HR191
NOTES
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JOB DESCRIPTION
Forms must be downloaded from the UCT website: http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/sapweb/forms/forms.htm
This form serves as a template for the writing of job descriptions.
A copy of this form should be kept on file in your office.
For re-evaluations, this form must be sent to your relevant HR Advisor/Officer
POSITION DETAILS
Position Title (current title)
Reproduction Biotechnologist
Status of Post (tick)
New Post
Job Grade (current grade)
PC9 (contract)
Faculty (if applicable)
Health Sciences (UCT Core Facility)
Department
UCT Research Animal Facility (RAF)
Section (if applicable)
Reproduction Biotechnology Laboratory (SPF Unit)
Date of Compilation
18 February 2013
Re-evaluation
X
FOR OFFICE USE
Job Title
Date of Grading
Grading Result
ORGANOGRAM
RAF Director (Dr. Bert Mohr)
RAF Manager (Mr. Hiram Arendse)
SPF Unit Line-Manager
(Mr. Jaap Visser)
Reproduction Biotechnologist
(THIS POSITION)
PURPOSE
The position’s purpose is to efficiently manage, operate and maintain the UCT-RAF’s rodent
Reproduction Biotechnology Laboratory at a high quality-standard; to perform efficient in vitro
fertilisation, microscopic embryo-transfer, embryo & sperm cryopreservation, rederivation and
related assisted-reproduction procedures; to refine and trouble-shoot Standard Operating
Procedures and to conduct detailed quality control in order to reliably generate viable specified
pathogen-free (SPF) rodents.
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JOB CONTENT
Key Performance Areas (4 – 6)
1. Embryo-transfer & rederivation
% of
time
spent
30
Activities / Objectives / Tasks
Results / Outcomes
Competencies
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Reproduction Biotechnology
Laboratory functioning
successfully and optimally.
Detailed SOPs optimised for
good results and strictly
adhered to.
Record-keeping complete and
accurate.
Orders processed in good time
to prevent operational delays.
Successful embryo-transfer of
rodents, producing infectionfree live births (i.e. embryotransfer progeny).
Laboratory
management skills.
Ability to perform
successful embryotransfer, rederivation
& related techniques,
without supervision.
Ability to trouble-shoot
and refine procedures
to get optimal results.
Ability to strictly follow
SOPs.
Micro-surgical
manipulation, surgical
skills, welfare & health
status monitoring,
strict aseptic
technique, detailed
record keeping,
critical thinking,
dedication to quality,
meticulous work.
Willingness to engage
in staff training
programmes.
Good communication
skills.
Reproduction Biotechnology
Laboratory functioning
successfully and optimally.
Ability to perform
successful
cryopreservation &
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2. Cryopreservation
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20
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Management of Reproduction
Biotechnology Laboratory (incl.
equipment maintenance, placing
all orders, maintaining detailed
inventory, coordinating and
overseeing daily functioning, etc.).
Implement, develop, refine &
optimise all embryo-transfer &
rederivation Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs).
Perform surgery on live rodents
under general anaesthesia (incl.
Caesarean sections, fallopian tube
implants, vasectomies).
Monitor general anaesthesia &
post-surgical welfare of rodents.
Administer required drugs &
hormones to rodents.
Maintain rodents infection-free in
isolator cabinets and individually
ventilated cages (IVCs).
Quality control of all processes,
including health screening and
management of sentinel systems.
Coordinate associated breeding
programmes.
Work in a strict aseptic manner.
Liaison with researchers.
Implement, develop, refine &
optimise all SOPs for embryo and
sperm cryopreservation.
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HR191
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Maintain detailed embryo and
sperm cryo-bank & inventory.
Viably rederive frozen embryos.
Viably thaw sperm and perform
IVF.
Coordinate breeding programmes.
Quality control of all processes.
Liaison with researchers.
Work in a strict aseptic manner.
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3. In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
20
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Implement, develop, refine &
optimise all SOPs for IVF.
Administer required drugs &
hormones to rodents.
Coordinate associated breeding
programmes.
Maintain rodents infection-free in
isolator cabinets and IVC cages.
Harvest viable mouse oocytes.
Manage incubator sterility.
Work in a strict aseptic manner.
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Page 3 of 6
Detailed SOPs optimised for
good results and strictly
adhered to.
Record-keeping complete and
accurate.
Successful cryopreservation of
rodent gametes and embryos,
producing infection-free live
births (i.e. progeny).
Viable sperm thawing and in
vitro fertilisation.
