Husbandry Technician I

Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corporation•Durham, NC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Midnight Sun is seeking a Husbandry Technician in Durham, North Carolina, in support of a contract providing mission-critical services to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at Research Triangle Park. The Animal Husbandry Support Contract for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences provides care, maintenance, and technical services for laboratory animals, seven (7) days per week, including weekends and holidays, for 72,447 square feet of laboratory animal facility space, which includes outside ancillary support areas, including a separate facility located approximately one mile from the main facility. Midnight Sun supports the care and maintenance of the animals, the sanitation of equipment, technical training, and the general maintenance of the facilities in such a manner as to maintain the highest level of Accreditation from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International (AAALAC). The Husbandry Technicians are an essential team that provides care and maintenance for laboratory animals, which primarily consists of rats and mice, but may also include rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, frogs, and fish. Husbandry Technicians are responsible for monitoring and caring for the health and well-being of all animals housed at NIEHS. The ideal candidate will have great communication skills and works well with a team, is adaptable, acts in a positive, professional, and helpful manner, and demonstrates a strong work ethic.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED.
Willingness to be trained to properly handle all species of animals housed at NEIHS.
Ability to use critical thinking skills, decisive judgement, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
Ability to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action when needed.
Ability to obtain/maintain site access.

Responsibilities

Perform daily health observations and monitors the condition of research animals.
Provide custodial care, fresh food, and water to animals according to the standard operating procedures.
Observe health and condition of animals.
Ensure use of appropriate size caging.
Conduct maintenance of housing systems use of prescribed enrichment devices.
Perform sanitation and cleaning of cages.
Maintain animal room equipment and supplies.
Monitor facility for pests and weekly animal census.
Maintain and update cage cards on all animal cages.
Sanitize and decontaminate animal rooms; operate all prescribed equipment; maintain records and enter data into computer; perform audits; monitor animal room environmental conditions; assemble equipment and supplies; dispose of waste and trash; prepare solutions and reagents; prepare and identify animals for delivery or shipment to other rooms or facilities; report sick and dead animals; euthanize and dispose of moribund or dead animals; handle and restrain laboratory animals; collect microbiological samples; provide special care for animals in quarantine; identify animals by methos; administer routine treatments; follow prescribed procedures at all times; and learn and become familiar with unique phenotypes of rodents housed an NIEHS.
Other duties as assigned.