Lead Animal Health Technician

Medical College of Wisconsin • Milwaukee, WI

5h • Onsite

About The Position

Lead teams of Animal Health Technicians I and II who maintain and promote the health and well-being of research animals through husbandry, basic health care, facility support, and technical services. The role supports the BRC’s mission, vision, and values while following established policies, procedures, and regulations. It provides training and advanced assistance to support efficient animal health and husbandry activities, quality assurance, and other operational areas.

The position assigns and oversees daily team tasks, provides feedback to the supervisor, resolves routine issues under supervisor guidance, and provides rotating weekend and holiday team leadership. It also performs and documents animal observations and care, assists with research and clinical procedures, maintains facility equipment and records, supports shipments and inventories, and contributes to training, compliance, and continuous improvement activities.

Work is performed in an environmentally controlled environment, with occasional exposure to dust, noise, temperature changes, water, or other liquids. The work may require occasional lifting of moderate-weight materials and continuous standing or walking. The role requires the ability to detect and understand speech or other communication; occasionally, it may require distinguishing colors and perceiving relative distances between objects.

Requirements

• Associate degree; appropriate experience may substitute for education on an equivalent basis.
• At least 3 years of experience.
• Certification as a Laboratory Animal Technician by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science is preferred at hire and must be achieved within 12 months of appointment.
• Thorough understanding of laboratory animal facility operations and methods.
• Ability to motivate and direct a team and work productively in a cooperative team setting.
• Ability to follow established procedures closely and instruct others.
• Ability to demonstrate responsibility and dependability; plan and organize work by established priorities; and complete assignments accurately within established timeframes.
• Strong critical-thinking, problem-solving, accuracy, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Data-entry skills and basic proficiency with Microsoft Office and mobile devices.
• Willingness to work hard and learn new tasks.
• Data utilization, complex problem-solving, critical-thinking, resource-management, and writing skills.
• Compassion, patience, and endurance.
• Ability to lift moderate-weight materials occasionally and stand or walk continuously.
• Ability to detect and understand speech or other communication; occasional ability to distinguish colors and perceive relative distances between objects.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in animal care in a research setting or similar environment.
• Previous training and team leadership experience.
• Laboratory Animal Technician certification at the time of hire.

Responsibilities

• Assign and oversee daily tasks of Animal Health Technician I and II staff involving support services, maintenance, husbandry, and animal health and welfare; ensure tasks are completed efficiently and in accordance with policies and regulations.
• Provide rotating weekend and holiday team leadership and ongoing feedback to the supervisor regarding personnel, facility, and operational performance.
• Resolve routine issues under supervisor guidance.
• Observe animals and their environments daily to assess health and detect abnormal conditions; document and report findings according to established procedures.
• Administer prescribed treatments and other interventions, which may include animal euthanasia; collect samples for the animal health surveillance program as directed; and maintain relevant records.
• Provide daily animal care, including cleaning enclosures, supplying clean caging, bedding, and enrichment, and providing feed and water.
• Handle and restrain animals using appropriate techniques to support safe and humane care and research.
• Provide technical assistance during special procedures, such as surgery or imaging, under the direction of others.
• Sanitize animal rooms, cages, equipment, corridors, and support areas according to standard operating procedures.
• Operate rack washers, tunnel washers, bedding dispensers, vacuum bedding disposal systems, autoclaves, floor-cleaning machines, and pallet jacks; empty garbage dumpsters and operate the trash compactor.
• Oversee packaging of waste for incineration to ensure proper procedures are followed.
• Receive incoming animal shipments and distribute animals to assigned rooms; receive and process shipments from the loading dock using push carts, flatbed carts, and pallet jacks.
• Monitor machinery and environmental conditions by obtaining, documenting, and comparing data with established standards; troubleshoot problems and refer issues requiring outside service to the supervisor.
• Perform routine and non-routine maintenance and ensure equipment operates properly.
• Collaborate with BRC Training Staff to train Animal Health Technicians I and II in duties consistent with policies and regulations; may assist in training husbandry and investigative staff in animal handling and procedures under training staff direction.
• Crosstrain in all facility areas and provide supervisor coverage as needed.
• Assist with receipt, stocking, and maintenance of supply inventories.
• Collect and record data to support facility management; troubleshoot issues and resolve routine problems.
• Support ongoing compliance with policies and procedures and provide feedback on their development.
• Participate in continuous improvement, initiate activities, and oversee implementation as assigned.
• Participate in unit and department education related to research animal science.
• Assist with special projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• Flexible Spending options
• 403B retirement package
• Competitive vacation and paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement
• Paid parental leave
• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
• Pet insurance
• On-campus fitness facility with onsite classes
• Discounts on select cell phone plans, local fitness facilities, Milwaukee recreation, and entertainment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree