The Laboratory Animal Care Technician I is responsible for maintaining the well-being of animals in accordance with all standard operating procedures (SOPs) and applicable state and federal regulations. This position will focus on overall animal care and welfare, facility upkeep, and accurate recordkeeping.
Key Accountabilities
- Performs routine husbandry (food, water, cleaning pens) for various animal species.
- Performs general room cleaning procedures, animal husbandry sanitization and water monitoring.
- Ensures animals have adequate space, safe and secure housing, and appropriate enrichment.
- Monitors temperature and humidity in animal rooms and reports heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) issues.
- Completes daily animal welfare/mortality checks and animal husbandry records.
- Performs pest monitoring for rodents and insects.
- Provides animal transportation for acquisition and disposal.
- Monitors inventory levels of related animal care supplies (i.e. feed, enrichment, cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment) including for expiration and notifies supervisor of items that need to be ordered. Assists with stocking supplies.
- Helps with routine cleaning tasks (i.e., sweep, mop, trash) within the animal vivarium for general facility upkeep and cleanliness.
- Reviews study protocol and notebook prior to study initiation. Participates in pre-study meetings as necessary.
- Assists with in-life study conduct procedures and raw data collection, as described in the study protocol and defined by SOPs.
- • Accurately and timely completes appropriate entries into the electronic data capture system or on paper records.
- • Performs animal receiving procedures including preparation of cage cards, entry and study start physical exams, and completion of animal receipt records.
- Restrains a variety of animal species for treatments/procedures.
- Provides animal handling for euthanasia procedures.
- Completes daily data review of paperwork and computer entries to ensure completeness, legibility and accuracy.
- Learns to perform clinical observations of animals and their pens/cages to assure the well-being, health, and sanitation is adequate.
- Learns to collect body weights and body score condition.
- Assists with study acclimation (leash/collar training).
- Participates in training newly hired employees on proficient procedures.
Other
- Follows all SOPs and other applicable laboratory or company policies and procedures.
- Maintains confidential information.
- Supports and participates in company initiatives as directed.
- Performs periodic review of all applicable SOPs to ensure accuracy and confirm procedures are being performed according to SOPs.
- Completes training requirements as assigned and maintains appropriate training documentation.
- Maintains compliance and adheres to all safety regulations, policies, and procedures and good documentation practices.
- Develops a working knowledge and ensures compliance with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Association of Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC), Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), and other applicable regulations.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Critical Success Factors
- Exhibits an aptitude for quality, an eye for detail.
- Actively supports and contributes to the success of the team. Encourages and practices collaboration and cooperation on the team.
- Has ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks in a high energy, fast paced environment.
- Communicates openly and respectfully with team members to foster a positive work environment.
- Has strong organization skills - establishes and prioritizes tasks to manage time and resources appropriately and identifies resources to meet objectives in a timely manner.
- Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
- Has a strong work ethic and positive attitude while working towards or under a given deadline.
- Is consistently reliable and trustworthy to fulfill commitments, meet deadlines, delivery quality work on time and take ownership of responsibilities.
- Maintains a commitment to adhere to all safety regulations and procedures.
- Ability to follow detailed instructions and understand scientific protocols and reports with a sense for scientific methods.
- Ability and desire to learn new methods or workflows. Participates in continual training opportunities.
Minimum Requirements
- High School diploma or equivalent
- Previous animal handling/care experience (i.e. dog daycare, pet sitting, domestic pet ownership, etc.)
Preferred Qualifications
- American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Certification
Working Conditions & Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
(The phrases “occasionally,” “regularly,” and “frequently” correspond to the following definitions: “occasionally” means up to one-third of working time, “regularly” means between one-third and two-thirds of working time, and “frequently” means two-thirds and more of working time.)
- Ability to regularly lift up to 50 pounds and move heavy equipment in a safe manner.
- Ability to stand and move (e.g., walk, bend, reach, lift, crouch, push, pull, lift.) throughout an entire work shift.
- Manual dexterity (e.g., feeling, grasping, fingering, repetitive motion) to operate necessary equipment and perform essential tasks outlined in position description
- Required to have close visual acuity (e.g., preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small parts) and depth perception (with or without glasses/contacts)
- Required utilization of provided personal protection equipment (PPE)
- Occasional exposure to potential hazards such as hot water, steam, mechanical equipment, biological substances, loud noise, odors, chemicals, and to range of outdoor weather conditions
- Regular on-site attendance as scheduled by management
- Ability to travel to various site locations
*This position could be offered at different levels for candidates who qualify with a combination of advanced levels of education and/or years of experience. The salary range is $18-$20/hr and will adjust along with the level of the role to match the person’s relevant experience and/or education level. Benefits include health and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability, paid time off, paid parental leave, 401K, and more! Posted until filled.
#LI-Onsite #LI-OF1
*This position could be offered at different levels for candidates who qualify with a combination of advanced levels of education and/or years of experience. The salary range will adjust along with the level of the role to match the person’s relevant experience and/or education level.
Inotiv is a growing contemporary drug discovery and development company where we “Play to Win” in an industry rich with opportunity. Together, we face challenges and together we win in the delivery of world-class drug discovery and development solutions that impact the health and well-being of people all over the world. There’s an opportunity for everyone at all phases of a career, each individual’s unique skill set has an impact on the work we conduct. If you have the talent and desire to impact the quality of people’s lives, we have the career opportunities to make it happen. Join us in embracing research and science to impact the health and well-being of people all over the world.
Salary will be commensurate with experience and responsibilities. Benefits include health and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability, paid time off, paid parental leave, 401K, and more!
Inotiv is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide a fair and equal employment opportunity to all persons, regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination and access to benefits and training.