Animal Welfare Officer

Your extensive veterinary experience and deep understanding of the ethical use of animals in research set you apart. You possess excellent problem-solving abilities, strong analytical and critical thinking skills, and can handle complex situations with empathy and integrity. Your communication skills enable you to effectively interact with staff at all levels, fostering a supportive and open dialogue.

Above all, you are a dedicated and compassionate professional with a strong commitment to animal welfare. You bring your experience developing and delivering training to educate others and ensure that the highest standards of animal welfare are maintained.

Our BioCORE Facility is essential to our heart research, providing high-standard laboratory animals, facilities, services, and compassionate animal care. As the Animal Welfare Officer (AWO), you will be responsible for overseeing the welfare of animals used in research, ensuring compliance with relevant codes and regulations, and promoting ethical practices.

This is a part-time role (4 days per week) where you will provide leadership, veterinary services, technical support, and education across all research areas involving animals, focusing particularly on small laboratory animals (i.e. Rodents, Zebrafish, Medaka Fish and Xenopus Frogs).

• Oversee the health and wellbeing of animals within the BioCORE Facilities.
• Provide expert veterinary and technical support for animal-related experiments.
• Promote a collaborative environment between animal care staff, investigators, and animal user groups.
• Assess animal welfare and environmental indicators, recommending improvements as needed.
• Develop and update protocols for animal welfare and veterinary services.
• Support Investigators and animal user groups in Animal Ethics Applications and reporting.
• Represent the Institute at monthly Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) meetings.
• Investigate and manage adverse incidents, reporting to the AEC.
• Inspect animal facilities regularly to ensure compliance with relevant codes and standards.
• Train research users and BioCORE staff to meet animal welfare requirements.
• Stay current with scientific literature and industry developments.
• Provide consultation over phone, video call, or in person in the event of animal welfare emergencies outside of regular work hours.
  

• Degree in Veterinary Science, eligible for registration in NSW.
• Demonstrated veterinary experience.
• Experience overseeing the welfare of a range of animal species used in research, including mice, rats, fish, and amphibians.
• Proficiency in animal surgical and non-surgical techniques, diagnosis, treatment, anaesthesia, and euthanasia.
• Knowledge and experience interpreting the NSW Animal Research Act and the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.
• Understanding of OGTR Physical Containment level 2 (PC2) and BC2 Approved Arrangements (AA) requirements.
• Experience in a compliance or regulatory role.
• Familiarity with animal research models and best practices.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organisational, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Experience in developing and delivering training to scientific and professional research staff.
• Strong commitment to animal welfare.
  
• Availability for emergency callouts
  

The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (the Institute) is dedicated to finding cures for cardiovascular disease and is one of the most respected heart research facilities in the world. Renowned for the quality of its breakthroughs, the Institute was established in 1994 and has grown to a team of more than 200 researchers from around the globe, working across five divisions.

A global centre-of-excellence, it integrates Cardiac Physiology and Transplantation, Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics, Structural and Computational Biology, as well as Vascular Biology. At the Institute, we translate our discoveries into new diagnostics, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular disease - reducing the incidence, severity, and impact of heart disease. 

Being part of an Institute that is not only dedicated to finding cures for cardiovascular disease, but one that also strives to ensure our employees and students enjoy a great working environment. We value and are committed to providing a safe working environment that embraces diversity, gender equity and promote flexible working arrangements for all employees.

We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply. We also welcome applicants with diverse educational backgrounds, professional knowledge, personality types, thinking styles and life experiences. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

• Salary packaging/sacrificing (up to $15,900 per annum plus $2,650 for meals and entertainment)
• State of the art facilities
• Stimulating work setting focused on cutting edge medical research
• Collaborative team environment
• Continuous learning and development opportunities
  
  

Come and work with us & help make a difference.