Animal Care Technician

North American Science Associates, Inc.; Northwood (OH); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

NAMSA seeks a Laboratory Animal Technician to support welfare and husbandry of animals in our vivarium. You will help clean and prepare housing, perform daily enrichment, and assist with animal intake, weighing, and documentation as part of the study workflow.

Qualifications include ALAT certification preferred or related AS/BA degrees and high school diploma. Experience with Microsoft Outlook is a plus; capable of lifting up to 50 lbs and working in a regulated environment is required.

Qualifications

• Previous animal handling experience is preferred.
• Basic computer skills, with experience using Microsoft Outlook preferred.
• High school diploma or GED is required.

Responsibilities

• Follows the Quality Manual, NAMSA SOPs, and Process documents.
• Primarily involved in welfare and husbandry activities of animals, including sanitation of equipment and vivarium.
• Operates cleaning equipment such as pressure hoses and cage washers.
• Administers daily and enrichment feeding according to SOP; documents appetite and feces patterns.
• Interacts with animals daily and participates in enrichment activities.
• Performs animal receipt, housing preparation, charting, and weighing of animals as required.
• May assist during animal procedures by helping hold or restrain animals.

Skills

Animal handling

Outlook/Computer skills

Education

ALAT certification preferred

Associate degree in animal-related field

Bachelor’s degree in animal-related field

Job description

NAMSA pioneered the industry and was the first independent company in the world to focus solely on medical device materials for safety. NAMSA started testing medical devices before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration started regulating such products in 1976. We are shaping the industry. NAMSA has been a key contributor to the development of the test methods that govern our industry. We have become the industry’s premier provider. We provide support for clients during every step of the product development lifecycle and beyond. Come and work for an organization with the: Vision to inspire innovative MedTech solutions that advance global healthcare, improve patient lives and accelerate Client success and the Mission to deliver best-in-class global MedTech development solutions through our people, expertise and technology by adhering to our core Values: Act with integrity in everything we do. Provide best-in-class customer experiences. Develop superior talent and deliver expertise. Respond with agility and provide timely results. Embrace collaboration, diverse perspectives and ideas.

Job Description:

• Follows the Quality Manual, all NAMSA SOPs, and Process documents.
• Primarily involved in the welfare and husbandry activities of animals, including sanitation of equipment and the vivarium.
• May operate a variety of cleaning equipment such as pressure hoses and cage washers.
• Administers daily and enrichment feeding according to SOP or protocol prescribed amounts and types of feed. Assessors and documents appetite and feces patterns.
• Interacts with animals daily and sets up or participates in animal enrichment activities.
• Performs animal receipt, including preparing housing for arrival, movement of animals to housing, preparing animal charts, and bathing and weighing of animals as required. May perform microchipping/tail-marking depending upon species.
• Performs daily documentation activities, such as cleaning/sprayback and feeding dates and times, sanitation dates and initials, appetite, feces and vomit observations, room and location transfers, room temperature and humidity data, etc.
• Weighs animals according to schedule or as dictated by study protocol.
• May conduct training on husbandry tasks for other Associates and update training records.
• May assist during the conduct of animal procedures, assays, or other activities conducted in the vivariums by helping hold or restrain animals as needed.
• Performs preventive health maintenance such as ear cleaning, teeth trimming, nail trimming, skin greasing, and bathing depending upon species.
• Conducts animal movement from room to room as needed for housing requirements, study requirements, cleaning, etc. May use transport cart to assist with moving large post-operative animals
• May administer treatments and medications under direction of a Veterinarian.
• Assists with stocking animal and surgical supplies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Technical Competencies:

• Previous animal handling experience is preferred.
• Basic computer skills, with experience using Microsoft Outlook preferred.
• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification preferred, and Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in an animal related field is desirable in order to allow for advancement opportunities.

Working Conditions:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to, and must handle and come in contact with, a variety of large and small livestock, domestic and laboratory animals, is regularly exposed to non-weather wet conditions and toxic or caustic chemicals, and is frequently exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The employee is occasionally required to work with radioactive isotopes and in a Bio-Safety-Level 2 (BSL2) environment, and is occasionally exposed to gasses such as CO2 and isoflurane. The employee may occasionally be exposed to fluoroscopy, blood borne pathogens and zoonotic diseases.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and frequently loud. Hearing protection is required in designated areas and when performing specific tasks.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, use hands, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to grip and squeeze with hands, stoop, kneel or crouch. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, or crawl.
• The employee is regularly required to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted. The employee is occasionally required to physically restrain up to 80 pounds unassisted, and to maneuver and/or restrain up to 220 pounds with the assistance of other personnel and/or other maneuvering/restraining devices.

NAMSA is an equal employment opportunity company. NAMSA participates in pre-employment background and drug screen processes aligned to local, state and federal laws. NAMSA was founded on the principals of delivering quality customer service, conducting ourselves with integrity, respect for one another, open communication and collaboration. Whether you have a background in Laboratory Science, Clinical Research, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Engineering, or Sales & Business, NAMSA offers exciting opportunities to align with your expertise.