Animal Technician

Laboratory Animal Care Specialist

This individual will perform daily laboratory animal care duties including animal health monitoring, animal husbandry, and routing cleaning and sanitation. All work assignments will be performed in accordance with SOP's and protocol instructions. Must maintain and demonstrate positive working relationships with co-workers, customers, be able to work independently to perform tasks, and have regular attendance.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Performs animal husbandry duties to maintain quality and health of research animals to include daily feed/water/enrichment, and cage or room cleaning as required.
• Maintains focus on animal welfare reporting all concerns to management and/or others as required.
• Ensures animal welfare guidelines are met, building, and equipment are maintained accordingly for internal IACUC inspections and maintenance of AAALAC accreditation.
• Conducts all euthanasia as trained according to AVMA guidelines and completing all documentation associated with the task.
• Cleans assigned animal rooms, isolator environments, animal care equipment, and associated animal facility areas daily.
• Ensures facility areas are maintained and kept clean and orderly daily.
• Assists in maintaining and stocking inventory and communicates when items are needed to be ordered.
• Excellent record keeping skills are required.
• Assists with handling and manipulations as per SOP's and protocols.
• Operates equipment and uses supplies according to safety guidelines, performs general housekeeping, and adheres to safety procedures.
• Able to observe equipment and report of any failures.
• Maintains required attendance level and adheres to work schedule in accordance with required staffing levels to ensure that assigned duties are completed. Weekend and holiday coverage is required on a rotation basis. May be asked to work extended hours occasionally due to workload – overtime eligible. Being prompt to work and attendance are a must.
• Takes the initiative to complete tasks and anticipates upcoming tasks.
• Must realize the importance of non-contamination process and be prepared to adhere strictly to the procedures.
• Must be conscientious, detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to work alone.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with others.
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral.

Job qualifications:

• Education – AA degree required
• Experience – Lab Animal or agricultural experience desired

Ability to lift 50lbs, roll heavy objects, use ladders, working conditions up to 90 degrees or down to freezing temperatures. Ability to stand for long periods of time. Must be able to squat, bend, and stoop, as well as twisting and turning. Manual dexterity and visual acuity are important. Subject to objectionable odors, aerosols, dust, animal dander, and noise. Not allowed to own poultry or swine. Multiple showers a day may be required for biocontainment, showering does include washing of hair. Hair must be able to be completely covered within hairnet for biocontainment purposes. Nails must be short in length to perform fine motor tasks and avoid risk of injury to oneself, colleagues, or animals. Work requires use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including Tyveks, hairnets, respirator or PAPR, gloves, safety glasses, provided uniforms, and shoes. Personal phones and all forms of jewelry are not allowed in the vivarium.