Animal Care Technician I or Animal Care Technician II

UW School of Medicine and Public Health; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

UW School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, WI is seeking an Animal Care Technician I to support the Rodent Breeding Core. You will handle routine and specialized husbandry and facility maintenance for mice used in research and teaching.

Responsibilities include breeding, record-keeping, and animal health monitoring, with a Monday–Friday schedule and every other weekend; on-site work with potential weekend differential and AALAS certification pay increases.

Qualifications

• Physical ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, squat, twist and push carts, bedding, feed bags and equipment up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Proficient computer skills, emailing, website experience, and experience using Microsoft Excel and Word

Responsibilities

• Perform breeding and colony management.
• Maintains organization of and updates records related to research procedures
• Inventories, cleans, and maintains organization of animal holding spaces and supplies
• Inspects and reports equipment problems to ensure optimal and safe operation
• Observes animal behavior, performs basic animal care and reports concerns to the appropriate entities to contribute to the health and well-being of animals to support research and teaching.
• Assists with preparing food and formulas and feeds animals according to established schedules and specifications.

Skills

Physical stamina

Ability to follow instructions

Education

High school diploma preferred

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

Current Employees

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Job Category

University Staff

Employment Type

Regular

Job Profile

Animal Care Technician I

Job Summary

Are you looking for a job working with research animals? We offer a rewarding career with a flexible work environment. Animal Care staff provide routine and specialized animal husbandry and facility maintenance.

If you are passionate about animals, supportive of biomedical research and want to learn how you can play a critical role within BRMS, we invite you to apply for this position.

The animal program involves all aspects of animal use for research, teaching, and outreach. BRMS is seeking an Animal Care Technician to join their Rodent Breeding Core.

The BRMS Rodent Breeding Core provides research support across all animal programs on campus. The Breeding Core breeds over 700 strains of mice.

This position will be responsible for performing routine and specialized animal husbandry tasks and general facility maintenance for the Mouse Breeding Core in Biomedical Research Model Services (BRMS). These duties include general animal husbandry, feeding and watering animals, weaning, sampling for genotyping, monitoring animal room environments, cleaning primary and secondary enclosures, receiving animals, preparing animals for transport, restraining, and handling animals, reporting sick and injured animals, general facility maintenance and housekeeping. ACT positions interact with researchers and veterinary staff as required. Other duties to be assigned by the supervisor.

We offer flexible hours after passing the probationary period, extra hourly differential pay for weekend hours worked, and additional hourly pay for each level of AALAS certification.

Physical Requirements & Schedule

• This position requires work to be completed onsite, at a designated campus work location.
• The standard schedule for this position is Monday through Friday and every other weekend from 7a.m.- 3:30p.m. This position will have one weekday off. Holiday work may be required. Exact schedule will be determined at time of hire.
• Applicants for this position will be considered for the following titles: Animal Care Technician I and Animal Care Technician II. The title is determined by the experience and qualifications of the finalist. The responsibilities in this job posting are for the Animal Care Technician I title. An Animal Care Technician II will perform tasks more independently, assist with training students and new staff, and collect samples from animals and administer medications, injections and treatments according to the established protocols and procedures to be used for diagnostic tests and research.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Perform breeding and colony management.
• Maintains organization of and updates records related to research procedures
• Inventories, cleans, and maintains organization of animal holding spaces and supplies
• Inspects and reports equipment problems to ensure optimal and safe operation
• Observes animal behavior, performs basic animal care and reports concerns to the appropriate entities to contribute to the health and well-being of animals to support research and teaching.
• Assists with preparing food and formulas and feeds animals according to established schedules and specifications.

Department

School of Medicine and Public Health, Biomedical Research Model Services, Breeding Core

Biomedical Research Model Services is here to assist researchers in making significant discoveries in biological and medical science while ensuring the health and well-being of all animals in our care. Our goal is to maintain facilities and provide services and care that exceed the standards of regulatory and funding agencies. We strive to create a safe and welcoming workplace.

Compensation

The starting hourly wage for the position is $19.00 per hour; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage and the SMPH University Staff Benefits Flyer 2026.

Required Qualifications

• Physical ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, squat, twist and push carts, bedding, feed bags and equipment up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Proficient computer skills, emailing, website experience, and experience using Microsoft Excel and Word

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 6 months of animal care experience.
• Knowledge of acceptable animal husbandry procedures.
• Familiarity with University requirement concerning Responsible Use and Care of Animals in Research and Training and the Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
• Knowledge of animal health records maintenance and ability to perform animal health checks.
• AALAS Certification (ALAT, LAT or LATG)

Education

H.S. Diploma Preferred

Contact Information

Kelly Rose, [e-mail], 608-265-8069

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

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The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

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Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

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