About the role
Please refer to the
How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates)
job aid for instructions on how to apply.
If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at McGill University), do not apply through this Career Site. Login to your McGill Workday account and apply to this posting using the Find Jobs report (type Find Jobs in the search bar).
Job Description – Animal Attendant
Animal husbandry (55%)
Assists in the proper care and maintenance of animals
Feeds animals according to standards and schedules.
Ensures animals have access to an adequate source of potable water
Inspects animal housing conditions
Cleans and changes cages, pens, enclosures, and ancillary items such as platforms, food bins, water bottles, huts, wood structures and anything inside a cage or pen for a variety of animals, accessories according to established standards and schedules
Provides appropriate enrichment for different animal species (NHP toys, crinkled paper for mice, bird perches, rat tubes, etc.) … and ensures the macro environment follows the Canadian Council on Animal Care standards (CCAC).
Verifies macroenvironment - this includes visual, auditory and olfactory for anything abnormal.
Verifies that the equipment is functioning normally for the individually ventilated caging system.
Completes standard reports and logs for all tasks mandated by CCAC.
Animal health-related duties (8%)
Monitors the general health of the animals and informs the Animal Health
Technician of any changes via the rodent illness & injury reports.
Reports in person or via email/phone if urgent matters arise concerning any physical and/or behavioural abnormalities, according to CMARC standards for veterinary care, following job aids. Also reports any deviations to the approved housing standards (example, overcrowding)
Required to apply various treatments to animals after instructions from the Veterinary Care group (eye ointments, application of green clay over wounds, or providing wet food in a dish).
Completes standard reports and logs
Receiving and shipping of animals (2%)
Verifies that the received animals' paperwork matches the order's paperwork
Following established standards, verifies the sex, the number of animals, and the health condition of each animal and reports any discrepancies
Prepares and verifies animals for shipment following standards. Shipping is usually for rodents, but can also be for primates. Receiving is also rodents, but in addition can be rabbits, cats, birds, aquatic species, primates and other species that may be housed in the future. The task at the ACA level is just packing the animals in transport boxes with appropriate supplies, depending on how far they are travelling.
Completes standard reports and logs
Facility Maintenance (10%):
Including hallways, anterooms, procedure rooms, euthanasia rooms, bathrooms in some facilities, office areas
in some facilities, and lounges in some facilities.
Sanitizes all animal-related areas according to standards.
Reports any malfunctioning equipment or facility-related issues
Performs minor work relating to the construction or repair of cages, enclosures, pens, etc.
Takes inventory of animals. Assists in the inventory and restocking of animal-related supplies and Equipment
Disposes of carcasses and waste according to standards
Completes standard reports and logs
Equipment Processing (18%)
All caging, racks, accessories and enrichment.
Cage Wash
Sanitizes, prepares and sterilizes animal-related equipment according to standards
Performs scheduled maintenance of processing equipment. Weekly and monthly maintenance of rack washers, cage washers, tunnel washers, autoclaves, dumping stations, filling stations and all associated equipment.
Completes standard reports and logs
Resource Person (2%)
Liaise with research staff regarding access to the equipment in the room
Vet care questions that can be answered in some cases or redirected to AHTs in other cases.
Demonstrate how to properly use various equipment
Demonstrate use of equipment (3%)
Assist in demonstrating all duties of an animal care attendant, if required, to new employees
Collaboration and support (2%)
In collaboration with all team members, ensures that all tasks are accomplished on a daily and weekly basis
Attends required meetings and training sessions
Identifies and suggests any potential improvements to the supervisor regarding processes and/or equipment.
The schedule for this position is based on a 5-day shift (May include weekends).
This position might require the incumbent to support different areas of CMARC depending on the need.
The use of Personal Protective Equipment (including the N95 mask) is mandatory.
Participation in OHP is mandatory for personnel in contact with non-human primates.
Minimum Education and Experience:
High School Diploma 6 Months Related Experience /
Hourly Salary:
(MUNACA Level A) $21.99 - $27.24
Hours per Week:
35 (Full time)
Supervisor:
Animal Care Manager
Position End Date (If applicable):
2026-06-30
Deadline to Apply:
2025-07-09
McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence,
accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca
.
About McGill University
McGill University is one of Canada's best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world. With students coming to McGill from some 150 countries, our student body is the most internationally diverse of any research-intensive university in the country. McGill was founded in 1821 thanks to a generous bequest by James McGill, and since then, we've grown from a small college to a bustling university with three campuses, 11 faculties, some 300 programs of study, and more than 37,500 students. The University also partners with four affiliated teaching hospitals to graduate over 1,000 health care professionals each year.
The goal of McGill University's social media platforms is to strengthen our community, which includes students, faculty, and alumni. The aim is to provide information on events, campus news and promote networking.
McGill University fosters freedom of expression, while valuing respect and collegiality. We encourage respectful dialogue and reserve the right to remove the following: Comments deemed offensive, vulgar or profane; comments off-topic and/or unrelated to posted content; content that infringes on an individual's privacy or copyright.
