Salary: £27,406 per annum
Band: MRC-6a-S2
Contract type: Fixed Term (until 31 March 2028)
Hours: Full time (36 hours per week)
Location: Harwell, Oxfordshire, on-site
Closing date: Sunday 1 November 2026
To work in the MLC team and provide high quality husbandry and experimental procedures to fulfil scientific needs. This includes ensuring that the needs of the animals are met in terms of clean cages, food, bedding and health checks. Working under Home Office licensing (The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, amended 2012) to carry out procedures needed to help advance medical research, with meticulous record keeping of all animal-related work.
Must be able to work overtime to cover animal requirements.
Member of a team working under supervision of a line manager and ward supervisor.
Essential:
5 GCSEs or equivalent at grade C or above
Institute of Animal Technology level 2 Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science and Technology
Home Office Licence
Essential:
Experience of working with animals, or in a capacity in which a caring approach in the post is required, and attention to detail are essential (for example, in kennels, care homes, working with young children)
Desirable:
Basic animal husbandry
Essential:
Genuine interest in the welfare of animals
Basic computer skills, including the ability to use digital record keeping systems and common software packages such as Excel
Desirable:
Experience of working to SOPs
Essential:
Excellent attention to detail
Ability to work as part of a team under supervision
Self-motivated and positive influence on other team members
Ability to carry out manual tasks such as cage changing
The MRC values the diverse skills and experience of its employees and is committed to achieving equality of treatment for all. Our objectives are that all individuals shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their skills, aptitudes and abilities. The MRC is committed to the engagement and retention of the best possible talent and to creating an environment that encourages excellence in scientific research through good equality and diversity leadership and management.
The post-holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the MRC’s:
Code of Conduct
Equality and Diversity policy
Health and Safety policy
Data Protection and Security policy
The above lists are not exhaustive, and the post-holder is required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, cooperatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the MRC.
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the public sector organisation that invests £8 billion annually to support the entire research and innovation system. We strive for a society powered and empowered by research and innovation, with economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits for all.
We invest in people, places, ideas, innovation and impacts, empowering researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to turn the many challenges we all face into opportunities, driving up prosperity and wellbeing across the UK and globally.
The impacts of our work are felt right across society. We enrich lives by increasing our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, supporting innovative businesses and public services, and creating high-quality jobs throughout the UK.