Harwell, England, United KingdomPosted 20 days agoFull-time
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Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell
Salary: £27,406 per annum
Band: MRC-6a-S2
Contract type: Fixed Term (until 31 March 2028)
Hours: Full time (36 hours per week)
Location: Harwell, Oxfordshire, on-site
Closing date: Sunday 1 November 2026
Job Description
Overall Purpose:
To work in the MLC team and provide high quality husbandry and experimental
procedures to fulfil scientific needs. This includes ensuring that the needs of
the animals are met in terms of clean cages, food, bedding and health checks.
Working under Home Office licensing (The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act
1986, amended 2012) to carry out procedures needed to help advance medical
research, with meticulous record keeping of all animal-related work.
Main Duties/
Key Responsibilities:
• Checking the health and welfare of experimental mice
• Cleaning and watering of animal cages
• Addressing the welfare needs of mouse colonies
• Maintaining cleanliness in the animal rooms
• Computerised record keeping
• Reading and adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and risk
assessments
• Taking samples for genotyping
Additional Information:
Must be able to work overtime to cover animal requirements.
Working Relationships:
Member of a team working under supervision of a line manager and ward
supervisor.
Person Requirements
Education/Qualifications/Training Required:
Essential:
5 GCSEs or equivalent at grade C or above
Institute of Animal Technology level 2 Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science and
Technology
Home Office Licence
Previous Work Experience Required:
Essential:
Experience of working with animals, or in a capacity in which a caring approach
in the post is required, and attention to detail are essential (for example, in
kennels, care homes, working with young children)
Desirable:
Basic animal husbandry
Knowledge and Experience:
Essential:
Genuine interest in the welfare of animals
Basic computer skills, including the ability to use digital record keeping
systems and common software packages such as Excel
Desirable:
Experience of working to SOPs
Personal skills/Behaviours/Qualities:
Essential:
Excellent attention to detail
Ability to work as part of a team under supervision
Self-motivated and positive influence on other team members
Ability to carry out manual tasks such as cage changing
Equality & Diversity
The MRC values the diverse skills and experience of its employees and is
committed to achieving equality of treatment for all. Our objectives are that
all individuals shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on
the basis of their skills, aptitudes and abilities. The MRC is committed to the
engagement and retention of the best possible talent and to creating an
environment that encourages excellence in scientific research through good
equality and diversity leadership and management.
Corporate/Local Responsibilities & Requirements
The post-holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due
regard to the MRC’s:
Code of Conduct
Equality and Diversity policy
Health and Safety policy
Data Protection and Security policy
The above lists are not exhaustive, and the post-holder is required to undertake
such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All
employees are required to act professionally, cooperatively and flexibly in line
with the requirements of the post and the MRC.
UKRI
• UK Research and Innovation
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UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research
councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent
organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its
world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects,
we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the
world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental
research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through
world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org [http://www.ukri.org./].
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that
you will have access to a whole host
of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday
entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice
cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI
[https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/working-at-ukri/benefits-of-working-for-ukri/].
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How we support EDI in the workforce
> > > > >
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and
respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an
environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and
experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For
further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
[https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/edi-in-the-workforce/#contents-list]
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Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the
scheme and best meets the
essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable
accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to
perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of
employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
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Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and
covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified
along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference
number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note
that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a
covering letter may result in the application not being considered.
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UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and
inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and
accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application,
however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually
accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been
identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by
artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal
candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline
Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure
to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the
right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of
employment.
The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell
[https://www.har.mrc.ac.uk/about-us/jobs/] (MLC) is located in an expanding
science and innovation park in Oxfordshire and is an internationally renowned
centre at the forefront of genetics research. As the hub of the new National
Mouse Genetics Network, the specialist facilities and capabilities of the MLC
support a number of distinct research clusters spread across the UK to
accelerate our understanding of human diseases, such as cancer, developmental
disorders and neurodegeneration.
The MRC is a great place to work and progress your career, be it in scientific
research or the support functions. There is a range of training and development
opportunities that will be available to you, including professional registration
with the Science Council.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food
security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic
modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement
in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your
personal values or beliefs.