Animal Care Technician

Altasciences; Scranton (Lackawanna County); On-site; USD 30,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Dental/Vision Insurance

401(k)/RRSP with Employer Matc

Paid Vacation and Holidays

Job summary

Altasciences is seeking an Animal Care Technician I to provide daily care and welfare for various research animals in a vivarium setting. You will support animal welfare during routine housing maintenance, enrichment, and health observations, working closely with veterinary and research teams.

The role emphasizes accurate documentation, adherence to protocols, and participation in weekend rotations. A High School Diploma or GED is required; ALAT or related certification is a plus and training is

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate's or Bachelor's in Animal Science, Biology, Veterinary Technology, or related field preferred.
• ALAT certification is a plus or willingness to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily animal husbandry, feeding, watering, enrichment, and health observations.
• Handle and restrain animals professionally and humanely.
• Monitor health and behavior; report concerns to veterinary staff.
• Maintain clean, safe housing and record daily activities accurately.
• Support cage wash and routine room maintenance.
• Participate in weekend/holiday care rotations.

Skills

Animal care

Observation skills

Documentation

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate's or Bachelor's in Animal Science/ Biology/ Vet Tech

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About The Role

Do you have a passion for animal welfare and a desire to play a meaningful role in advancing scientific research? As an Animal Care Technician I, you will be responsible for providing daily husbandry and care for a variety of research animals while ensuring their health, comfort, and well‑being. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals who enjoy working directly with animals and want to build a career in laboratory animal science. In this role, you'll be an essential member of the vivarium team, helping to maintain high standards of animal welfare, environmental quality, and regulatory compliance. You'll work with a variety of species, including rodents, rabbits, dogs, swine, and non-human primates, while supporting critical research programs through exceptional animal care.

What You'll Do

As an Animal Care Technician, your primary focus will be the daily care, observation, and welfare of animals within our research facility. Responsibilities include:

• Providing routine animal husbandry, including feeding, watering, sanitation, enrichment, bedding changes, and daily health observations.
• Handling, restraining, and interacting with animals in a professional, compassionate, and humane manner.
• Monitoring animal health and behavior, identifying abnormalities, and promptly reporting concerns to veterinary or supervisory staff.
• Maintaining clean, safe, and comfortable housing environments that promote animal well‑being.
• Receiving, transferring, and assigning animals to housing or study locations while ensuring accurate documentation.
• Observing environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, lighting, and ventilation to ensure optimal animal care standards.
• Supporting animal welfare programs and ensuring compliance with established protocols and regulatory requirements.
• Performing cage changes and assisting with routine animal room maintenance.
• Operating cage wash and sanitation equipment to ensure animal housing and equipment meet cleanliness standards.
• Assisting with the movement of animals and supplies throughout the facility.
• Supporting veterinary, husbandry, and research teams as needed to ensure the highest quality care for all animals.
• Accurately documenting daily activities, observations, and procedures with attention to detail and data integrity.
• Participating in weekend and holiday animal care rotations to ensure continuous animal welfare coverage.

What You'll Need to Succeed

High School Diploma or GED required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Biology, Veterinary Technology, or a related scientific field preferred; Previous experience working with animals is beneficial but not required; we provide training for motivated candidates who are eager to learn; ALAT certification is a plus, or a willingness to obtain certification as part of professional development; Strong commitment to animal welfare and ethical animal care practices; Ability to recognize and report changes in animal health, appearance, or behavior; Excellent observation skills and attention to detail; Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment; Strong verbal and written communication skills; Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office applications; Ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a fast‑paced environment while maintaining accuracy and organization; Professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to high‑quality work; Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and a genuine interest in working with animals.

Why Join Us?

Work directly with animals and make a meaningful impact on their daily care and well‑being. Gain valuable experience in laboratory animal science and preclinical research. Develop hands‑on skills in husbandry, animal behavior observation, and regulatory compliance. Join a collaborative team dedicated to the highest standards of animal welfare and scientific excellence. Build a foundation for career growth within animal care, veterinary support, research operations, and laboratory animal science.

Work Authorization & Sponsorship

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Altasciences is unable to provide sponsorship, sponsorship transfers, or visa maintenance for this position. All applicants must possess valid work authorization that does not require employer sponsorship now or in the future.

What We Offer

Altasciences offers a wide variety of benefits to help our employees live healthy and fulfilling lives both at and outside of work. Altasciences' Benefits Package Includes: Health/Dental/Vision Insurance Plans 401(k)/RRSP with Employer Matc Paid Vacation and Holidays Paid Sick and Bereavement Leave Employee Assistance & Telehealth Programs Telework when applicable.

Benefits

• Health/Dental/Vision Insurance Plans
• 401(k)/RRSP with Employer Matc
• Paid Vacation and Holidays
• Paid Sick and Bereavement Leave
• Employee Assistance & Telehealth Programs
• Telework when applicable

Incentive Programs

• Training & Development Programs
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• #LI-JR1

Altasciences Values and Join Our Growing Team

At Altasciences we all move in unison to assist and work in the discovery, development, and manufacturing of new drug therapies to get them faster to people who need them. No matter your role, we all play an important part and you will have a significant impact on the health and well‑being of people across the globe. By living our values of Employee Development, Customer Focus, Quality and Excellence, Respect and Integrity, we look to foster a passionate and collaborative work environment and we are looking for talented and enthusiastic people, to join our growing team.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Altasciences is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. Our goal is to attract, develop and retain highly talented employees from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or any other protected grounds under applicable legislation. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities during the recruitment process are available upon request.