ANIMAL CARETAKER

ANIMAL CARETAKER

Deltamune (Pty) Limited, an independent centre of excellence, is a South African-based biotechnology company. Our focus is on veterinary health offering vaccines on a commercial scale. Deltamune’s veterinary vaccine range includes registered and autogenous vaccines for poultry, ruminants and other species. Deltamune invites all suitably qualified and experienced candidates to apply for the following vacancy:

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Animal Caretaker
Location: Roodeplaat
Classification: Permanent
Employment Equity: Preference will be given to EE applicants

POSITION PURPOSE

The animal caretaker provides assistance with day-to-day activities in support of Deltamune’s Animal Studies Unit at the Roodeplaat site, focusing mainly on cleaning of animal holding areas and related equipment and general animal husbandry.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Cleaning within the animal facility:
  • Compliance with entrance and exit procedures in animal holding areas.
  • Removal/cleaning of bedding as required.
  • Ensuring that feed and water is available to animals, especially once cleaning is complete.
  • Cleaning and disinfection of animal holding facilities, this is to include the cleaning of storage areas, animal holding equipment and animal enclosures.
  • Cleaning of water supply system to maintain its functioning.
  • Correct disposal of wastes including animal bedding and manure according to QMS.
  • Reporting of any abnormality with the animals immediately to para-veterinarian and/or veterinarians.
  • Reporting of any abnormalities (room temperatures out of specification, high ammonia levels etc.).
  • Assistance in other animal holding areas as required, and as trained, especially for after-hours and weekend work.
  • Preparation of animal holding areas / enclosures for animal arrivals.
• Other Animal Husbandry responsibilities will be included depending on experience and training of the incumbent in the role. Incumbent must be willing to partake in in house training in order to learn the skills of an animal handler.
• Handling of animals for the purpose of cleaning, as trained.
• Responsibility will progress (in line with internal SOPs training) to include (but not be limited to):
  • Animal restraint for daily activities of the species housed.
  • Animal restraint for specific procedures.
  • Unique non-invasive marking of animals for identification purposes.
  • Collection of eggs.
  • Collection of facility samples within the animal facilities.
  • Offloading and loading of animals.
  • Assist with Excel data entry.
• Assisting with maintenance / repairs.
• Assisting with the creation of ASU items (e.g. enrichment devices, refuges for animals, building temporary enclosures).
• Offloading of deliveries (grass, bedding, feed etc.).
• Compliance with any stock / consumables management processes.
• Compliance with the Deltamune quality management system.

Closing Date: 2 May 2022

Please take note:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Deltamune may expire jobs at their own discretion.

SPECIFICATIONS

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of a grade 12

KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge of and experience with general animal husbandry will be an advantage.
• Experience working in quality management system environment will be an advantage.

SKILLS / ATTRIBUTES / COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to communicate effectively, written as well as spoken, in English
• Passion for animals and to exhibit empathy and compassion towards them
• Be willing to learn in all aspects at the Unit (including becoming computer literate)
• Be compliant with biosafety requirements & use personal protective equipment supplied
• Ability to work well within a team

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Incumbent must be willing / able to work weekends on a rotational basis.
• Willing and able to work additional hours if necessary.
• Willing and able to be trained to work in a biosafety level 3 environment.
• Physically able to handle and restrain large production animals such as cattle.
• Willing to undergo a medical examination to prove medically fit for biosafety level 3 clearance.

Apply Here: https://deltamune.co.za/project/animal-caretaker/

Deltamune