Animal Care Technician I

Job Description

Job Description

This position is based in Boston, MA. 

Animal Care Technician (ACT) I

JOB SUMMARY

Mispro fosters and ensures the responsible and humane use of in vivo research models within our network of AAALAC-accredited contract vivariums. The Animal Care Technician (ACT) I is a junior-level animal care position focused primarily on animal care, animal husbandry and facility maintenance. This position reports directly to a Site Operations Site Supervisor. 

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Responsible for providing appropriate daily husbandry to various laboratory animal species (predominantly rodents) in accordance with all Laboratory Animal Care guidelines, regulations, and SOPs. Primary duties are performing daily animal care (daily checks, husbandry, wellness identification), facility maintenance (receipt and stocking of supplies, waste management, vivarium sanitation) and working within a team-oriented, culture-positive environment.

Animal Care

• Perform animal husbandry (daily checks, cage changes, clinical follow-up) for predominantly rodent species
• Recognize and respond to standard rodent clinical conditions
• Maintain cage change schedules in alignment with in-room Client activity
• Ensure animal care standards
• Perform euthanasia as required to ensure animal welfare and appropriate colony management

Facility Operations and Maintenance

• Recognize and report environmental deviations (temp, humidity, lighting, HVAC, noise, odor)
• Perform facility sanitation
• Support waste management practices (RMW, Path/Chemo, lab waste, recycling, composting)
• Receive and maintain common consumables (PPE, caging, diet, etc)

Client Interaction 

• Provide regular updates to Clients regarding animal conditions and basic support requests (clinical updates, breeding progress, restocking of consumables, waste management, sanitation)

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure appropriate sign-offs and accurate documentation of activities
• Develop familiarity with Mispro SOPs and maintain standards with updates/revisions
• Support compliance with all institutional (IACUC, QA), governmental (EPA, PHS, USDA) and accrediting (AAALACi) protocols & policies
• Remain current with company trainings and professional development opportunities

Additional

• Able to lift 50 lbs, move heavy objects, work from a standing position for prolonged time periods and perform repetitive motion tasks
• Must be available to support weekend, holiday, emergency, and after-hour operational responsibilities 
• Assisting in supporting the program through other requested duties as necessary

QUALIFYING CANDIDATE PROFILE 

• Willingness to learn about animal care, environments and facility operations in a research setting 
• A strong commitment to providing quality research service support
• Familiarity of regulatory standards (local, industry, federal, AAALAC) governing the care and use of animals in research
• Ability to identify non-compliant animal care/facility operations and report to local leadership
• Effective communication (verbal, written, response to emails, appropriate chain of command, escalation of emergencies), interpersonal (transparency, professionalism, integrity, trust) and organizational skills (prioritizing, time management, scheduling, attention to detail)
• Team focus supporting local site culture
• Ability to work independently while recognizing when to engage management for triaging/support/clarifications
• Able to travel locally 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE 

• Understanding of commitments/responsibilities associated with general animal care
• Exposure/familiarity with research environments (work study, academic class/lab, internship or related) preferred

• High school degree required; 2-year degree in general science, animal science, or veterinary science desirable

• ALAT encouraged upon employment