Animal Care Technician I

Boston Children’s Hospital; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston Children’s Hospital seeks an Animal Care Assistant to support daily husbandry of laboratory mice in a research setting. The role requires careful observation, accurate documentation, and adherence to regulatory guidelines to protect valuable research models.

Responsibilities include preparing cages and equipment, operating washers and autoclaves, maintaining clean workspaces, and reporting health observations to veterinary staff. A high school diploma is required.

Qualifications

• Attention to detail in observing animals and documenting findings.
• Ability to read and understand written instructions.
• Experience or ability to handle laboratory animals (mice) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assemble and prepare animal cages/racks and related equipment for cage changes or new arrivals.
• Operate tunnel washers, cage washers, bottle washers and autoclaves.
• Maintain clean, sanitized work areas and complete area documentation.
• Maintain the health and well-being of laboratory animals with a stable environment and access to food and water; document observations.
• Provide basic daily care and husbandry of mice in a research setting.
• Perform and record daily animal health observations and report issues to veterinary staff.
• Identify basic animal care issues (e.g., overcrowded cages) and notify technicians.

Skills

Attention to detail

Reading instructions

Animal handling

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Position Summary

This position assists and provides support to the animal care operations. Responsible for the basic daily care and husbandry of laboratory animals (mice) housed in a research environment, as outlined in ARCH's standard operating procedures and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulatory guidelines Animal Welfare Act, USDA, AAALAC, and IACUC. Attention to detail when observing animals and completing documentation is necessary as employee error could cause catastrophic results to investigator research; the animals are extremely valuable and are sensitive research models. This position assists and provides technical support for quality assurance functions.

Hours of the position are Monday - Friday 7:30am-4:00pm.

Key Responsibilities

• Assembling and preparing animal cages/racks and related equipment for cage change outs, or newly arriving animals according to instructions
• Operating equipment such as tunnel washers, cage washers, bottle washers and autoclaves
• Maintaining clean, orderly and sanitized work areas on a regular basis and completing area documentation
• Maintaining the health and well being of laboratory animals by providing a stable sanitized environment with quality food and water, and completing area documentation
• Basic daily care and husbandry of laboratory animals housed in a research environment
• Performing and recording daily animal health observations, communicating adverse findings to the veterinarian technicians to ensure animal care standards are in keeping with applicable laws and regulatory guidelines (Animal Welfare Act, USDA, AAALAC, and IACUC)
• Identifying basic animal care issues such as overcrowded cages, and notifying a Technician II or III

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• A high school level of education is required

Experience

• The ability to work directly with mice and rats, with no preexisting allergies to animals, hair or dander
• The ability to read and understand written instructions is required
• Attention to detail when observing animals and completing documentation is required
• The ability to lift 50 lbs., box carry 30 lbs, and push or pull up to 100 lbs, amongst other physical tasks
• The willingness to be fit tested and wear a N95 mask (by being clean shaven for proper and necessary fit) or alternatively if necessary a PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) as required in specific locations within ARCH throughout the workday