Are you looking for a role that will challenge you? Our Biology R&D Facility is looking for a Laboratory Assistant! As part of the Isotopes, Radiobiology & Environment Directorate (IRED) of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, the Biology R&D Facility at CNL is seeking a Laboratory Assistant for the Biological Research Facility (BRF). Work is conducted in the BRF in support of the Federal Nuclear Science and Technology (FNST) program with Federal Stakeholders, for commercial customers including Candu Owner’s Group (COG) and pharmaceutical Contract Research Organizations, as well as Canadian and International universities. This position is essential to ensure we maintain Facility- Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) status, continue to meet the guidelines and policies of the Canadian Council on Animal Care, operate according to the principals of Good Laboratory Practices, and sustain Facility safety standards. This position reports to the Biology R&D Facility Branch Manager.
What will you be doing!
- Acting as the Equipment Custodian for key Facility equipment, including autoclaves, cage washers, washers and dryers, balances, etc.
- Maintaining an inventory of and procuring Facility equipment, supplies and PPE&C.
- Identifying, collecting and disposing of Facility waste; completing waste assessments and documentation.
- Assisting with shipping and receiving of materials out of and into the building, and disinfecting all materials received into the Facility.
- Cleaning and sanitizing within the Facility; this involves cleaning and changing footbaths; sweeping, mopping, spraying and scrubbing floors; dusting and cleaning counters and equipment; preparing, collecting and taking out garbage and recycling; disinfecting work surfaces including floors, drains and counters throughout the entire building; operation of cage washers, autoclaves, and laundry washers and dryers.
- Animal cage dumping, filling and washing. This requires donning of a respirator. Dirty rodent (mouse and rat) cages are dumped, washed and then refilled with clean bedding. A large portion of this work involves moving 20 kg bags of bedding on a regular basis, and operation of the feeding and dispenser units.
- Laundering of Facility scrubs and lab coats.
- Performing Facility Monthly Zone checks and routine maintenance of safety equipment such as emergency showers, eyewash stations and first aid kits.
- Assisting Lab Supervisors with laboratory chemical inventories and Safety Data Sheets.
- Supporting animal health surveillance profiling and sanitization tests to maintain SPF status.
- Providing administrative support (e.g., update of SOPs, maintenance of GLP binders, photocopying, scanning)
- Undertaking training relevant to the position. e.g., Facility-Specific SOPs, Radiological Protection Training, GLP Training.
- Tracking and submitting Facility usage sheets.
- Answering phones and escorting RP staff, visitors and trades, as required.
- Other duties as assigned by your manager.
What we are looking for:
- Education
- High school graduation is required.
- An animal care certificate or similar is preferred, but not required, due to the skills learned in this education.
- An animal health education will allow the person to understand the requirements for maintaining a specific pathogen free environment, the methods and steps required to do so, and the ability to learn to clean and disinfect in the laboratory animal environment.
- Note- Tetanus vaccination is required.
- Experience
- Experience with Microsoft Office Applications (Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word) is preferred.
- Experience with record keeping, Quality Assurance or Information Management would be considered an asset.
- Experience in cleaning animal cages and facilities or working in an aseptic or pathogen-free environment would be considered an asset.
- Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Ability to be fit-tested for a respirator (N95 or Comfo).
- Ability to lift and handle heavy (~20 kg) bags of feed and bedding.
- Knowledge of radiation protection is desired, and Group-2 Radiation Protection training is required (provided by CNL).
- Must be efficient, and able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Must be safety conscious, detail-oriented, able to communicate effectively and able to plan ahead.
- Ability to work in a somewhat isolated, quiet environment with no windows for much of the day and be able to get along with co-workers in this physically demanding position. All work history and references will be checked to verify past performance.
- Self-organized, able to establish own priorities within a given work schedule and be willing to change priorities frequently depending upon work requirements. Work requirements may change on a frequent basis depending upon project and building requirements.
- Knowledge of radiation protection is desired, and Group-2 Radiation Protection training is required (provided by CNL).
- Security Clearance Eligibility Required
- Reliability Status with Site Access Security Clearance (SASC), which has a minimum requirement of 3-5 years of verifiable history in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and/or the United Kingdom. CNL implements security screening in accordance with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's “Standard on Security Screening” and the “Policy on Government Security.”
Working Conditions:
- Physical and Sensory Demands include visual concentration required for working with the floor scrubber and other equipment, moderate physical effort is required spending much of the day in the standing position and performing repetitive movements when dumping and filling cages, lifting and moving of heavy objects on an hourly or daily frequency (bags of animal feed or bedding, pails of liquid, metal and plastic animal caging and bags of garbage) of 11 kg to 18 kg, and heavy objects on wheels be moved from room to room that may weigh up to 450 kg.
- Hazardous material handling and use are part of this job. Some jobs require the wear of personal protective equipment, including a respirator for periods of time.
- This position requires close contact with animals and potential allergens.
- This job requires special entry and exit procedures into and out of the building where the employee will be based and will perform work. Employees are required to change clothes frequently, and wear lab coats, gloves, hair nets and surgical masks for a large portion of each day. The work environment is, for the most part, devoid of windows and thus lacks natural sunlight. The office area is an open area with several people working in the same room; however, much of the working day may be spent working alone.
- This position provides lots of challenges and interesting task changes as new research projects begin, but also consists of repetitive tasks.
- This position requires working in Radiological Class C laboratories.
- Overtime and flexible work schedules may be required.
Why CNL?
Does working with a team across Canada to advance nuclear science and technology for a clean and secure world speak to you? We're reinventing ourselves to be the pacesetters so we can lead the charge in solving the problems that matter, like building the next generation of clean nuclear and hydrogen energy solutions, developing new and better-targeted cancer treatments, and continuing to lead the world in environmental remediation.
We offer a complete total rewards package :
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, floater & personal);
- Benefits effective day one, that’s right, no waiting period;
- Tuition support
- and a pension!
Do Our Priorities Resonate with You?
- Clean energy for today and tomorrow.
- Restore and protect the Environment.
- Contribute to the health of Canadians.
Location:
CNL’s Chalk River laboratory is nestled in the Ottawa Valley and affords our employees an environmentally pristine area with extensive forests, hills, and numerous small lakes. These support a variety of wildlife typical to the southern edge of the Canadian Shield. Many surrounding towns, such as Pembroke, Petawawa, and Deep River, provide unparalleled outdoor adventures at your doorstep!
CNL is committed to providing an atmosphere free from barriers that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion in achieving our mission. CNL welcomes and celebrates employees, stakeholders and partners of all racial, cultural, and ethnic identities. Read here further on our DE&I Commitment.
CNL also supports a workplace environment and a corporate culture that is built on our Core Values: Respect, Teamwork, Accountability, Safety, Integrity and Excellence which encourage equitable employment practices and career prospects inclusive of accommodations for all employees.
CNL is committed to being an equal-opportunity employer. If you require accommodation measures during any phase of the hiring process, please indicate via our ATS when applying. All information received in relation to accommodation requests will be kept confidential.
The Chalk River Laboratories site is located on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. As an organization, CNL recognizes and appreciates their historic connection to this place. CNL also recognizes the contributions that First Nations, Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous Peoples have made, both in shaping and strengthening this community in particular, and this province and country as a whole.
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