Job Description

UE03: £24,729.00 - £25,804.00 Per Annum.

Corporate Services Group / Bioresearch & Veterinary Services.

Full Time - 35 hours per week.

Open Ended Contract – Permanent.

The Opportunity

The post of Technical Assistant (Aquatics) involves performing animal husbandry duties to ensure all animal needs are met and high levels of cleanliness sustained through general maintenance and domestic duties within BVS aquatics facilities. There is a significant equipment maintenance component. You will be responding to task requests by providing routine technical assistance and undertake data recording to support research staff when required. The successful candidate will be required to undergo training for a Home Office Personal Licence to allow regulated work with animals in research. They will be able to work as part of a team, communicate clearly, follow instructions and undertake procedures independently after appropriate training. All staff are actively encouraged to develop their CPD personal skills and techniques-base by access to internal and external training programmes.

Knowledge skills and attributes required

Essentials

• Vocational qualifications or school education to standard.
• Experience in aquaria husbandry and equipment maintenance.
• Willingness to study for industry qualifications and Home Office Licence
• Committed to animal welfare and understand the issues of animal welfare.
• Attention to detail and the ability to follow instructions and procedures without constant guidance
• Able to work as part of a team.
• Competent IT and numeracy skills.
• Ability to clearly communicate (oral and written)

Desirables

• Work experience gained with a variety of aquatic species (i.e., zebrafish, salmon, amphibians).
• Hold a relevant Home Office Licence
• Be aware of UK and EU law relating to fish diseases and Animal Use in Scientific Procedures.
• Pre- and post-operative care and use of anaesthesia techniques

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How to apply

Please include the following documents in your application:

- CV

- Cover letter

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages

On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 12th June 2026.

Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone.

Interviews are due to take place w/c 22 June 20269. If you have not heard from us by 17 June 2026, you're application has been unsuccessful and we will not be progressing your application.

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.