Senior Animal Technician

At Peter Mac we aim to continuously improve cancer care, research and education across all cancers and for all people affected by cancer: changing lives, breaking new ground. Everything we do is underpinned by our core values, Excellence, Compassion and Innovation. Welcoming people from a wide variety of different backgrounds and experiences is critical to fostering innovation, cultivating compassion, attracting and retaining top talent and providing the best possible cancer care for our patients.

YOUR ROLE IN OUR FUTURE
 

Senior Animal Technician
 

• 12-month Fixed term, Full time role
• Up to 80 hours per fortnight with monthly ADOs
• $74,172.80 to $85,545.20 AUD p.a. depending on experience
• Attractive salary packaging offers available

About the role

An exciting opportunity exists within the Models of Cancer Translational Research Centre, for a Senior Animal Technician ready to learn new skills in performing and coordinating pre-clinical cancer experiments. While the technician will receive comprehensive training in all new laboratory and experimental skills required, a proven track-record in managing data and competence working with electronic databases is essential. 

The role requires meticulous adherence to experimental protocols and ethics compliance, a commitment to safe work practices, and organisational and project management skills. The technician will keep regular working hours with occasional out-of-hours, weekend or public holiday work when rostered. 

The Senior Animal Laboratory Technician will work within an existing team, under the supervision of a Lead Scientist.

The principal responsibilities of the position are mouse health monitoring, drug and cell injections, blood collections, tumour volume measurements and record keeping. You will work as part of team to plan, schedule and carry out pre-clinical experiments, including taking primary responsibility for or assisting with experiments. 

About you

Basic understanding of compliance regulations including POCTA Act, AQIS, PC2 & OGTR and Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes is essential. While previous experience with cancer biology is not required, to be successful in this position you will need to have a commitment to learning new skills, and to understanding the principles which underlie pre-clinical cancer experiments in mice. 

The successful candidate will meet the following essential requirements:

• Diploma of Animal Technology (or equivalent)
• Experience working at a high level of independence and responsibility in an Animal Facility
• Extensive experience in the care of experimental mice in PC2 environment.

The successful candidate may also display the following desirable skills:

• Experience with cell culture and/or laboratory skills (e.g. pipetting, centrifuging).
• Experience with xenograft experiments in mice.

Our benefits

We offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally, including:

• Up to $11,660 in salary packaging to increase your take home pay
• Discounted health insurance and eye care
• A comprehensive health and wellbeing program
• Public transport options at our doorstep and end of trip facilities for cyclists
• Onsite eateries and coffee shops and inviting rooftop garden spaces
• Pathways for professional development and new career opportunities
• Five weeks annual leave, 17.5% leave loading, purchased leave options & monthly ADOs

Inclusion and belonging

Peter Mac celebrates, values and supports a diverse and inclusive environment which reflects our vibrant community.  We encourage applications from anyone identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.  We also welcome anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, linguistically, culturally and/or gender diverse, people with disability, and people of any age to apply for our roles.

Join us

If you feel this role is right for you we warmly invite you to apply, and encourage your early application.  All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory police check and may include vaccination requirements.  Should you need assistance or require any adjustments or accommodations to fully participate in the application or interview process, you are welcome to reach out to the contact person listed.  We acknowledge that not all applicants will meet the full list of selection criteria outlined, and wherever possible we will consider applications where relevant experience can apply.

Applicants to this role should provide a cover letter outlining relative key skills and experience to assist us with our assessment.

For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position summary. Alternatively, please contact us using the information below for a confidential discussion.

Hiring Manager: A/Prof Benjamin Blyth
Contact Number:
Email:

Applications Close: 9 October 2025

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Position Summary

The Models of Cancer Translational Research Centre conducts pre-clinical experiments in mouse models for exploring and developing new drugs, therapies and imaging agents. This position is primarily to provide technical assistance to plan, schedule and carry out in vivo experiments including data collection. Working as part of a team, the senior animal technician is responsible for:

• Health monitoring of experimental mice, including decision-making according to pre-defined monitoring criteria.
• Preparation of drugs and live cells in the laboratory.
• Performing experimental techniques on mice as an investigator in accordance with SOP's, AEEC approvals and guidelines.
• Meticulous adherence to experimental protocols and record-keeping.
• Real-time data entry and reporting from electronic databases.
• Compliance with laboratory safety, radiation safety, and general safe work practices.
• Maintaining high animal ethics standards and compliance with all animal welfare obligations.
• Directly reporting experimental events to team or Principal Investigators.
• Effective communication within the team and with collaborating investigators.

Enterprise Agreement

Allied Health Professionals

Classification or Salary Range

BV1-ON18

Immunisation Risk Category
Immunisation Category A Key Relationships

• Translational Research Centre Staff
• Staff and Students of Cancer Research Division
• Principal Investigators
• Animal Facility Staff

Education
Skills

Essential Requirements

• Diploma of Animal Technology (or equivalent)

• Experience working at a high level of independence and responsibility in an Animal Facility

• Extensive experience in the care of experimental mice in PC2 environment.

Desirable Requirements      

• Experience with cell culture and/or laboratory skills (e.g. pipetting, centrifuging).

• Experience with xenograft experiments in mice.

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations
Key Accountabilities

1. Planning, Scheduling and Running Pre-Clinical Mouse Experiments   

• Demonstrates competence in preparing and working from experimental plans using established experimental templates.
• Effective communication and real-time task management using electronic documents.
• Demonstrated ability to cross-reference experimental protocols against SOPs, animal ethics approvals and project timelines.
• Accurate and timely entry of data in monitoring and experimental records.
• Accurate and precise preparation of drugs, including cytotoxic agents.
• Reliable sterile technique with cell culture and harvesting.
• Maintaining a clean and organised laboratory environment.

2. Performing Experimental Techniques on Mice       

• Thorough and accurate observation of mouse health and welfare.
• Competence in performing various experimental procedures including injections, drug dosing, irradiations, imaging scans, and minor surgical procedures under anaesthesia.
• Commitment to training and practice for new experimental techniques and adherence to standard operating procedures.
• Meticulous adherence to high animal welfare standards.

Key Accountabilities (Contd..)

3. Participation across Translational Research Centre      

• Regular attendance and presentation at laboratory meetings.
• Participation in laboratory-wide or shared tasks (e.g. cleaning, stocking, maintenance rosters).
• Assistance with training for TRC staff and external staff/students.
• Assistance across TRC projects where required, including learning and practicing new skills.

4. Compliance with Translational Research Centre and PeterMac Research expectations, and commitment to values          

• Up-to-date records of all mandatory and job-specific training courses.
• Prompt disclosure of any conflict of interest for all commercial or project-based research.
• Maintenance of commercial confidence, protection of sensitive information and compliance with any non-disclosure conditions.
• Mandatory reporting of safety incidents, near-misses and identified risks.
• Commitment to inclusive, diverse and respectful workplace culture.

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For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position profile. Alternatively, please contact us for a confidential discussion.

Peter Mac is a child safe organisation and has a commitment to child safety and wellbeing.

WHY WORK FOR PETER MAC

• Peter Mac offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally.
• Our staff benefits include award winning facilities, professional development and events, a health and wellbeing program, flexible work practices and policies and financial benefits such as salary packaging.
• We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.

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