Animal Caretaker

Iowa State University•Ames, IA

About The Position

Are you passionate about animal care and supporting groundbreaking research? We’re looking for a dedicated Animal Caretaker I to help maintain the health and well-being of a variety of research animals. This role is essential to ensuring high-quality animal care and compliance with research standards. You’ll work closely with veterinary staff, facility managers, and research investigators to support animal health and research needs. LAR provides comprehensive animal care and veterinary services to support Iowa State University’s research community. Our team is committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and regulatory compliance, ensuring that research animals receive exceptional care in a safe and secure environment. By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities. Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community. Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.

Requirements

Ability to read, write, and follow instructions.
Possession of a valid state or commercial driver's license, as required.
Knowledge of standard operating procedures for laboratory animal care or livestock care, as applicable.
Ability to learn and apply federal, state, and/or university regulations regarding animal care and use in research and teaching.
Ability to understand, communicate, and execute oral and written instructions.
Ability to keep accurate records.
Ability to recognize changes in conditions of animals and animal room environment, malfunctioning equipment, and unsafe conditions.
Ability to construct and maintain related equipment and facilities.
Ability to lift and/or move 50-100 pounds.
Ability to perform physical labor such as restraining animals, loading and unloading supplies and animals, and standing for prolonged periods of time.
Ability to work around noise, dust, odors, fumes, and extremes in temperature.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with small or large animals.
Experience safely restraining animals of various sizes.
Experience cleaning and sanitizing environments, preferably in an animal care setting.
Experience following established biosafety protocols.
Experience maintaining accurate records.

Responsibilities

Provide daily husbandry for animals, including cleaning enclosures, preparing feed, and monitoring health.
Safely handle and transport animals ranging from rodents to large livestock.
Assist with administering medications and collecting biological samples under veterinary supervision.
Perform basic facility maintenance and operate vehicles and equipment for animal transport and care.
Maintain accurate records using electronic systems and Microsoft Office tools.
Feeds and waters animals including the mixing and preparing of feed for standard or special diets.
Weighs animals, keeping records on weights of feed and animal in coordination with the feeding program.
Grooms, handles, and restrains animals.
Checks newly purchased animals for conformance to order specifications.
Cleans and disinfects animal enclosures, isolation rooms, buildings, and equipment, adhering to established policies for maintaining pathogen free environments and containment of animals exposed to infectious diseases.
Operates mechanical equipment, such as autoclaves, ventilated racks, and cage washers.
Checks for and reports failures in heating and ventilation systems to supervisor.
Observes animals for signs of phenotype, illness, injury, or stress.
Reports observations to supervisor.
Assists in routine veterinary treatments or restraint of animals for experimental purposes.
Maintains and performs minor repairs to animal equipment, enclosures, and animal facility.
Reports major building repairs or malfunctions to facility supervisor.
Transports animals, equipment, and supplies using carts or motorized vehicles.
In agricultural setting, may operate farm machinery such as tractors, manure loaders and spreaders, feed grinders, and related equipment as required.
In animal facility, may use ventilated racks and biological safety cabinets for isolation and containment activities.
Under direction of properly trained personnel, may euthanize animals in accordance to standard procedures.
Under direction of principal investigator and with adequate training may be responsible for maintaining breeding colonies.
Maintains the following records: feed, animal inventory numbers, veterinary treatment, animal health status observations, animal room environment observations and other record keeping duties as assigned.