Technical and Remote Support Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Technical and Remote Support Specialist
Location: Durham, NC
Status: Full-Time
Travel: Negligible

Position Summary:

Midnight Sun is seeking a Technical and Remote Support Specialist in support of a federal contract providing Animal Husbandry Support services to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) at Research Triangle Park in Durham, North Carolina.

The Technical and Remote Support Specialist will oversee training and competence activities for contract technical staff and will oversee animal care and technical support services for remote facilities. This position reports directly to the Project Manager and ensures compliance with the Statement of Work and Standard Operating Procedures, including the social housing program, review of animal rooms and husbandry documentation, and management of cubicle space.

The ideal candidate will have great communication skills and works well with a team, is adaptable, acts positive, professional, and helpful manner, and demonstrates a strong work ethic. This position is designated as Essential Personnel and requires reporting to work during inclement weather or emergency events.

Background:

The Animal Husbandry Support Contract for NIEHS provides care, maintenance, and technical services for laboratory animals, seven days per week, including weekends and holidays, for 72,000+ square feet of laboratory animal facility space, which includes outside ancillary support areas, including a separate facility located approximately one mile from the main facility.

Midnight Sun supports the care and maintenance of the animals, the sanitation of equipment, technical training, and the general maintenance of the facilities in such a manner to maintain the highest level of Accreditation from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International (AAALAC).

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Oversee husbandry, technical support, breeding support, and facility management of the CAF and C129.
• Train new employees on all SOP's, policies and procedures set forth in the contract.
• Provide facility orientation for new employees and manage training program for hands on training of new ASP (animal study proposal) participants and provide input on their competency. Additional training for lab personnel upon request.
• Coordinate, schedule, and implement mandatory training for all employees in accordance with the contract.
• Overall responsibility for ensuring and documenting that all contract personnel complete required occupational health safety trainings, NIEHS mandated trainings (e.g., cybersecurity, harassment in the workplace, etc.) and that all contract personnel maintain job competence through ongoing SOP review.
• Initiate and update SOP's as requested by the Government.
• Provide technical backup at the direction of Project Manager/Assistant Project Manager including, but not limited to, module supervision, routine animal husbandry, identification, surgery, and sample collection. Provide study assistance to research personnel as requested on the Experimental Summary Sheet and directed by the facility manager.
• Maintain database for studies occurring in isolation cubicles.
• Maintain complete understanding of all chemicals used in animal studies, attend study meetings as scheduled concerning safety protocols, techniques, disposition of animals and chemical hazards.
• Maintain Safety Data Sheets.
• Organize and conduct classes for employees taking AALAS certification exams.
• Develop and maintain employee training manuals and records.
• Attend and participate in scheduled Animal Health and supervisor's meetings.
• Assists with other duties as needed or required to ensure contract success.

Minimum Requirements:

Education and Experience

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• 3+ years of experience required in an animal facility.
• Experience supporting rodent breeding colonies, performing rodent technical procedures (injections, gavage, etc.), and providing and overseeing training and technical competence in other personnel preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work well with subordinates and supervisors and to promote teamwork.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize in order to provide coverage while meeting deadlines for contract deliverables.
• Knowledge of industry-specific regulations and equipment.
• Working knowledge of eSirius or a comparable electronic facility management system preferred.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office Skills (Outlook, Word, Excel).

Certifications, Licenses, and Other

• Valid driver license.
• Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) required, Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) preferred.
• Ability to obtain/maintain client site access and badging requirements.

Work Environment:

The essential duties of this position are performed in a large animal research facility where employees are subject to adverse variables of environmental conditions, both inside and outside. Work areas may often be hot, humid, and/or noisy due to operation of cage washing machines and autoclaves.

Employees are potentially exposed to minor injuries such as cuts, bites, scrapes, pulled muscles, burns and unpleasant odors, and the possibility of exposure to hazardous materials including radioisotopes. Employees are exposed to animals and animal urine, feces, and dander that can act as allergens or as potential sources of zoonotic disease.

Animal care personnel are required to wear a washable, cotton/polyester two-piece uniform of scrub pants and a long sleeve, snap-front shirt (a one-piece cotton coverall may be substituted), safety shoes, disposable shoe cover, head cover, surgical mask), and gloves when working in the animal rooms. Protective clothing is required to be worn by ALL personnel entering an animal room from the return corridors.

This position is designated as Essential Personnel and requires reporting to work during inclement weather and emergency events.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• Ability to wear required PPE which may include respirators or masks, coveralls or Tyvek suits, waterproof gloves, boots, and jackets, safety glasses, and other area-specific equipment.
• Ability frequently to lift, carry, or otherwise move materials, carts, or other equipment weighing up to 20 pounds, occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Physical strength, endurance, and dexterity, to lift, pull, push, carry, handle cages, racks, large pieces of equipment, feed and bedding bags and other materials and equipment normally found in a research facility.
• Ability to continuously stand, kneel, bend, walk, climb, and otherwise navigate storage units, washrooms, lab rooms, and other research areas.
• Ability to use verbal and written/electronic communication for daily tasks.
• Visual acuity to perform inspections, take inventory, and complete paper and electronic documentation.
• Ability to move arms and hands at or above the shoulders/head to move supplies and equipment.
• Ability to work in and around water.

Benefits:

KIC offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible full-time employees including: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance, 401k with Match, Life and ADD Coverage, Short and Long Term Disability, Paid Time Off and Holidays, Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, Employee Discount Program, and more!

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Disclaimer:

This is not to be an exclusive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the person in this job. KIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Pursuant to The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 43 U.S.C. Sec. 1601 et seq., and federal contractual requirements, Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corporation may legally grant certain preference in employment opportunities to KIC Shareholders and their Descendants. Successful candidates must adhere to KIC's Drug and Alcohol policy/testing requirements and may be required to pass a background and/or Motor Vehicle Records check. The salary range for this position is based on several factors, including relevant experience, education, skills, and current market conditions.