The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany is hiring a Laboratory Animal Technician to serve as Germfree Operations Supervisor within its Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) facility. This is a full contract position (Grade 3 or 4) starting from €3,534.47 per month after tax, with a 3-year contract renewable up to 9 years.
About EMBL
🔬 EMBL, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is one of the highest-ranked scientific research organisations in the world. Its Headquarters Laboratory is in Heidelberg, Germany, with additional sites in Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Hinxton (UK) and Monterotondo (Italy).
Role Overview
🧫 This role combines hands-on animal care with supervisory and technical leadership responsibilities. You will be responsible for the daily husbandry and monitoring of laboratory animals maintained in isolators and individually ventilated cages (IVCs) under Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) conditions. Participation in the weekend duty rotation is obligatory.
Daily Animal Husbandry and Monitoring
🐾 Providing daily care and husbandry to GF and gnotobiotic mice according to SOPs | 🐾 Maintaining GF and gnotobiotic animal colonies, including animal procurement and colony maintenance | 🐾 Overseeing the receipt of animals, collection of census information, and animal transfers | 🐾 Ensuring adequate quantities of relevant stocks are available | 🐾 Ordering supplies and consumables | 🐾 Monitoring and reporting malfunction of animal facility equipment
Team Leadership and Supervision
🤝 Overall supervision of users and animal technicians, including scheduling and training new hires | 🤝 Overseeing daily work in the GF area to ensure completion according to SOPs | 🤝 Handling short-term redistribution of resources depending on changing needs | 🤝 Liaising with the Head of LAR and Principal Investigators
Staff Training and Development
🎓 Monitoring progress of LAR technicians and researchers working with GF colonies | 🎓 Providing hands-on GF training and advice | 🎓 Acting as the first point of contact for technical questions regarding the GF colony
Germfree Colony Operations
🧬 Overseeing daily GF colony operations and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations | 🧬 Full responsibility for the husbandry and care of all GF colonies | 🧬 Performing microbial colonisation experiments and tissue collection | 🧬 Coordinating and managing scientific experiments
Microbial Testing and Quality Control
🔭 Performing microbial testing protocols using diagnostic PCR analysis and bacterial culturing protocols | 🔭 Supporting the Animal Health Surveillance programme | 🔭 Writing and updating Standard Operating Procedures
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Qualifications and Certification
📜 Training or certification as a laboratory animal technician | 📜 At least 3 years of experience in an animal facility in a similar role | 📜 Competence in Functions A, C and D as per European Directive 2010/63/EU | 📜 Ability to work independently and as part of a team | 📜 Reliability, attention to detail and flexibility | 📜 A working knowledge of English
Contract Duration and Salary
💼 3-year contract, renewable up to 9 years | 💼 Grade 3 or 4, starting from €3,534.47 per month after tax (excluding pension and health insurance contributions). EMBL salaries are free of national income tax.
Benefits
💰 Salary free of national income tax | 💰 Monthly family and child allowances | 💰 Annual salary review | 💰 Pension scheme | 🏥 Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family | 🏥 30 days annual leave per year | 👶 Kindergarten facility on site | 👶 Generous paid maternity and parental leave
How to Apply
📝 Submit a cover letter and CV through EMBL's online application system (Workday). Reference position JR4674. Applications close at 23:59 CET on 17 November 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this role open to candidates of all nationalities?
Yes. EMBL encourages applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and diverse backgrounds. No specific nationality restriction is mentioned in the job listing.
What is the minimum experience required?
At least 3 years of experience in an animal facility in a similar role, alongside training or certification as a laboratory animal technician and competence in Functions A, C and D as defined by European Directive 2010/63/EU.
Is weekend duty rotation compulsory?
Yes. Participation in the weekend duty rotation is obligatory for this role.
Can the 3-year contract be extended?
Yes. The contract can be renewed up to a maximum of 9 years.
