Animal Care Technician I

Charles River Laboratories; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 23,419 - 31,684; Full time

Job summary

Charles River Laboratories is seeking an Animal Care Technician I to support in vivo services, focusing on animal husbandry, health observations, and accurate record-keeping. You will work closely with veterinary staff to monitor animal wellbeing and ensure compliant handling and documentation.

The position emphasizes attention to safety, sanitation, and adherence to SOPs while performing routine care and treatment administration. A high school diploma or GED is required, with ALAT preferred.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or GED required; AA/AS in animal science preferred.
• Experience: 0–6 months related experience in animal research or husbandry.
• Certification/Licensure: ALAT preferred.
• Other: Ability to handle common laboratory species; strong communication and teamwork; basic data collection equipment; knowledge of SOPs/regulations.

Responsibilities

• Perform in vivo husbandry procedures including animal receipt.
• Observe and report atypical environmental or animal health conditions.
• Administer treatments via various routes.
• Collect and process biological samples per SOPs.
• Provide quality care and health monitoring for all animals.
• Maintain accurate animal health and census records.
• Document procedures clearly and accurately for records.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Data collection

Technical skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

AA/AS in animal science (preferred)

Tools

ALAT certification (preferred)

Job description

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well‑being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

The Animal Care Technician I will be involved in all aspects of animal care for the in vivo services group. This position is hands‑on with responsibilities including, but not limited to animal husbandry, animal handling and restraint, treatment administration, animal health observations, cage changes, room sanitization and accurate documentation of animal health records.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Perform in vivo husbandry procedures including animal receipt
• Observes, records and reports atypical findings of the environment, facility and animal health
• Administer treatments via various routes
• Collect and process biological samples according to appropriate protocol and SOP requirements
• Provide quality care and health monitoring for all animals
• Identify and report any facility related issues or animal health concerns as necessary
• Interact with veterinary staff to convey and assist with animal health issues
• Maintain a safe and clean work environment
• Adhere to all applicable guidelines for the care and use of animals in research
• Perform facility sanitization, including animal rooms, hallways and other areas of the facility as needed
• Clearly and accurately document procedures including husbandry and sanitization
• Ensure that raw data records are accurate, complete and in appropriate order
• Maintain accurate animal health and census records
• Keep facilities stocked with supplies needed for daily operations
• Assist with review, development and improvement of departments forms and SOPs
• Follow company SOPs, Policies, and Practices
• Assist Veterinary Staff with animal care as requested, such as physical examinations
• Perform other related duties as assigned

The starting pay for this position is $20.00 per hour.

Qualifications

Education: High school diploma or General Education Degree (G.E.D.) required. Associate’s degree (A.A./A.S.) in animal science or related field preferred.

Experience: Zero to six months related experience in animal research and/or husbandry or must have fully satisfied technical and experience requirements for the previous level.

Certification/Licensure: ALAT preferred.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

Other: Ability to handle common laboratory species. Effective communication and listening skills in a teamwork environment. Excellent organization skills with minimal supervision enabling effective management of multiple, concurrent tasks and priorities. Proficient in basic technical skills and the operation of data collection equipment. Knowledge of Testing Facility SOPs and other federal regulations and guidelines relating to the care of laboratory animals. Basic understanding of study design and protocols.

Physical Demands

• Employees must be able to lift, move, manipulate, and/or hold heavy objects up to and including 50 pounds; this includes work materials, equipment, and/or animals.
• Must be able to perform procedures, which require talking, hearing, standing or sitting for long periods of time, entering data into a computer, using appropriate instruments, reaching with hands and arms, working in narrow spaces, and wearing safety equipment (PPE) according to OSHA regulations and company standards.
• Must be able to frequently firmly hold species while utilizing fine motor skills.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• Works in a research environment, which requires use of sharp objects, working around mechanical parts, working with or near known or unknown toxic or caustic chemicals and/or biological hazards, exposure to fumes and airborne particles.
• The employee regularly works with live animals with risk of exposure to dander, allergens, zoonotic disease, and biohazards.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to work/type at a computer.
• Mix of office and vivarium work. The noise level in the work environment ranges from low to high.
• While performing the duties of this job, travel between facilities may be required.

Benefits

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life. Based on your position these may include: bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e‑mail message to [e-mail]. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.