Job Description

Animal Attendant

Primary Purpose: To provide 24 hour assistance to ensure basic daily requirements of all animals are maintained in the Veterinary Medical Centre. The VMC is focused on patient and client care, learning and discovery. Our animal attendants are essential for our team to provide the highest standards of care for patients, clients, staff and students. This position will float throughout the hospital.

Nature of Work: Reporting to the Manager Health Services, this position works independently with support and direction from clinicians and registered veterinary technologists. Heavy repetitive manual tasks including lifting, moving, crouching, kneeling, moving of cadavers and cleaning of equipment and facilities. i.e. cans/bags of feed, bales of feed, and restraint of animals. This position works in an animal facility with large animals and small animals which exposes employees to animal dander, waste, and unpredictability. This position will spend a large amount of time working outside year round. Subject to some unpleasant odors, dress code, inclement weather, and traffic pattern restrictions. Subject to rotating varying shifts including evenings and weekends. Hours will vary including days, evenings, nights, weekends and STAT holidays.

Typical Duties or Accountabilities: Provides assistance to clinicians, students and vet technicians essential to animal care; cleans and disinfects hospital facilities; including kennels, stalls, surgery suites, etc. according to hospital protocols; observation of animals and reporting of observations; feeds, milks, exercises, and provides bedding for all animals in the care of the Large and Small Animal Clinic; walks, moves, handles and restrains animals including stallions and bulls; lunging/jogging horses; assisting on Field Service calls; pick up and transport of animals via truck/trailer; semen transport; pickup, organize and stocking/maintaining of supplies (and cadavers); maintains and repairs equipment; and operates VMC vehicles (truck, van, skid steer) and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Education: Completion of Grade 12. Must possess and maintain a valid Saskatchewan driver's license and an acceptable driving record. Must have experience with driving a truck and trailer. Must have experience operating a skid steer.

Experience: At least two years related and practical experience preferably in a hospital setting. Experience in handling and care of large and small animals including exotics. Must have experience in handling cattle and horses, including stallions. Must be experienced in driving a truck and truck with trailer. Must have experience in transporting animals with a truck and trailer. Must have experience in operating a skid steer.

Skills: Ability to adapt to and understands the needs of a hospital environment. A sound background and knowledge of animal husbandry with respect to various animal species such as small mammals, rabbits, reptiles, amphibians, ferrets, birds, wildlife, and large mammals such as bovine, equine (including stallions), ovine, caprine, porcine, and some exotics (alpacas, llamas). Ability to perform heavy manual labor associated with cleaning activities and operation of related animal handling equipment. Ability to work in varying and unpredictable conditions both indoors and outdoors. Must be comfortable with restraining and assisting with bovine and equine patients including bulls and stallions. Familiarity with low stress cattle handling and fear free equine procedures is an asset. Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills both written and verbal. Ability to effectively work both independently and as part of a team. Demonstrated effective organizational and time management skills.

Department: Veterinary Medical Centre
Status: Term 12 months with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent
Employment Group: CUPE 1975
Shift: Hours will vary including days, evenings, nights, weekends and STAT holidays.
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $21.34 - 24.88 per hour plus shift premium as applicable. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Applied Scientific Services
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 3
Posted Date: 11/2/2022
Closing Date: 11/29/2022
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: On Campus

The successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where 'Yes' is indicated below. Further information is available at:

Criminal Record Check: Not Applicable
Driver's License and Abstract Check: Not Applicable
Education/Credential Verification: Not Applicable
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable

Please review the University of Saskatchewan's for faculty, staff and students in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University believes equity, diversity, and inclusion strengthen the community and enhance excellence, innovation and creativity. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. The University of Saskatchewan's main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Metis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Metis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.