Necropsy Technician, Diagnostic Services Unit

Position Overview

The Department of Diagnostic Services in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is currently seeking a Full-time Temporary Relief Necropsy Technician for approximately 18 months

The Necropsy Technician is a member of the Diagnostic Services Unit (DSU) of the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). Reporting to the DSU Manager and receiving day-to-day direction from the Necropsy Supervisor and the UCVM pathologists, the Necropsy Technician carries out various activities that support the anatomic pathology service. The primary purpose of the Necropsy Technician is to assist in the various activities that support the anatomic pathology service. This includes but is not limited to assisting in necropsies; maintenance and cleaning of the necropsy room and associated equipment; assistance with receiving samples; assistance with preparation of samples (e.g. tissue trimming); collection, preservation and cataloguing of specimens to support teaching and/or research under direction of the pathologists; and assisting in teaching laboratories and rotations. The incumbent must work as part of a team within UCVM Diagnostic Services Unit and specifically as part of the Necropsy Laboratory Team.

Position Description

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Must work as part of a team to support teaching and service activities of the DSU.
• Assist with submission receiving (including use of the Laboratory Information Management System), storage and preparation of animals for necropsy by pathology staff.
• Assist with post-necropsy activities as required, such as trimming of tissues and blocks in preparation for further processing.
• Responsible to complete routine cleaning of specialized equipment and the necropsy area in accordance with established biosafety standards.
• Expected to follow strict safety standards to avoid disease or contamination or personal injury, of themselves, other staff, and students.
• Work with chemicals safely and properly, e.g. dilutions, using appropriate containers and protective gear.
• Assist in general laboratory maintenance, including ensuring that supplies are stocked in the laboratory and that requirements to order new supplies are communicated as required.
• Responsible for overseeing general cleaning up of the necropsy room, the layout room, and other areas as required.
• Responsible for leading the maintenance and cataloguing of teaching specimens and electronic records in support of the teaching program.
• Ensures that equipment and work space/facilities are maintained and kept in good order and meet safety requirements.
• Pick up and safely transport equipment and specimens needed for the teaching and research programs, as required.
• Provide assistance with teaching laboratories and rotations as required. Interact with staff and assist with the organization, set up and disassembly of teaching labs and rotations, as requested.
• Must be able to identify problems and take appropriate action to resolve them independently or seek the advice of the appropriate person.
• Ensures Necropsy Supervisor and duty pathologist are kept informed of activities, changes or problems and makes recommendations and suggests solutions pertaining to enhancing teaching support initiatives.
• Must be flexible and able to adjust levels of service delivery to meet the timelines and varying peaks in workload.
• Performs at a very high degree of accuracy, efficiency with an understanding that services have a direct impact on teaching, research and service. Interact with faculty members, staff members, students and clients in an effective, positive and helpful manner.
• The position will be expected to participate in the maintenance and minor repair, assembly/disassembly and cleaning of large pieces of equipment used in anatomic pathology.
• Additional responsibilities for this position will include the operation of a forklift, winches, hoists and scales and may include operation of a delivery or passenger van, 1-ton vehicle, and retrieval carcasses off-campus.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Post-secondary credential / education such as a BSc degree in a relevant field (e.g. a Life Sciences degree) or a diploma in Animal Health Technology or Medical Laboratory diploma (or a related field) is required.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Ability to work with dead animals is required. Previous experience working or training in an animal industry or veterinary environment is considered an asset.
• Demonstration of practical skills, including mechanical sense and familiarity with working with various types of equipment are required. This may be achieved through a variety of means, such as construction equipment, vehicles, or laboratory equipment.
• Previous experience in a research or other relevant scientific/institutional setting is considered desirable. Relevant experience may also consist of work in veterinary clinics, a university research animal care facility, an animal care organization such as the SPCA, or farm/ranch/livestock experience.
• Ability to work with computers and knowledge of or ability to learn management of electronic records or database is required.
• Sound knowledge of the principles of sanitation and disinfection or a willingness to learn is required.
• The ability to disassemble/assemble and maintain equipment is required while mechanical aptitude is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a productive team member as well as work independently is required.
• Ability to perform physically demanding and manual work, with some heavy lifting such as large animal handling equipment is required.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate both verbal and written is essential.
• Must possess a valid Class 5 driver license and a clean driver’s abstract.

Application Deadline:July 21, 2023

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

Additional Information

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase I.

To find out more about management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Management and Staff Careers website. For more information about UCVM visit Careers in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university - a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to theOffice of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion(equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.