Animal Care Technician I

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

1d•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 and applicable rules, regulations, and professional standards. The role provides basic care for animals and animal facilities, primarily through routine animal husbandry and cage-wash duties under the direction of the Operations Manager or designee. Work must consistently follow applicable ACS SOPs, including IACUC and EHS safety procedures and policies. Suspected or actual SOP deviations and non-routine situations must be reported immediately to the Operations Manager or designee. Animal-care duties include changing cages and racks on schedule; observing, documenting, and reporting signs of illness, injury, or physical or behavioral changes; handling and restraining animals for treatment; and, under supervision, euthanizing rodents using carbon dioxide with an approved alternate secondary method. The technician monitors and reports environmental parameters outside acceptable ranges, sanitizes equipment and animal-holding facilities, supports compliance with the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and maintains supplies in assigned rooms. Cage-wash duties include operating washers, autoclaves, and water-bottle fill stations; performing preventive maintenance and equipment start-up and shutdown procedures specified in SOPs; and removing damaged or worn equipment from circulation. The technician performs scheduled equipment quality-control tests and submits samples, such as biological indicators and water samples, to the ACS diagnostic lab. Additional duties include helping receive and rotate feed and supplies; transporting caging supplies; and sanitizing cage-wash rooms and other support areas. The technician may guide and instruct new ACT1 staff and contribute to staff training and updates for the facility manager. The position requires keeping current with SOPs in Policy Manager and entering work time in Time Clock Plus using facility computers during normal working hours. Leave, overtime, and weekend-change requests must be submitted to the area supervisor or manager in a timely manner. Other duties may be assigned. This is a time-limited, non-remote position located on the University of Florida main campus in Gainesville, Florida. 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.
Provide a cover letter, resume, and list of professional references with the application.
Complete a criminal background check and required health assessment.
Be able to be accepted by the Veterans Administration as a WOC or contract employee, as required, and maintain that status.

Nice To Haves

High school degree or higher.
At least one year of experience with research animal care at a research institution or other appropriate environment, and 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.

Responsibilities

Carry out ACS directives and SOPs in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act and applicable rules, regulations, and professional standards.
Follow ACS SOPs, including IACUC and EHS safety procedures and policies, and immediately report suspected or actual deviations and non-routine situations to the Operations Manager or designee.
Provide routine animal husbandry and facility care, including changing cages and racks as scheduled.
Observe, document, and report animal illness, injury, and physical or behavioral changes.
Under supervision, euthanize rodents using carbon dioxide with an approved alternate secondary method.
Monitor, document, and report environmental parameters outside acceptable ranges, including temperature, humidity, and lighting.
Restrain and handle animals for treatment; sanitize equipment and animal-holding facilities.
Help ensure housing and environmental compliance with the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
Maintain supplies in assigned rooms for daily use by investigative staff.
Operate cage-wash equipment, including washers, autoclaves, and water-bottle fill stations; perform prescribed preventive maintenance and equipment start-up and shutdown procedures.
Ensure processed equipment is in optimal condition and remove damaged or worn equipment from circulation.
Perform scheduled equipment quality-control tests and submit 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.
Sanitize cage-wash rooms and support areas such as hallways and storage rooms.
May guide, instruct, and train new ACT1 staff and provide input and updates to the facility manager.
Keep current on SOPs in Policy Manager and enter 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.