Animal Care Technician

Proclinical; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Proclinical is seeking an Animal Care Technician 1 to join our client’s team in the US. This entry-level role involves daily care, husbandry, and welfare checks for research animals in a controlled vivarium environment, supporting research integrity and welfare.

The successful candidate will work under direct supervision, adhere to SOPs and regulatory guidelines, and participate in weekend/holiday rotations.

Qualifications

• Associate diploma or higher is required.
• 0-2 years of hands-on experience in a lab animal facility or relevant education/experience mix.
• ALAT certification preferred.
• Experience in a vivarium or other regulated animal facility (GLP/AAALAC).
• Familiarity with aseptic techniques and barrier practices.
• Basic understanding of animal welfare and husbandry.
• Willingness to work weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily husbandry for research animals: cage changes, feeding, watering, bedding, enrichment.
• Conduct daily health and welfare observations and report concerns.
• Ensure correct identification and housing per standards.
• Maintain environmental conditions and enrichment for species.
• Assist with transfers, receipt activities, and routine handling.

Skills

ALAT certification

Vivarium experience

Aseptic techniques

Animal welfare knowledge

Weekend/holiday rotations

Reliability & punctuality

Basic care for lab animals

Education

Associate diploma or higher

Tools

Biosafety cabinets

Animal racks

Transfer stations

Job description

Animal Care Technician - Contract - San Diego, CA

Be the hands-on heart of research-ensuring the health, care, and wellbeing of every animal, every day.

Proclinical is seeking an Animal Care Technician 1 to join our client's team in the US. This is an entry-level position responsible for performing essential daily care, husbandry, and welfare checks for research animals in a controlled vivarium environment. This role is fundamental to maintaining high standards of animal welfare and supporting research integrity by ensuring a clean, safe, and compliant facility.

Primary Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will work under direct supervision and strictly adheres to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and regulatory guidelines.

Skills & Requirements:

• Associate diploma or higher

• 0-2 years of hands-on experience in a laboratory animal facility (vivarium setting), or a relevant combination of experience and education (e.g., veterinary technician experience with relevant lab animal exposure).

• AALAS Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification preferred

• Experience in a vivarium setting or other highly regulated animal facility (e.g., GLP, AAALAC).

• Familiarity with maintaining aseptic techniques and barrier practices.

• Basic understanding of animal welfare and husbandry principles.

• Demonstrated reliability and punctuality, including the ability to participate in required weekend and holiday work rotations.

The Animal Care Technician's responsibilities will be:

Animal Care and Husbandry

• Perform daily husbandry activities for research animals, including cage changing, feeding, watering, bedding replacement, and environmental enrichment.
• Conduct daily health and welfare observations and promptly report concerns to supervisory or veterinary staff.
• Ensure animals are accurately identified and housed according to facility standards.
• Maintain appropriate environmental conditions and enrichment for assigned species.
• Assist with animal transfers, receipt activities, and routine animal handling procedures.

Vivarium Operations and Sanitation

• Clean and sanitise animal rooms, enclosures, equipment, and facility areas in accordance with SOPs.
• Dispose of waste following established biosafety and biosecurity procedures.
• Operate and maintain vivarium equipment, including transfer stations, biosafety cabinets, and animal racks.
• Monitor and replenish animal care supplies and inventory as required.
• Follow all PPE, barrier, biosafety, and facility access protocols.

Documentation and Compliance

• Complete and maintain accurate husbandry, health, and environmental records using paper and electronic systems.
• Follow all approved protocols, SOPs, and regulatory requirements relating to animal care and welfare.
• Identify and report compliance concerns, procedural deviations, or animal welfare issues to supervisory staff.

Compensation:

• $22.00 - $30.00 Per Hour

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