Animal Care Technician I

JOB OVERVIEW

The Animal Care Technician I will be involved in all aspects of animal care for the in vivo services group. This position is hands-on with responsibilities including, but not limited to animal husbandry, animal handling and restraint, treatment administration, animal health observations, cage changes, room sanitization and accurate documentation of animal health records.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform in vivo husbandry procedures including animal receipt
• Observes, records and reports atypical findings of the environment, facility and animal health
• Administer treatments via various routes
• Collect and process biological samples according to appropriate protocol and SOP requirements
• Provide quality care and health monitoring for all animals
• Identify and report any facility related issues or animal health concerns as necessary
• Interact with veterinary staff to convey and assist with animal health issues
• Maintain a safe and clean work environment
• Adhere to all applicable guidelines for the care and use of animals in research
• Perform facility sanitization, including animal rooms, hallways and other areas of the facility as needed
• Clearly and accurately document procedures including husbandry and sanitization
• Ensure that raw data records are accurate, complete and in appropriate order
• Maintain accurate animal health and census records
• Keep facilities stocked with supplies needed for daily operations
• Assist with review, development and improvement of departments forms and SOPs
• Follow company SOPs, Policies, and Practices
• Assist Veterinary Staff with animal care as requested, such as physical examinations
• Perform other related duties as assigned

The starting pay for this position is $20.00 per hour. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: High school diploma or General Education Degree (G.E.D.) required. Associate’s degree (A.A./A.S.) in animal science or related field preferred.

Experience: Zero to six months related experience in animal research and/or husbandry or must have fully satisfied technical and experience requirements for the previous level.

Certification/Licensure: ALAT preferred.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

Other: Ability to handle common laboratory species. Effective communication and listening skills in a teamwork environment. Excellent organization skills with minimal supervision enabling effective management of multiple, concurrent tasks and priorities. Proficient in basic technical skills and the operation of data collection equipment. Knowledge of Testing Facility SOPs and other federal regulations and guidelines relating to the care of laboratory animals. Basic understanding of study design and protocols.

Physical Demands:

• Employees must be able to lift, move, manipulate, and/or hold heavy objects up to and including 50 pounds; this includes work materials, equipment, and/or animals.
• Must be able to perform procedures, which require, talking, hearing, standing or sitting for long periods of time, entering data into a computer, using appropriate instruments, reaching with hands and arms, working in narrow spaces, and wearing safety equipment (PPE) according to OSHA regulations and company standards.
• Must be able to frequently firmly hold species while utilizing fine motor skills.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

• Works in a 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.
• The employee regularly works with live animals with risk of exposure to dander, allergens, zoonotic disease, and biohazards.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to work/type at a computer.
• Mix of office and vivarium work. The noise level in the work environment ranges from low to high.
• While performing the duties of this job, travel between facilities may be required.