The University of Edinburgh
Animal Care Assistant - Nights
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Job Description
Grade UE04: £26,093 - £28,778 per annum, pro rata
plus 30% premium band bonus on salaried hours
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies / Hospital for Small Animals
Part-time: 28 hours average per week
8pm-8am shift times working a rolling 4 shifts on, 8 shifts off
Open-ended (permanent) contract
Your next step starts here. Be part of something bigger.
The University isn’t just any employer. We are part of a local community and a contributor to global thinking, progress and research. In Edinburgh, you are in one of the world’s most attractive cities with active arts and social sectors, while working in a University that has made significant contributions to society, medicine, physics and teaching for over four centuries. Our people have helped create the modern world and are working on more ground-breaking technologies and practices.
The Opportunity
Technical Clinical Services
The University of Edinburgh is a world-class organisation. We are a large University covering a wide range of activities. In Technical Clinical Services, we support the University’s clinical, research and teaching, offering many career and role specialisms.
This is a demanding out-of-hours Animal Care role that calls for dedication, resilience, flexibility, and a proactive approach. You’ll need a strong work ethic and a commitment to delivering the highest standards of patient care.
Our dedicated night team covers 365 days a year, ensuring that we provide round-the-clock care to our patients. As part of this team, you’ll handle a wide variety of cases, from ward-based patients—including felines, canines, and exotics—to those requiring intermediate and emergency critical care.
Role
This is a hands-on, fast-paced position that plays a vital role in the care of our hospitalised patients during our out of hours service. You’ll be involved in a variety of essential tasks, including:
- Cleaning and maintaining kennels to the highest hygiene standards
- Supporting infection control protocols
- Feeding and grooming inpatients
- Walking dogs and providing enrichment
- Assisting vets and nurses with procedures involving dogs, cats, and exotic species
- Managing laundry and general patient care duties
As part of this role, you will be expected to cover and equal share of the annual leave in your pod of night ACAs, accruing paid overtime for all additional hours worked.
Our Hospital Is Equipped With
- Three canine wards
- Four exotics wards
- One feline ward
- Purpose-built isolation units
- A fully equipped emergency room
- Dedicated Intermediate Care and Intensive Care Wards
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We are proud to deliver the highest level of care (24/7 - 365 days) to patients with life-threatening conditions as well as those with more routine needs, ensuring every animal receives the attention and expertise they deserve.
If you're ready for a rewarding ACA role where no two night shifts are the same, we’d love to hear from you.
Training & Support
We offer a comprehensive 6–8 weeks training programme to help you settle into the role. You’ll normally start shadowing our friendly and experienced team during standard weekday daytime hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm) to build your confidence and skills.
View the full job description (opens in a new browser tab)
How To Apply
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. Contact our Out of Hours Senior Nurse Nicola Cochrane Nicola.Cochrane@ed.ac.uk for more details.
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.
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants will therefore be unable to apply for and secure a Skilled Worker visa. They will 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 31st July 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.
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About Us
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.
About The Team
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (https://vet.ed.ac.uk/about/what-we-do) (opens in a new browser tab) is a one-of-a-kind centre of excellence in clinical activity, teaching and research. Our purpose-built campus, set against the Pentland Hills Regional Park, is home to over 800 staff and a thriving student community (https://vet.ed.ac.uk/education) (opens in a new browser tab).
The School comprises the Roslin Institute, three veterinary hospitals, a pathology unit, innovation centre and a range of research centres and services.
We represent one of the largest concentrations of animal science expertise in Europe, impacting local, regional, national and international communities in terms of economic growth, the provision of clinical services and the advancement of scientific knowledge.
Education
The School is widely accredited, enabling our graduates to practise across the globe. We are ranked among the best vet schools in the UK and internationally, evidencing our leadership in veterinary education, research and clinical practice.
The Roslin Institute collaborates closely in delivering research-led teaching to undergraduate veterinary students, and promoting clinical veterinary research and translation.
The School’s position as part of the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine enables the translation of expertise and knowledge into human health and vice-versa.
Research Impact
In a joint submission to the latest UK Research Excellence Framework exercise, research at the School and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) ranked number one in the UK for agriculture, food and veterinary sciences by combining ratings for each institution. The research environment was rated 100% world leading or internationally excellent, as was the impact of our research on society.
Community
The School holds Athena SWAN Silver, and the Roslin Institute Gold. The campus is home to a thriving and diverse community of staff and students, with access to facilities including allotments, cycle facilities, fitness trails, restaurants and a gym.
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