Pathology Technician (Full-Time / Permanent)​

Overview

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction. Through the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists and our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos, we guide and enable others in the UK and all across the world. Inspiring, informing, empowering – working for wildlife.

Role Profile

ZSL is looking to recruit a Pathology Technician to assist the Wildlife Veterinary Pathologist with routine diagnostic pathology duties and management of the post-mortem (PM) facilities. They will provide technical support to the pathologist and researchers within ZSL, in order to care for the health and welfare of animals in our zoos and conservation and research projects involving wildlife species.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Assisting the department with the investigation of causes of death and disease in animals held in the ZSL Zoos (London and Whipsnade) primarily by note-taking and assisting with post-mortem and follow-up examinations, with the potential to progress to perform post-mortem examinations (PME).
• Soliciting and coordinating the submission of post-mortem material for surveillance projects on the causes of death and disease of free-living and captive wild animals.
• Data entry in order to generate PME reports and update and maintain mortality and diagnostic databases.
• Management (cataloguing, storing and dispatching) of tissue archives (tissues that have been frozen, fixed, paraffin-embedded or sectioned for histology) and curation of paper records.
• Daily upkeep of the post-mortem room, histopathology laboratory and associated equipment and protective clothing, including stock-keeping and ordering.
• Co-ordination and management to ensure fair and ordered use of shared pathology facilities between multiple users.
• Working closely with the curatorial and animal keeping staff of ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo and with the staff of the Institute of Zoology in carrying out these duties.
• Assessment and management in the detection and mitigation of risks involving chemicals, toxins and infectious agents that may be encountered in the pathology facilities.

Person Specification

• A willingness to work with animal carcases, including those for research purposes (essential) 
• An ability to work with electronic databases (essential) 
• An ability to work within a team (essential) 
• An ability to work under instruction (essential) 
• An ability to take initiative and work unsupervised (essential) 
• A degree in a biological science (desirable) 
• Prior experience with post-mortem material and/or histology slides (desirable) 
• A demonstrable interest in animal biology, conservation or zoology (desirable)

N.B: This position will be office based but travel will be required, on rare occasions, for example between London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo. There may be a rare requirement to perform gross necropsies out of normal working hours.

Benefit Package:

This role offers a competitive salary plus a comprehensive benefits package including 25 days holiday, stakeholder pension where the employer minimum contribution is 7%, complimentary zoo tickets and more.

To Apply

Applicants will need to upload their CV and covering letter (detailing relevant experience and skills, stating why they want the position and including details of availability) and can do this by clicking the "Apply for this job online" button.