Deputy Manager/NACWO

We have a new opportunity for a Deputy Manager and NACWO to join an established research facility in Cheshire overseeing the day-to-day management of a biomedical services unit. In your role you will manage a small team of staff in a rodent facility, working closely with the Senior BSU Manager to manage projects and ensuring an excellent culture of care. This is a hands-on role within the team to provide training and good team morale, as well as assisting with experimental procedures and animal husbandry.

The role holder will hold the position of Named Animal Welfare Care Officer (NACWO) and in so doing will ensure that the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are met and that the highest standards of animal welfare are maintained at all times.

Basic Requirements:

• Qualification or equivalent in a relevant science, technical or research subject
• Institute of Animal Technology qualification level 3 or above is desirable
• Current or previous holder of a Home Office Personal Licence
• Experience of working in a rodent BSU facility
• NACWO qualification or willingness to work towards NACWO qualification
• Excellent knowledge in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
• Excellent knowledge of rodent husbandry
• Able to train, guide, and develop new users and members
• Plan, prioritise, and organise work and have a high level of communication skills

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Record environmental conditions and support the facility manager to act upon reports of anomalies
• Provide support to the facility manager for workload and workforce planning to ensure all animal care and husbandry duties are completed in an organised and timely manner by the facility team
• Ensures that work is performed in accordance with appropriate Health & Safety, quality and compliance standards, e.g. Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Animal Scientific Procedures Act (ASPA).
• Daily animal care duties
• Perform study procedures as per facility users requirements
• Act as NTCO, contribute to the training and competency assessments for the team, facility users and contract technicians, maintaining up-to date and accurate training records
• Keeping accurate records, inputting data onto computer systems and maintain records of occupancy to inform customer billing and reporting
• Communicating with researchers, experimental staff, and facility team
• Cleaning and maintenance duties throughout the unit, working to a high standard of cleanliness and health and safety at all times
• Providing support to the facility manager in maintaining appropriate levels of stock, deputising for procurement activity when required
• Be flexible in supporting the team, overtime is required on a rota system to care for the welfare of the animals on weekends and bank holidays

Agenda and its clients only recruit people who are passionate about animal care and welfare, people with integrity who are honest and trustworthy and who have a great work ethic. To enable us to hire the very best people, we will conduct a comprehensive background and pre-employment screening, an essential part of Agenda's recruitment process.