Technical Officer

**Technical Officer**: Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSWPermanent, full-time
**About us**:
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.

**The role**:
The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute maintains facilities for genetically modified rodents, where a high quality of animal care is coupled with excellent services for research.

As Technical Officer (Rodent), you will work as part of a skilled and dedicated animal care team who use the latest technology in housing and equipment to provide support for research into cardiovascular disease and development.

In particular, the Technical Officer (Rodent) will be responsible for the supervision of junior staff who provide professional care (husbandry, breeding, cleaning cages and equipment) for all animal species where mice and rats are the major species, but also involving duties in the aquaria housing zebrafish and aquatic frogs.

This is a permanent, full-time role on a 7-day rotating roster, therefore availability on some weekends and public holidays is required to ensure the continuity of care for animals in the facility.

**What we will trust you with**:

- As a senior staff member, playing a significant role in training and supervision of junior staff, and overseeing the day to day operations of the facility.
- Performance and supervision of animal husbandry, welfare checks, and sentinel screening.
- Supervise animal technicians in the performance of animal husbandry tasks including cage changing, feeding, breeding and routine health monitoring and handling
- Supervise cleaning staff in the preparation of clean animal cages, feed, water and bedding for use in the barrier areas
- Overseeing of multiple facets of facility operations such as human resources, biosecurity, stock control, equipment, compliance, record-keeping and service requests
- Participation in colony and project planning, and provision of support to research projects
- Liaising with building engineers and technical service providers to maintain equipment and records of servicing
- Training and assessing competency of animal care and research staff in animal handling, procedures, and techniques
- Tissue sample collection and parenteral administration
- Coordinating animal import and export
- Assist BioCORE Manager in development of orientation and training programmes for the facility and research staff
- Developing and reviewing facility procedures

**Does this sound like you?**:

- Tertiary qualifications in a related applied science, such as Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience, TAFE Diploma of Animal Technology, or other qualifications deemed equivalent
- Familiar with the use and management of genetically modified mouse strains and surgical research models
- Strong written and verbal communication and the ability to present information and written reports
- Experience in training and supervision of animal care and research staff
- Experience in animal surgery or other invasive techniques
- Ability to maintain good relationships with fellow team members, research staff, suppliers and contractors
- Availability on weekends and public holidays
- Australian Citizenship or Permanent Residency

**What you will be proud of**:
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.

**What we offer**:

- Base salary of $82,342 - $88,243 + 14% super (depending on experience)
- Salary packaging (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
- Diverse and inclusive workforce
- Continuous learning and developme