Animal Care Technician 1

Department: Ctr for Comparative Medicine
Salary/Grade: NEX/8

Job Summary:

Completes primarily simple & routine animal caretaking duties; & as requested by Group Leader or their designee, cage wash activities which may occur up to 50% of the time of overall job duties & responsibilities. Will be trained and expected to perform basic technical skills with complexity progressing through the ACT levels. All actions are completed by strictly & consistently following applicable CCM SOPs including safety procedures & guidelines. Reports any suspected or actual deviations to SOPs or non-routine situations immediately to Group Leader or their designee. Arrives, leaves & takes breaks at work as scheduled. Strictly adheres to CCM attendance policy.

Please note: Must be able to negotiate up to a 65 lb force (push/pull) on an occasional basis. Lifting is limited to 50 lbs occasionally and 25 lbs frequently. Must be able to work a shift schedule that includes working both Saturdays and Sundays, possibly a staggered work schedule, occasional overtime, and holidays as required. Must successfully maintain physical condition that will assure efficient performance of tasks, including successful completion of physical examination. This position requires the individual to be available to work on both the Chicago and Evanston campuses as coverage needs dictate.

Must be enrolled in the university's occupational health program which entails filling out a health questionnaire. The health questionnaire is submitted to the university's occupational health provider for review. Must be willing to undergo job related background check.

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities :

According to CCM SOPs:

• Changes cages, equipment, supplies, animals & rooms.
• Feeds & waters animals according to their prescribed diets.
• Observes animals regularly during the day, noting & reporting any variances in eating, drinking or deviation from normal habits, to include obvious health issues with behavior, skin conditions, etc.
• Observes, documents, & reports changes in environmental parameters (i.e., temperature, humidity, lighting, etc.).
• May conduct census counts.
• May administer oral &/or topical medications.
• With appropriate training, will be required to euthanize animals. Euthanizes animals according to CCM SOPs and IACUC policies.

Assists in organizing feed, bedding & dry supplies in storage facilities.

According to CCM SOPs:

• Cleans & sterilizes cages, equipment, supplies, rooms (primary and secondary enclosures), etc.

Prepares refused for disposal or incineration.

According to CCM SOPs:

• Houses incoming animals.
• Receive &/or delivers animal transfers.
• Ensures accuracy of transfer delivery documentation.

May drive van to transfer animals.

Other Responsibilities:

• Completes animal caretaking check-lists, logs & documentation accurately & within appropriate time-frames.
• Notifies lead if available or management of malfunctioning equipment; may document problem.
• Attends CCM sponsored training sessions, species specific identification & treatment sessions; & begins OJT cross training among species, etc.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills)

• A minimum of 3 months cage wash, husbandry or equivalent experience or educational experience.

Preferred Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills)

• A high school diploma or its equivalent
• Valid state driver's license if driving animal transport van

Target hiring range for this position will be between $18.00-$20.50 per hour. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more .

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