2027 Summer Intern - Animal Care Operations

Charles River Laboratories; Hollister (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Charles River Laboratories is seeking an Animal Care Operations Intern in Hollister, CA to support animal care processes, documentation, and SOP development. The role combines hands-on operational exposure with collaboration on projects and the creation of training materials, with emphasis on accurate documentation and procedural consistency.

The internship offers exposure to regulatory, safety, and site requirements while enabling the intern to learn from subject-matter experts and contribute

Qualifications

• No degree required; relevant coursework encouraged.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Proficiency with Word/Excel and ability to learn new tools.
• Ability to work independently and with teams.
• Willingness to follow procedures and safety protocols.

Responsibilities

• Spend time in animal care areas to learn site processes and provide floater support.
• Observe workflows and identify opportunities for documentation or process improvement.
• Draft, update, organize, and maintain SOPs and training materials.
• Collaborate with subject-matter experts to gather information and document knowledge.
• Assist with onboarding materials and training resources.
• Help organize and maintain digital documentation.
• Support projects to improve consistency and efficiency.
• Ensure documentation meets regulatory and safety requirements.
• Work with employees across functions to complete projects.
• Manage assigned projects and deliverables with attention to detail.

Skills

Clear communication

MS Office

Independent & team player

Attention to detail

Documentation skills

Adaptability

Education

No degree required

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

SharePoint

Job description

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Animal Care Operations Intern to support animal care operations, documentation, standardization, and process improvement within Research & Model Services (RMS).

This internship provides an opportunity to learn directly from experienced team members while supporting a variety of operational and documentation projects. The intern will spend time in animal care areas learning and observing processes, providing operational support as appropriate, and working with subject-matter experts to develop and improve SOPs, work instructions, training materials, and other resources.

The role includes a combination of hands‑on operational exposure, collaborative projects, and independent assignments. The intern will regularly interact with different employees across the site, including individuals they may not have previously worked with, and should be comfortable asking questions, gathering information, and building effective working relationships.

This role is well suited for a self-motivated learner who is curious, organized, comfortable working with others, and able to translate information into clear and useful documentation.

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - 24.00 per hour. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location

Position is open to anyone, regardless of age, who meets the educational and experience requirements as posted.

Must be eligible to work in the US without requiring a sponsor visa.

Long Description

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Spend time in animal care areas to learn site processes and provide floater support based on operational needs and training.

Observe and learn animal care and technical service workflows and identify opportunities for documentation, standardization, or process improvement.

Draft, update, organize, and maintain SOPs, work instructions, job aids, training materials, and other operational documentation under appropriate direction and review.

Work with subject-matter experts and employees across the site to gather information, clarify processes, and help document specialized knowledge.

Assist with the development and organization of onboarding materials, checklists, training resources, and other tools that support consistent employee training.

Help organize and maintain digital documentation and resources to make information accessible and useful to employees and leaders.

Support projects designed to improve consistency, efficiency, documentation, and knowledge sharing within animal care operations and technical services.

Assist with organizing and maintaining operational documentation and resources that support applicable regulatory, accreditation, safety, and site requirements, including OLAW and AAALAC-related documentation, as directed.

Work with employees and leaders across different functions and levels to gather information, complete projects, and support site priorities.

Manage assigned projects and deliverables with appropriate direction, organization, follow-through, and attention to detail.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required:

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate professionally and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Basic proficiency with computers and Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel, with the ability to learn new systems and digital tools.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to interact comfortably with a variety of people, including individuals the intern may not have previously worked with.
• Demonstrated organization, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple assignments or priorities.
• Willingness and ability to learn and follow established procedures, safety requirements, and site-specific protocols.
• Ability to work in a laboratory animal care environment, including exposure to animal sampling, euthanasia procedures, PPE, animal allergens, biological materials, and other routine aspects of animal care operations.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred

• Currently pursuing or recently completed coursework in Animal Science, Biology, Veterinary/Pre-Veterinary Science, Life Sciences, Laboratory Science, Biotechnology, Operations, or another related field.
• Experience creating, editing, organizing, or maintaining written procedures, SOPs, technical documentation, or training materials.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, or similar digital documentation/knowledge-management tools.
• Previous exposure to laboratory, animal care, veterinary, research, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, manufacturing, or another regulated environment.
• Experience with process improvement, research, data organization, or information management.
• Strong curiosity and willingness to ask questions, learn from subject-matter experts, and understand processes before documenting them.
• Demonstrated ability to take information from multiple sources and organize it into clear, easy-to-follow documentation.

Physical Demands

• Regularly use a computer and other standard office and laboratory equipment.
• Regularly sit, stand, walk, use hands to handle objects, tools, cages, equipment, or controls, and reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally ascend or descend rolling platform stairs of up to six steps as required to perform assigned tasks.
• Occasionally bend, stoop, crouch, squat, sit, reach, and position oneself to access or observe animals, cages, equipment, or work areas.
• May occasionally lift and/or move equipment or materials weighing up to 10 pounds and, as required by assigned duties, up to 30 pounds.
• Regularly communicate with employees and others in person and through electronic or telephone communication and exchange information accurately.
• May be required to work in areas where personal protective equipment (PPE), including protective clothing, gloves, eye protection, and respiratory protection, is required.
• May be required to use a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) or other respiratory protection depending on assigned work areas and applicable safety requirements.
• Required medical evaluation, training, and fit testing will be completed in accordance with the applicable respiratory protection program before respirator use, as required.

Work Environment

• This is an on-site position.
• Work will occur in a combination of office, animal care, laboratory, and operational environments.
• The intern will regularly interact with employees across the site and may work with individuals they have not previously met.
• The work environment may include exposure to live animals, animal allergens, biological materials, animal sampling activities, euthanasia procedures, disinfectants, cleaning agents, laboratory odors, airborne particles, and other conditions associated with laboratory animal operations.
• The intern must follow all applicable animal exclusion, biosecurity, safety, PPE, and access requirements designed to protect employee safety, animal health, and the integrity of research operations.
• Work may occur near cage wash equipment, ventilated rack systems, other mechanical equipment, and laboratory equipment.
• The work environment may include varying temperatures, humidity, moderate noise, and other conditions associated with animal care and laboratory operations.
• Required PPE may include scrubs or other protective clothing, lab coats, safety glasses, gloves, and respiratory protection depending on the assigned work area and task.
• Employees must complete required safety, animal care, biosecurity, and other applicable training before performing assigned activities.

Education

No degree required

About Research Models & Services

Fundamental to basic research and discovery is the use of in vivo models to help identify disease targets and determine potential biological pathways that regulate the condition. As the world’s leader in the production and distribution of the highest quality research animal, with 1 out of 2 animal models produced for preclinical research globally, we understand the importance of this step. With seven decades of experience, our expertise is unmatched, allowing us to provide you with the perfect model, including disease-specific and preconditioned options, for basic research and beyond.

About Charles River

Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life. Based on your position these may include: bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e‑mail message to [e-mail]. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.