Animal Health Technician II

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Animal Health Technician II to join our Insourcing Solutions team located in Carlsbad, CA.  

As the Animal Health Technician II, you will be responsible for leading daily operations of cage wash areas and general vivarium support. Responsibilities may also include coordinating activities of other cage wash technicians and/or oversight for key aspect(s) of the operational program as delegated. You may also provide general and specialized husbandry and/or provide investigator technical support as assigned under moderate supervision. 

Additional responsibilities include:

• • Performs and ensures daily cage wash operations, including sanitizing equipment, staffing, training, and preventive maintenance in a multi-species animal research facility.
  • Support of non-cage wash vivarium areas (including rack sanitation, PPE/supply stations and waste management).
  • Ensures compliance and documentation with all institutional and regulatory protocols, policies, and guidelines.
  • Identify process inefficiencies, streamline processes, and proactively develop solutions to operational issues.
  • Maintain effective and efficient cage wash team operations.
  • Continuously support vivarium management in maintaining compliance with all internal (IACUC) and any external regulatory agencies as well as AAALAC International accreditation.
  • Perform animal husbandry duties to maintain quality and health of research animals, to include: perform daily water bottle /automatic water line and cage checks; provide appropriate food and water; perform cage changing and/or cage cleaning as required; record animal health concerns per SOP and/or specified protocols.

Job Qualifications

• Education/Experience:  Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or related discipline and 1 year related experience or CVT/LVT/RVT certification and 1 year related research husbandry and technical experience OR High School Diploma/GED and two (2) years related research husbandry and technical experience required.
• Certification/Licensure:  AALAS certification at the ALAT level/CALAS preferred.

The pay range for this position is $27.00-30.00 an hour. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Basic science knowledge demonstrated by previous scientific coursework, and/or prior work experience in a scientific setting.  Basic understanding of the drug development process.
• Ability to demonstrate strong teamwork orientation; oral and written communication skills; attention to detail, organization, achieves work goals with minimum daily oversight, and superior customer service focus. Must demonstrate accountability and ethics in performance of daily responsibilities.
• Must be able to follow verbal and written instructions and exhibit interpersonal skills that are conducive to effective communication and that contribute to a congenial work environment. Maintain positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a professional manner with clients, customers, coworkers, and supervisors.
• Ability to read, write, speak and understand basic English.
• Computer literacy in word processing and database record keeping helpful.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Physical Demands: 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required move about inside the facility, communicate and operate a computer. The employee is routinely required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move items weighing up to 50 pounds independently and occasionally lift and/or move items weighing up 100 pounds with assistance.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, protective clothing and eye protection.

Work Environment: 

• Work in a busy research environment, which requires use of sharp objects, working around mechanical parts, working with or near known or unknown toxic or caustic chemicals and/or biological hazards, exposure to fumes and airborne particles.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and risk of electrical shock.
• Work with animal species including rodents, rabbits and/or dogs with risk of exposure to animal allergens, zoonotic disease, and biohazards. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Hearing protection is required in areas where noise levels rise in excess of 85 decibels.
• Normally 40 hours per week. Required to participate in weekend husbandry coverage on a rotational basis and work occasional later hours upon client approval to complete essential duties.