Laboratory Animal Technician - Germfree Operations Supervisor

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is one of the highest ranked scientific research organisations in the world. The Headquarters Laboratory is located in Heidelberg (Germany), with additional sites in Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Hinxton (UK) and Monterotondo (Italy).

Responsibilities include daily husbandry and monitoring of laboratory animals maintained in isolators and IVCs under Specific pathogen free (SPF) conditions. Additional duties include providing technical services for scientists who use laboratory animals for research. Participation in the weekend duty rotation is obligatory.

Your Role

Organization of the team

• Overall supervision of users and animal technicians including scheduling of work and training new hires in all GF-related tasks.

• Oversee daily work in GF area to ensure completion according to SOPs.

• Handle short-term redistribution of resources (i.e. assignment of resources depending on changing needs in GF area).

• Liaise with the head of LAR and PI to ensure work is covered during holidays, etc.

Staff training and development

• Monitor progress of LAR techs and researchers working with GF colonies and train and re-train as needed.

• Provide hands-on GF training/advice to LAR techs and researchers as needed and according to approved policies and SOPs, applying a continuous development approach.

• Act as first point of contact for technical questions regarding GF colony.

Policies and compliance

• Understand and apply EMBL, IACUC, LAR and animal welfare policies.

• Participate in LAR/laboratory meetings/rounds as needed.

• Liaise with head of LAR to ensure H&S policies are properly implemented.

• Ensure animal environment is in compliance with EMBL policies, LAR SOPs and IACUC directions.

• Ensure that care, housing and husbandry of animals meet EMBL SOPs and policies.

• Participate in the writing and updating Standard Operating Procedures.

Area Supervisor

• GF colony operations in isolators

• Oversee daily GF colony operations and ensure daily practices and processes comply with applicable regulations.

• Responsible for the husbandry and care of all GF colonies, including dedicated equipment operation and maintenance (both preventative and corrective). Liaise with LAR supervisors as needed.

• Provide daily care and husbandry to GF/gnotobiotic mice according to SOPs, including preparation and sterilization of supplies (including process validation and QC/QA).

• Maintain GF/gnotobiotic animal colonies, including animal procurement, colony/line maintenance, cage inventory and record-keeping.

• Perform microbial colonization experiments and tissue collection of GF/gnotobiotic animals.

• Perform microbial testing protocols of gnotobiotic colonies and equipment using diagnostic PCR analysis and bacterial culturing protocols.

• Coordinate and manage scientific experiments and supports users, including planning, execution, monitoring, and documentation of involved experimental steps.

• Monitor and oversee repair and report malfunction of animal facility equipment. Contact outside vendors or appropriate EMBL personnel for equipment repair.

• Ensure adequate quantities of relevant stocks (reagents, consumables, etc.) are available at all times in the assigned area.

• Order supplies and consumables as needed.

• Oversee the receipt of animals, collection of census information, animal transfers within and between different animal areas/rooms.

• Participate in the execution of the Animal Health Surveillance program (sampling, coordinate with lab, handling samples, etc.).

Research support

• Interact with research investigators concerning research protocols, procedures and other related techniques. Advise researchers and staff regarding experimental techniques and procedural issues.

• Work with LAR management to address investigator non-standard husbandry requests.

You have

Qualifications and Experience

Training or certification as a laboratory animal technician is required. The candidate must be able to work independently as well as part of a team. Reliability, attention to detail, flexibility and a working knowledge of English are essential. Computer skills are desirable.

Duties and responsibilities (as Team supervisor):

(The team includes LAR technicians and scientists working with the GF colony).

• Experience of at least 3 years in an animal facility with a similar role.

• Function A, C and D as per European Directive 2010/63/EU.

• Strong interpersonal skills.

• Ability to build trust amongst team members.

• Very good organizational skills.

• Excellent problem-solving skills.

• Professional attitude to handling and solving conflicts.

• Competent to lead a diverse team in a challenging environment.

• Computer skills.

• Able to communicate in English in a professional environment.

Contract duration: 3 years renewable to 9 years

Salary: Grade 3 or 4 ( monthly salary dependent upon experience and training, starting from 3.534,47EUR after tax (excl. pension and health insurance contributions).

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation. 

We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy.

Enjoy lots of benefits:

• Financial incentives: Salary free of income tax, monthly family and child allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances

• Flexible working arrangements

• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)

• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to public holidays

• Campus life: Free shuttle bus (some sites only), on-site library, subsidised on-site cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)

• Family benefits: Kindergarten (Heidelberg), 10 days of child sick leave, generous paid maternity/parental leave and monthly family & child allowances

• For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here

What else you need to know

• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.

• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.

• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date