Animal Care Technician I

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Animal Care Technician I carries out Animal Care Services (ACS) directives and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act, applicable regulations, and professional standards. The role provides basic care for animals and animal facilities, primarily through routine animal husbandry and cage-washing duties under the direction of the Operations Manager or designee. Work must follow ACS SOPs, including IACUC and EHS safety procedures and policies. Suspected or actual SOP deviations and non-routine situations must be reported promptly to the Operations Manager or designee. Animal husbandry duties include changing cages and racks according to schedule; observing and reporting signs of illness, injury, or physical or behavioral changes; handling and restraining animals for treatment; and, under supervision, performing rodent euthanasia using carbon dioxide with an approved secondary method. The technician observes, documents, and reports environmental conditions outside acceptable ranges, sanitizes equipment and animal holding facilities, and helps ensure housing and environmental compliance with the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The role also maintains supplies in assigned rooms for investigative staff. Cage-wash duties include operating washers, autoclaves, and water-bottle fill stations; performing specified preventive maintenance; and carrying out equipment start-up and shut-down procedures according to SOPs. The technician checks equipment condition, removes damaged or worn equipment from circulation, performs scheduled quality-control tests, and submits samples such as biological indicators and water samples to the ACS diagnostic lab. Additional duties include receiving and rotating feed and supplies, transporting caging supplies between animal rooms and cage-wash rooms, and sanitizing cage-wash rooms and other support areas. The technician may provide guidance to new ACT1 staff and contribute to staff training under facility supervisor or manager direction. The role requires keeping current with SOPs in Policy Manager, recording work time in Time Clock Plus on facility computers during normal working hours, and submitting leave, overtime, and weekend-change requests on time. Other duties may be assigned. This is a time-limited, on-campus position at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida; it is not remote. A criminal background check and health assessment are required. Work visa sponsorship is unavailable.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Valid Florida driver's license.
Follow applicable ACS SOPs, including IACUC and EHS safety procedures and policies.
Provide a cover letter, resume, and list of professional references with the application.
Pass a criminal background check.
Complete a required health assessment.

Nice To Haves

High school degree or higher and at least one year of research animal care experience in a research institution or other appropriate environment, plus one year of relevant experience.
Certification as an Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.
Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for required experience.
Ability to be accepted by the Veterans Administration as a WOC or contract employee, as required, and maintain that status.

Responsibilities

Carry out ACS directives and SOPs in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act, applicable regulations, and professional standards.
Provide basic animal and facility care, including scheduled cage and rack changes.
Observe and report animal signs of illness, injury, or physical or behavioral changes.
Under supervision, perform rodent euthanasia using carbon dioxide with an approved alternate secondary method.
Observe, document, and report environmental parameters outside acceptable ranges.
Restrain and handle animals for treatment.
Sanitize equipment, animal holding facilities, cage-wash rooms, hallways, storage rooms, and other support areas.
Help ensure housing and environmental compliance with the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
Maintain supplies in assigned rooms for investigative staff.
Operate washers, autoclaves, and water-bottle fill stations; perform specified preventive maintenance and routine start-up and shut-down procedures.
Check processed equipment, remove damaged or worn equipment from circulation, and perform scheduled quality-control tests.
Submit biological indicators, water samples, and other samples to the ACS diagnostic lab for processing.
Assist with receiving and rotating feed and supplies and transport caging supplies between animal rooms and cage-wash rooms.
Report suspected or actual SOP deviations and non-routine situations immediately to the Operations Manager or designee.
May guide, instruct, and direct new ACT1 staff and provide input or updates to the facility manager as part of staff training.
Keep current on SOPs in Policy Manager and record work time in Time Clock Plus using facility computers during normal working hours.
Submit leave, overtime, and weekend-change requests to the area supervisor or manager in a timely manner.
Perform other duties as assigned.