Reproduction Biotechnology
Laboratory functioning
successfully and optimally.
Detailed SOPs optimised for
good results and strictly
adhered to.
Record-keeping complete and
accurate.
Successful IVF that produces
infection-free live births (i.e.
progeny).
Viable sperm thawing and IVF.
related techniques,
without supervision.
Ability to trouble-shoot
and refine procedures
to get optimal results.
Ability to strictly follow
SOPs.
Micro-surgical
manipulation, surgical
skills, health status
monitoring, strict
aseptic technique,
detailed record
keeping, critical
thinking, dedication to
quality, meticulous
work.
Willingness to engage
in staff training
programmes.
Good communication
skills.
Ability to perform
successful IVF &
related techniques,
without supervision.
Ability to trouble-shoot
and refine procedures
to get optimal results.
Ability to strictly follow
SOPs.
Micro-surgical
manipulation, strict
aseptic technique,
detailed record
keeping, critical
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4. Quarantine management
15
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5. Quality-control & reporting
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10
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Implement, develop, refine &
optimise all SOPs for quarantine
management.
In charge of overall strategy for
and execution of moving animals
from quarantine into SPF unit.
Perform Caesarean sections on
rodents.
Coordinate breeding programmes.
Perform tail-cuts for genotyping.
Perform animal identification.
Maintenance of animals in IVC
cages and isolator cabinets.
Quality control of all processes,
including health screening and
management of sentinel systems.
Liaison with researchers.
Work in a strict aseptic manner.
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Design, implement and refine
quality control (QC) systems and
processes to monitor embryotransfer, cryopreservation &
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Quarantine areas functioning
successfully and optimally.
Detailed SOPs optimised for
good results and strictly
adhered to.
Record-keeping complete and
accurate.
Successful and timeous
movement of appropriate
health-status animals from
quarantine into the SPF unit.
Reproduction Biotechnology
Laboratory functioning
successfully and optimally.
QC complete and accurate.
thinking, dedication to
quality, meticulous
work.
Willingness to engage
in staff training
programmes.
Good communication
skills.
Ability to perform
successful quarantine
& related techniques,
without supervision.
Ability to trouble-shoot
and refine procedures
to get optimal results.
Ability to strictly follow
SOPs.
Skills in synchronizing
mouse breeding,
health status
monitoring, strict
aseptic technique,
detailed record
keeping, critical
thinking, dedication to
quality, meticulous
work.
Willingness to engage
in staff training
programmes.
Good communication
skills.
Detailed record
keeping, professional
report compilation,
critical evaluation,
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6. Other functions
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5
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quarantine operations.
Detailed reporting on a regular
basis to SPF Line-Manager, RAF
Manager and RAF Director on all
progress and any challenges.
Liaison with researchers.
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Perform additional functions in line
with responsibility, as determined
by the SPF Line-Manager and
RAF Director.
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Record-keeping of QC
complete and accurate.
Close monitoring, quality
control, and detailed reevaluation of all SOPs as
required.
Functions performed to a high
standard, in required level of
detail, by requested deadlines.
problem solving.
Ability to trouble-shoot
and refine procedures
to get optimal results.
Ability to strictly follow
SOPs.
Willingness to engage
in staff training
programmes.
Good communication
skills.
As above.
HR191
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Qualifications
National Diploma (i.e. laboratory animal technologist, veterinary technologist or veterinary
nurse) or a B.Tech or BSc degree in animal or human reproduction science.
Fluency in written and spoken English, good communication skills and professional report
compilation.
Minimum Experience
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Minimum of 2 years proven practical experience working without supervision in an
embryology (i.e. in vitro fertilisation) laboratory.
Competent in all aspects of routine practical embryology, including the processing,
culture, in vitro fertilisation, cryopreservation and thawing of sperm and embryos,
associated microscope work, and involvement in embryo and oocyte collection
procedures.
Ability to work diligently, responsibly, efficiently and unsupervised according to strict
Standard Operating Procedures.
Good working knowledge of Quality Control and Quality Assurance processes.
Ability to refine and trouble-shoot Standard Operating Procedures in order to improve
efficiency.
Ability to visually observe detail at close range with good depth perception
Good time management, ability to maintain an organised workflow and strict aseptic
technique.
AUTHORITY
PRINT NAME
SIGNATURE
Compiled by
Approved by
CONTACT NO.
DATE
26 April 2013
26 April 2013
26 April 2013
Reviewed by
5 August 2009
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