Animal Attendant

Job Description

Animal Attendant

• Great opportunity to work with a Global Animal Health Organisation
• Exciting Full-Time, Permanent opportunity
• Be based onsite at our facility at TVL, Whiteman’s Valley, New Zealand
• Use your passion in animal care in a supportive team environment
• Driving Licence and own vehicle required (to transport yourself to and from facility)

THE OPPORTUNITY

As an Animal Attendant, you will work as part of a team responsible for the care and welfare of a variety of laboratory animal species. You will be performing a range of tasks in the area and contribute to the smooth running of the department to meet breeding and welfare targets. 

Tasks may include management of animal breeding, health observation and treatment, documentation and record keeping, animal cage and room cleaning, animal feeding and general husbandry, and other general duties that underpin the operation of the department. 

The nature of animal work requires some duties to be performed outside normal work hours and the incumbent may be required to participate in weekend and holiday rosters to support the facility.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

• Organising and carrying out breeding program in accordance with SOPs
• Documenting all breeding activities thoroughly and accurately in accordance with company standards.
• Communicating any animal health issues to the area supervisor.
• Maintaining breeding database.
• Monitoring animal health.
• Support Animal Technicians by understanding and interpreting the test schedule to effectively plan daily / weekly tasks.
• Planning and executing animal husbandry schedules in the testing area in accordance with written procedures (including rostered weekend work).
• Maintains a high standard of housekeeping
• Maintains a high standard of stockmanship and health awareness of animals
• Performing all duties with a high standard of animal care and in accordance with company standards and the Animal Welfare Act.
• Completing assigned mandatory training modules.
• Maintain all documentation in accordance with Company and relevant quality standards.
• Ensure you adhere to all EHS information, policies, instructions, training and supervision as is necessary to perform your work in a manner that is safe and without significant risk to health or the environment.

WHAT YOU WILL HAVE

• No specific educational experience is required.
• Certificate in Animal Care is desirable
• Experience with handling and caring for animals
• Will also consider those experienced in a similar caring role (eg. Aged Care) or demonstrated genuine passion for animals
• Must be physically fit and capable of prolonged physical activity, capable of lifting and carrying weights of approximately 10 Kg
• Ability to follow instructions accurately
• Strong commitment and work ethic
• Good attention to detail
• Good verbal & written English communication skills
• Good documentation skills
• Willing and able to receive feedback positively
• Computer Skills:  Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

• Join a global organisation that prides itself on high integrity, ethics and compliance
• Be based onsite with passionate and collaborative colleagues
• Handling and caring for animals

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing varied, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when varied ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and multicultural workplace.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Animal Care, Animal Handling, Animal Husbandry, Animal Science, Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA), Environment Health and Safety, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis FMEA, Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility (GR&R), Incident Investigations, Microsoft Word, Nondestructive Testing (NDT), Quality Control Inspection, Quality Improvement Programs, Test and Evaluation (T&E)

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

02/9/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.