To facilitate the learning process by supporting staff and students in an effective learning environment.
- To maintain and repair specialist animal enclosures and be responsible for the security of enclosures and tools.
- Be flexible in supporting the sections requirements and cross college tasks.
- To oversee the Animal Care Apprentices, and interns, whilst working on site and designate the workload.
- To follow the current Life Sciences Animal Standard Operating Procedures.
- To be responsible for the day to day care of all the animals within the Centre for Life Sciences.
- Maintain animal food stock levels to ensure all animals have food and water available as stated in the standard operating procedures.
- To assist in the planning of breeding programmes both for sustainability and food sources.
- To maintain all animal areas within Life Sciences to include the internal animal rooms and external enclosures.
- Undertake Health & Safety risk assessments and ensure all working practices are compliant with industry legislation (e.g. COSHH).
- To ensure that accurate records of animals are kept and the data inputted onto computer systems and paper systems.
- Ensure continuous development and improvement of professional knowledge.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Essential Criteria:
- Minimum of a full level 2 Science/animal management/care qualification.
- Experience of handling/ caring and maintaining a wide range of animals to include exotics, mammals and birds.
- Experience of handling/ caring for and maintaining a wide range of taxa to include Mammalia, Reptilia and Aves.
- The daily responsibilities of an Animal Technician (Lantra 08/01/2013).
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Knowledge of current legislation including the Animal Welfare Act and the Health and Safety at Work.
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Basic Animal First Aid.
- Basic Level in Microsoft applications particularly Word, Outlook and Excel. Willing to undertake training appropriate to the role.
Desirable Criteria:
- A1 assessor award or willing to achieve the qualification within 12 months.
- Experience of handling/ caring and maintaining larger animals.
About Hopwood Hall
STAFF BENEFITS
- Career average pension scheme
- Free gym membership at our Middleton Campus Sports Arena
- Purchase loans for computers and bikes
- Staff discount at the College’s Riverside Salon, Sports Arena and Holiday Clubs
- On-site nursery (Rochdale Campus)
- Credit union for savings, low cost loans and life assurance
- Free on-site parking
- On-site Dog Kennels (spaces not guaranteed)
- An electric and hybrid car salary sacrifice scheme (with charging points on site)
- A cycle to work scheme
- Discounted public transport tickets
- Generous holiday entitlement (Teaching staff: 53 days, Business Support staff: 35 days (From 1st August 2026) plus bank holidays
- Christmas/New Year closure and the opportunity to buy additional holidays
- Two Health and Wellbeing days per year
- Subsidised bistro and refectory
We are a Further Education College and University Centre offering a range of full and part time courses employing over 600 staff on our campuses in Rochdale and Middleton situated to the north-east of Manchester.
We are committed to being a great place to work and have membership status of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. We are a Living Wage employer and an accredited Disability Confident Employer. Our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion statement is designed to ensure that unfair discrimination does not take place in any part of our recruitment process.We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners and colleagues and we expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. The college complies with Safer Recruitment guidance in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education and all successful applicants are required to undertake a DBS check and other pre-recruitment checks in line with our Safer Recruitment policy. It is an offence to apply for a regulated role at the College if you are barred from working with children (or vulnerable adults if in a role where this applies).
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and exemption orders 1975, 2013 and 2020.
Please mention Jobs With Animals when applying for this role.