Job Description

Join us as a Trainee Animal Technician and make an invaluable contribution to our Food Safety & Biosecurity!
As a Trainee Animal Technician, you will work in Feras Specialist Wildlife Facility (SWF), where you will be responsible for supporting all aspects of the facility work, including undertaking animal husbandry and maintenance tasks to ensure the smooth running of the facility. The role will include supporting work conducted under the Animals (scientific procedures) Act 1986. Candidates with a keen interest in working with animals are required.
What you'll be doing:

• Working with a wide range of animal species including aquatic species such as birds, fish and frogs.
• Responsible for maintaining both laboratory and animal facilities (including daily equipment checks, instrument maintenance and general laboratory housekeeping)
• Working to Good Laboratory Practice in compliance with standard operating procedures.
• Assisting on a range of regulatory and/or research-based laboratory studies.
• Maintaining written and computer records
• Data entry and checking study data in collaboration with study Directors
• Supporting the Study Directors in calculating and reporting results

What we're looking for:

• Previous experience working with a wide range of animal species.
• Experience in laboratory techniques.
• Ability to keep clear and accurate written records of experimental work to a high standard
• Ability to work within a team and independently with supervision.
• Practical IT skills in software packages such as Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experienced in organising, prioritising and completing work to required standards and to tight deadlines.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and accommodating to changing work priorities.
• It is important to understand that when working with live animals that flexible working is required. We would therefore especially welcome applications from individuals that are willing to work outside of core hours to support the work undertaken within our laboratories.
• Weekend and Bank Holidays to be worked as part of a rota basis.

What's in it for you?

• ?25 days' holiday (rising to 29) with the opportunity to buy & sell extra leave.
• Flexible working hours, on-site gym, restaurant, and free parking
• The opportunity to take a paid day out of the office, volunteering for our charity partners or a cause of your choice
• Company matched pension, life assurance, a cycle2work scheme, 15 weeks' fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks...and plenty more.
• Voluntary benefits designed to suit your lifestyle - from discounts on retail and socialising, to health & wellbeing, travel and technology
• Fera operates a LTIP ( Long Term Incentive Plan) under which all employees are awarded points towards shares in the Employee Benefits Trust on an annual basis. The Employee Benefits Trust holds shares on behalf of our employee, at the point of an equity event the shares will realise a cash value.

What we hope you'll do next:
Choose 'Apply now' to fill out our short application, so that we can find out more about you. If you have any questions you'd like to ask before applying, you can contact
We're an equal opportunity employer, which means we recruit and develop people based on their merit and passion. We're committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment process and working environment for everyone. If you need the job description or application form in an alternative format or if you'd like to discuss other changes or support you might need going forward, please email at and we'll get back to you.
At Fera, we're making the world a better, healthier and safer place. We're a joint venture partnership between Bridgepoint and Defra and we're working proactively to protect the world we live in and the food we eat. Our teams are investigating plant and bee health, crop protection and sustainable agriculture. Join us and discover better as you deliver world-class science for the future.

Skills Required