong working knowledge of biosafety standards, CCAC/OMAFRA standards, animal use protocols, SOPs, and WHMIS.
• Applicants are also expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment

Assets (Nonessential):

• Experience conducting animal behavior studies.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Accountable
• Cooperative
• Meticulous
• Multi-tasker
• Responsible
• Tactful
• Team player

Notes:

• A copy of the full job description is available upon request from the UTSC HR Office.
• This role is not currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto's Alternative Work Arrangements Guide.

Closing Date: 04/28/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW 
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing 
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 11 -- $75,223. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $96,196. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol. 
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.