Animal Technician

Job summary

Dstl is looking for dedicated Animal Technicians to support research that underpins the UK’s defence against chemical and biological threats. This is your chance to play a hands‑on role in nationally important science, contributing directly to policies and decisions that protect the country.

You’ll work in a specialist environment where high standards of animal welfare, scientific integrity, and regulatory compliance are at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re experienced or looking to grow, you’ll receive structured training, professional development, and support to gain recognised qualifications, including IAT Levels 2–3 and Home Office licensing.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job description

What you’ll do

• Deliver animal care to the highest welfare standards, with accurate monitoring and reporting
• Support research across in vivo and in vitro programmes
• Train and develop through competency assessments and formal qualifications
• Work with specialists including NACWOs, NVS, researchers, and technical teams
• Maintain compliance with Home Office legislation and internal quality frameworks
• Participate in rota including out‑of‑hours and on‑call duties (with additional payment)

Person specification

What you’ll bring

• Experience working with animals in a professional, research, or care setting
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Clear communication and a collaborative mindset
• Reliability, flexibility, and a proactive approach
• Willingness to develop knowledge of ASPA and regulated environments

This is a rare opportunity to build a meaningful career where your work has real‑world impact. If you’re motivated, curious, and committed to excellent animal care, we’d love to hear from you.

Please see full job profile attached at the bottom of this page.

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Qualifications

Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including Double Science, Maths, and English.
Willingness to undertake training and development, including:
oHome Office Personal Licence (PIL) (if not already held)
oRelevant technical and professional qualifications

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £26,640, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £7,717 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day. Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.

• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid

• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.

• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team [email removed] and we will do all we can to support you.

Sifting will take place week commencing the 19th October 2026 with interviews to be arranged from the 2nd November 2026

Your interview will consist of behavioural & technical interview along with a tour of the animal facility, Interview will be held in person at Dstl Porton Down

• Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of a full physical and psychological assessment.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is