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. What You’ll Do: 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. 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.

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.

Responsibilities

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.

Benefits

Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Retirement Plans with employer contributions
Paid Time Off (vacation, sick leave, and holidays)
Life and Disability Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Professional Development Opportunities
Discounted access to campus amenities such as recreation facilities and cultural events
Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans
Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
Life insurance and long-term disability
Flexible Spending Accounts
Various voluntary benefits and discounts
Employee Assistance Program
Wellbeing program