Senior Laboratory Animal Resources Technician

Southern Research Institute • Birmingham, AL

83d

About The Position

This is a senior-level animal care position responsible for animal care, husbandry, and overall animal facility support. This position is an active contributor to the animal care and husbandry team, and in addition will coordinate the tasks in a specified area. The senior animal care technician has a full understanding of the principals involved in providing animal care, husbandry, animal facility support, and demonstrated proficiency in all of the laboratory techniques. This position is a member of an animal care team led by a Group leader. This position will report directly to the Manager, Laboratory Animal Resources who will have direct management responsibility.

Requirements

• High school diploma or Associates degree with 5 years of related experience or Bachelor's degree with 3 years of related laboratory/animal facility experience.
• Ability to observe appropriate safety and study requirements by reading, understanding and following Standard Operating Procedures, Good Laboratory Practices requirements, and study protocols.
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrate ability to utilize relevant MS Office Suite Products.
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to include an N95 respirator or PAPR for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of standard scientific principles, theories, and concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new tasks.
• This position requires the ability to meet all entry requirements, including medical and vaccination requirements for work in both an ABSL-2 and ABSL-3 laboratory environment.

Nice To Haves

• AAALAS certification at the LAT level (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Observes and executes husbandry activities consistent with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) regulations, organizational policies, and safety and health practices.
• Ensures team members adhere to SOP's, GLP guidelines, and organizational policies to include health and safety practices.
• Provides daily task oversight to a team of less experienced husbandry staff.
• Provides animal care, husbandry, and facility related training to laboratory animal resource technicians as required.
• Handles and works with laboratory animals and the equipment, supplies, and materials required to provide for humane conditions.
• Performs required animal care facility and equipment maintenance duties.
• Cleans cages, equipment, and work area, and decontaminates animal rooms; this includes operating sanitizing and sterilizing equipment.
• Provides clean housing, feed, water, and appropriate enrichment for all animals housed in the facility.
• May gather experimental data by measuring and recording body weights and temperatures, qualitative and quantitative food and water consumption, and observation of physical condition.
• Transfers animals and animal identification to clean caging/racks, and materials from storage to work areas.
• Transports laboratory equipment and materials to and from animal rooms.
• Observes animals twice daily and reports abnormal finding to appropriate individual(s).
• Stores feed, bedding, materials, and equipment in a manner that is compliant with SOP's.
• Operates and adjusts animal watering system.
• Provides environmental enrichment and/or socialization to animals as directed.
• Does general handling and restraint of animals as required.
• Verifies and documents the operational status of various pieces of equipment and environmental conditions in animal facilities.
• Receives and quarantines animals as required.
• Learns new techniques required to provide research study support.
• Assists supervisor in training new and recently promoted personnel in animal care practices commensurate with the position.
• Repairs/replaces limits, water manifolds, cage latches, AWS water lines, and water hoses.
• Completes general maintenance such as changing casters, unclogging drains, changing light bulbs, and changing filters.
• Does routine maintenance on rack washers.
• Performs monthly and quarterly testing in the facility such as air flow, light intensity, and vermin control.
• Ensures necessary controlled documents are readily available for routine use.
• Provides oversight to help ensure all procedures and documentation are performed in accordance with established SOPs and GLP requirements.
• Assists the supervisor, manager, and veterinarian as necessary.
• Perform other duties as may be required by group leader or manager.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision
• 401(k) match
• life insurance
• PTO
• employee assistance program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Associate degree