About the role
Please refer to the
How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates)
job aid for instructions on how to apply.
If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at McGill University), do not apply through this Career Site. Login to your McGill Workday account and apply to this posting using the Find Jobs report (type Find Jobs in the search bar).
Job Description – Animal Attendant
Animal husbandry (55%)
Assists in the proper care and maintenance of animals
Feeds animals according to standards and schedules.
Ensures animals have access to an adequate source of potable water
Inspects animal housing conditions
Cleans and changes cages, pens, enclosures, and ancillary items such as platforms, food bins, water bottles, huts, wood structures and anything inside a cage or pen for a variety of animals, accessories according to established standards and schedules
Provides appropriate enrichment for different animal species (NHP toys, crinkled paper for mice, bird perches, rat tubes, etc.) … and ensures the macro environment follows the Canadian Council on Animal Care standards (CCAC).
Verifies macroenvironment - this includes visual, auditory and olfactory for anything abnormal.
Verifies that the equipment is functioning normally for the individually ventilated caging system.
Completes standard reports and logs for all tasks mandated by CCAC.
Animal health-related duties (8%)
Monitors the general health of the animals and informs the Animal Health
Technician of any changes via the rodent illness & injury reports.
Reports in person or via email/phone if urgent matters arise concerning any physical and/or behavioural abnormalities, according to CMARC standards for veterinary care, following job aids. Also reports any deviations to the approved housing standards (example, overcrowding)
Required to apply various treatments to animals after instructions from the Veterinary Care group (eye ointments, application of green clay over wounds, or providing wet food in a dish).
Completes standard reports and logs
Receiving and shipping of animals (2%)
Verifies that the received animals' paperwork matches the order's paperwork
Following established standards, verifies the sex, the number of animals, and the health condition of each animal and reports any discrepancies
Prepares and verifies animals for shipment following standards. Shipping is usually for rodents, but can also be for primates. Receiving is also rodents, but in addition can be rabbits, cats, birds, aquatic species, primates and other species that may be housed in the future. The task at the ACA level is just packing the animals in transport boxes with appropriate supplies, depending on how far they are travelling.
Completes standard reports and logs
Facility Maintenance (10%):
Including hallways, anterooms, procedure rooms, euthanasia rooms, bathrooms in some facilities, office areas
in some facilities, and lounges in some facilities.
Sanitizes all animal-related areas according to standards.
Reports any malfunctioning equipment or facility-related issues
Performs minor work relating to the construction or repair of cages, enclosures, pens, etc.
Takes inventory of animals. Assists in the inventory and restocking of animal-related supplies and Equipment
Disposes of carcasses and waste according to standards
Completes standard reports and logs
Equipment Processing (18%)
All caging, racks, accessories and enrichment.
Cage Wash
Sanitizes, prepares and sterilizes animal-related equipment according to standards
Performs scheduled maintenance of processing equipment. Weekly and monthly maintenance of rack washers, cage washers, tunnel washers, autoclaves, dumping stations, filling stations and all associated equipment.
Completes standard reports and logs
Resource Person (2%)
Liaise with research staff regarding access to the equipment in the room
Vet care questions that can be answered in some cases or redirected to AHTs in other cases.
Demonstrate how to properly use various equipment
Demonstrate use of equipment (3%)
Assist in demonstrating all duties of an animal care attendant, if required, to new employees
Collaboration and support (2%)
In collaboration with all team members, ensures that all tasks are accomplished on a daily and weekly basis
Attends required meetings and training sessions
Identifies and suggests any potential improvements to the supervisor regarding processes and/or equipment.
The schedule for this position is based on a 5-day shift (May include weekends).
This position might require the incumbent to support different areas of CMARC depending on the need.
The use of Personal Protective Equipment (including the N95 mask) is mandatory.
Participation in OHP is mandatory for personnel in contact with non-human primates.
Minimum Education and Experience:
High School Diploma 6 Months Related Experience /
Hourly Salary:
(MUNACA Level A) $21.99 - $27.24
Hours per Week:
35 (Full time)
Supervisor:
Animal Care Manager
Position End Date (If applicable):
2026-06-30
Deadline to Apply:
2025-07-09
McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence,
accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca
.
About McGill University
McGill University is one of Canada's best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world. With students coming to McGill from some 150 countries, our student body is the most internationally diverse of any research-intensive university in the country. McGill was founded in 1821 thanks to a generous bequest by James McGill, and since then, we've grown from a small college to a bustling university with three campuses, 11 faculties, some 300 programs of study, and more than 37,500 students. The University also partners with four affiliated teaching hospitals to graduate over 1,000 health care professionals each year.
The goal of McGill University's social media platforms is to strengthen our community, which includes students, faculty, and alumni. The aim is to provide information on events, campus news and promote networking.
McGill University fosters freedom of expression, while valuing respect and collegiality. We encourage respectful dialogue and reserve the right to remove the following: Comments deemed offensive, vulgar or profane; comments off-topic and/or unrelated to posted content; content that infringes on an individual's privacy or copyright.