Assistant Animal Care Technician
- University of Otago
- New Zealand
- Aug 3, 2026
Job Description:
__________
HEALTH SCIENCES DIVISION | TE WĀHANGA MATUA MĀTAU HAUORA
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH FACILITIES
• Are you looking for a varied and exciting career where no two days are the same?
Te mahi /The role
As an Assistant Animal Care Technician, you will be responsible for animal husbandry and on-going care for a range of animals.
Duties are varied and involve providing daily animal husbandry and care for a range of animals, maintaining, and managing breeding colonies of animals under conventional and specific pathogen free conditions, assisting with large animals, cage sanitisation and operation of autoclaves.
Movement across facilities may be required.
You will have the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of research projects, utilising your care skills and the interest you have in caring for, and working with animals.
Skills and experience/Kā pūkeka me kā wheako
You will be the type of person that loves to work with various animal species and ensure they receive an on-going level of comfort while in the care of our facility.
Other important attributes include:
• Familiarity with computer systems.
• Ability to maintain accurate and reliable records.
• Good inter-personal relationship skills and the ability to communicate with people from many diverse backgrounds.
• Reasonable level of fitness as the work requires lifting.
• As this role will involve working alone, a high degree of responsibility and integrity is required.
A Veterinary Care qualification or equivalent experience would be advantageous.
About our Team/Mō te tīma
Biomedical Research Facilities hold and supply laboratory and large animals for research. Our specific team is a group of animal care professionals, committed to the on-going welfare of animals within our care.
We provide technical support, training, and expertise to a variety of units and departments across all the University's campuses. We are an approved Ministry of Primary Industries, and New Zealand Government, Containment and Quarantine Facility.
Further details/Pūroko
This is a permanent, full-time (37.5 hours week) position, located in Ōtepoti, Dunedin.
There is the opportunity for overtime to cover Stat days and weekends as required
The appointment range for this position is $59,494 to $63,000, Top of Range $68,847 per annum.
We offer competitive salary, five weeks’ annual leave, a 6.75% superannuation scheme, and the ability to achieve real work/life balance. Applications from candidates with Māori and Pacific backgrounds or strong competencies in these areas are warmly encouraged.
You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this position.
For further information, or to discuss the role in confidence – please contact Scott Rhodes via the contact details below.
Application/Tono
To submit your application (including CV and cover letter) please click the apply button. Applications quoting reference number 2601182 will close on Monday, 24 August 2026.
Applications will be reviewed as submitted, and the University reserves to close the vacancy at any time.
Additional Information
Contact: Scott Rhodes
Position details: Job Description
Further Information: Department Website
Create an email with a link to this vacancy: Create email
Location: About Dunedin
Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo
The University of Otago is New Zealand’s first university and one of its finest.
It is a leader across all fields of academic...
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Job Description:
__________
HEALTH SCIENCES DIVISION | TE WĀHANGA MATUA MĀTAU HAUORA
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH FACILITIES
• Are you looking for a varied and exciting career where no two days are the same?
Te mahi /The role
As an Assistant Animal Care Technician, you will be responsible for animal husbandry and on-going care for a range of animals.
Duties are varied and involve providing daily animal husbandry and care for a range of animals, maintaining, and managing breeding colonies of animals under conventional and specific pathogen free conditions, assisting with large animals, cage sanitisation and operation of autoclaves.
Movement across facilities may be required.
You will have the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of research projects, utilising your care skills and the interest you have in caring for, and working with animals.
Skills and experience/Kā pūkeka me kā wheako
You will be the type of person that loves to work with various animal species and ensure they receive an on-going level of comfort while in the care of our facility.
Other important attributes include:
• Familiarity with computer systems.
• Ability to maintain accurate and reliable records.
• Good inter-personal relationship skills and the ability to communicate with people from many diverse backgrounds.
• Reasonable level of fitness as the work requires lifting.
• As this role will involve working alone, a high degree of responsibility and integrity is required.
A Veterinary Care qualification or equivalent experience would be advantageous.
About our Team/Mō te tīma
Biomedical Research Facilities hold and supply laboratory and large animals for research. Our specific team is a group of animal care professionals, committed to the on-going welfare of animals within our care.
We provide technical support, training, and expertise to a variety of units and departments across all the University's campuses. We are an approved Ministry of Primary Industries, and New Zealand Government, Containment and Quarantine Facility.
Further details/Pūroko
This is a permanent, full-time (37.5 hours week) position, located in Ōtepoti, Dunedin.
There is the opportunity for overtime to cover Stat days and weekends as required
The appointment range for this position is $59,494 to $63,000, Top of Range $68,847 per annum.
We offer competitive salary, five weeks’ annual leave, a 6.75% superannuation scheme, and the ability to achieve real work/life balance. Applications from candidates with Māori and Pacific backgrounds or strong competencies in these areas are warmly encouraged.
You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this position.
For further information, or to discuss the role in confidence – please contact Scott Rhodes via the contact details below.
Application/Tono
To submit your application (including CV and cover letter) please click the apply button. Applications quoting reference number 2601182 will close on Monday, 24 August 2026.
Applications will be reviewed as submitted, and the University reserves to close the vacancy at any time.
Additional Information
Contact: Scott Rhodes
Position details: Job Description
Further Information: Department Website
Create an email with a link to this vacancy: Create email
Location: About Dunedin
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