Full-time, Permanent
Hours: M-F 8am-4:30pm, with alternating weekends
Job Summary:
Previous vivarium experience is preferred. Reporting to the Site Supervisor, the Senior Animal Technician will conduct routine animal facility-related tasks and support research staff as required. The candidate will work under minimal supervision in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, industry standards governing animal research (NIH/OLAW/AAALAC), company guidelines, departmental procedures, and all safety procedures according to company standards and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Primary responsibilities include: all core processes of animal care (husbandry), health monitoring, feeding, recording daily activities, providing general facility maintenance and cleanliness, and operation of various types of facility machinery including, but not limited to, biological safety cabinets, automatic watering equipment, etc.
- Familiarity with regulations/guidelines to ensure that animals are provided appropriate care to promote physical and psychological well-being and minimize discomfort.
- Perform and execute daily vivarium room checks.
- Recognize and observe animals for clinical signs of illness/disease/distress/behavioral changes, assess environmental conditions, and report issues/deviations promptly.
- Perform husbandry procedures utilizing SOPs and guidelines.
- Receive animal orders and house animals appropriately.
- Receive, rotate, and maintain feed, bedding, PPE, and storeroom supplies.
- Processing and disposal of waste according to company/regulatory guidelines
- Understanding of techniques and procedures necessary to work with rodents housed under BSL-2 conditions.
- Detect and report malfunctioning and/or defective equipment.
- Maintain all logs, room records, inventory sheets, etc. for the vivarium facility.
- Clean and sanitize animal rooms, walls, hallways, and other support areas.
- Provide clean, sterile (where applicable) supplies and equipment to research staff.
- Perform animal euthanasia and dispose of dead animals.
- Assist in environmental monitoring and validation of equipment and sanitation methods.
- Provide study support as required by research staff. Dosing, blood collections and necropsy.
- Maintain all breeding colonies and applicable records for these colonies, as needed by client
- Operates washers and ensures that cage washing and related equipment are in proper working order by cleaning, and preventive maintenance.
- Performs routine start-up and shut down procedures.
- Operates autoclave to sterilize or decontaminate caging equipment.
- Build cages, water and supplies for clients and staff.
- Transports caging supplies between animal rooms and cage wash rooms.
- Maintains sanitary conditions of cage washing rooms and other ancillary areas, such as hallways and storage areas.
- Detect and report malfunctioning and/or defective equipment.
- Other projects and responsibilities may be added at the company’s discretion.
Job Requirements and Qualifications:
- AA/AS/BA/BS preferable along with AALAS certification at a minimum of LAT. LATG is preferred.
- HS diploma or GED with greater than 2 years experience working in a laboratory animal setting with rodents and AALAS certification at the ALAT level may be substituted in lieu of educational requirements.
- Eligibility and willingness to complete additional certification through AALAS in the future is desired.
- The successful employee must be a self-starter, dependable, accurate, mature, trustworthy and dedicated to working with and around animals.
- The employee must follow instructions precisely and perform work according to prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Solid written and verbal communication skills, keen attention to detail and the ability to diligently record and maintain laboratory records are crucial.
- Problem-solving, time-management and organizational skills are necessary.
- Strong teamwork, interpersonal and observational skills are required.
- The ability to interface in a professional manner with employees, clients, scientific researchers, and vendor personnel is essential.
Other Information (Physical requirements, on-call schedules, etc):
- The ability to lift/push/pull up to 50 lbs is required.
- The ability to work safely with chemical disinfectants, handle some unpleasant elements and tolerate normal odors/airborne particulate matter of a rodent facility is required.
- The ability to wear protective clothing or equipment is mandatory.
- Rotating weekend and holiday coverage is required; additional weekday overtime work may be required from time to time.
- Excellent organization and communication skills are required.
- Competitive benefits package.