Animal Behavior Technician I

AbbVie; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 33,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking a Behavioral Technician I to support the Behavioral Management program, performing operant conditioning, enrichment, and behavioral monitoring for research animals. This role will mentor Animal Care Technicians and ensure compliance with the enrichment program while escalating concerns to management.

Responsibilities include training staff on enrichment and operant conditioning, coordinating with research groups, and maintaining documentation of trainings and enrichment

Qualifications

• High School/GED or higher with relevant lab animal experience or degree with experience.
• AALAS ALAT level certification or eligibility is preferred.
• Strong communication and analytical skills are required.
• Basic computer skills including spreadsheets, word processing, and email are necessary.

Responsibilities

• Assist with positive reinforcement training and enrichment for animals.
• Assist with staff training on operant conditioning and enrichment strategies.
• Support cross-functional collaboration to improve program effectiveness.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Analytical skills

Computer literacy

Education

High School/GED + 3 years lab animal experience OR related degree + 2 years

AALAS ALAT certification eligibility

Job description

• Compensation: USD 23.8 - USD 43 - hourly

Company Description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube.

Job Description

The Behavioral Technician I supports AbbVie’s Behavioral Management program (BMT). This role is responsible for operant conditioning, enrichment, behavioral monitoring, and positive reinforcement for research animals. Provides direction and support to Animal Care Technicians and other AbbVie employees who perform animal husbandry in accordance with the company animal enrichment program. Elevates any concerns or inconsistencies with animal behavior and the enrichment program to the appropriate authority (manager) for action.

Responsibilities

• Assist with performing positive reinforcement training of animals. Communicates skills and enrichment program requirements amongst research groups and Comparative Medicine staff. These include but are not limited to those for behavior related tasks, enrichment, socialization, operant conditioning, chair training, pole and collar training, target training.
• Assist with training of staff on standardization and continued productivity as related to operant conditioning and enrichment related strategies.
• Enables higher performance by building and maintaining strong relationships with peers and cross functionally with partners outside of team.

Identifies potential improvements to the program; remains flexible, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement on enrichment and operant conditioning related strategies. Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and assists with the progression of innovation to reality.

Assists with daily tasks associated with animal enrichment animal enrichment, such as scheduling, prep, distribution to animals, evaluation of effectiveness, and enrichment area/supply maintenance.

Assists with entry and upkeep of behavioral, training and enrichment forms/database(s); Maintains documentation of all animal trainings (timelines, progress, comments, concerns, etc.)

Works with moderate work direction, remains flexible, performs multiple projects simultaneously, meets deadlines, and maintains sanitation standards.

Assists with incorporating the 3R’s into the Behavioral Management program

Attends applicable training and workshops pertaining to lab animal enrichment/behavior; participates in on-site enrichment trainings and committees where required.

Provides animal husbandry duties as required; Required weekend husbandry (or animal enrichment/ operant conditioning) rotation commitment

Qualifications

• High School/GED is required AND at least 3 years prior technical experience in laboratory animal science settingOR relevant degree in related discipline (biology, animal behavior, animal science, veterinary technology) with at least two years laboratory animal science experience.
• At least two years of animal husbandry/enrichment/ behavior/ training experience.
• Certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) at the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) level; eligibility for LAT certification
• Knowledge of basic regulatory requirements.
• Communication Skills – Ability to concisely communicate key issues to stakeholders.
• Analytical Skills – Ability to assess issues that arise, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information as needed, and identify key issues that need to be addressed.
• Computer Literacy – Basic competence of spreadsheets, word processing and email, and knowledge of computerized maintenance management systems and purchasing systems.

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state orlocal law:

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Companybelieves ingood faith it will pay for this role at thetimeofthis posting based on the job grade for this position.Individualcompensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographiclocation,andwemayultimatelypaymore or less than the posted range. This range may bemodifiedin thefuture.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick),medical/dental/visioninsurance and 401(k) to eligibleemployees.
• This job is eligible toparticipatein our short-term incentiveprograms.

Note: No amount of payis considered to bewages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, anddeterminable.Theamountandavailabilityof anybonus,commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form ofcompensation and benefitsthat are allocable to a particular employeeremainsin the Company'ssoleandabsolutediscretion unless and until paid andmay bemodifiedat the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent withapplicable law.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.