Animal Care Technician II

University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 23,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Pittsburgh’s Division of Laboratory Animal Resources seeks an Animal Care Technician II to provide essential husbandry and care for laboratory animals. The role includes feeding, enrichment, health observations, cage cleaning, and facility sanitation, with documentation using CAMS and DLAR SOPs.

Ideal candidates will have lab animal experience, strong communication skills, and the ability to stand for long periods, lift up to 50 pounds, and occasionally work weekends/holidays.

Qualifications

• Lab animal care experience and ability to perform basic medical treatments and daily health observations.
• Proficiency with standard computer tools and DLAR software (e.g., CAMS, PRISM).
• Ability to follow SOPs, maintain records, and work with English documentation.

Responsibilities

• Provide food, water, and enrichment to laboratory animals.
• Perform cage changes, cleaning, and sanitization of housing enclosures and rooms.
• Document animal care activities and environmental parameter checks.
• Assist with training, inventory management, and supplier ordering.
• Learn and use CAMS for receiving animals, census, and records.

Skills

Animal care experience

Basic medical treatments

Computer applications

English communication

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Tools

CAMS

PRISM

ALAT certification

Job description

Job Description - Animal Care Technician II (26006653)

The Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) Animal Care Technician II will provide husbandry and care of laboratory animals with a commitment to animal welfare and well-being. The candidate will:

• provide food, water and enrichment
• perform cage changes including cleaning and sanitizing animal housing enclosures, equipment and rooms
• complete daily health observations and administer basic medical treatments, procedures and unique diets and
• maintain logs documenting animal care activities and verification of environmental parameters and equipment function
• assist with training and mentoring
• manage inventory including tracking and ordering supplies
• learn/use the electronic animal management system to properly receive animals, take census and document animal records
• give facility tours and review operation manuals with new researchers
• oversee completion of facility tasks
• assist with the oversight of room and rack sanitization
• provide facility support tasks including laundering scrubs, performing general cleaning, sweeping, mopping, stocking supply areas and assisting with cagewash operations

The successful candidate must have lab animal experience; consistently demonstrate positive interpersonal and customer service skills; be proficient with technology in order to use common applications (e.g. email, Microsoft Office, Zoom) and to learn CAMS (DLAR business application software); be available to work occasional weekends and holidays; stand for extended periods of time; lift 50 pounds; push/pull heavy equipment; and pass the mandatory criminal and social background checks. Preferred candidate will have completed criteria in the DLAR Career Development Program. Candidates working in the Rangos Research Building at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh will need to obtain Child Protection Clearances. Vaccinations and TB testing may be required.

Job Summary

Provides animal care to laboratory animals, including feeding, watering, enrichment, health observations and basic medical treatments. Performs cage cleaning and facility sanitization procedures in accordance with standard operating procedures and maintains timely and accurate documentation. Manages research support requests, facility repairs, equipment sanitization schedules, and animal and supply deliveries. Conducts facility tours and trains staff. Assists with animal and supply inventory functions using electronic data management.

Essential Functions

The employee must be able to:

• read, understand, and follow DLAR and other institutional guidance documents (SOPs, policies), including IACUC approved animal protocols when applicable
• follow written and verbal instructions
• demonstrate sufficient fine motor skill to manipulate animals and equipment; negotiate around equipment within close quarters; move between rooms and workspaces
• have sufficient visual acuity to observe animal behavior and recognize animals inadvertently left in cages as well as automated equipment notifications and printouts
• have sufficient audible acuity to hear equipment alarms and other warnings.
• wear facility specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for extended periods of time required by the job duties based on risk assessment from EH&S
• work directly with live or dead animals and clean or soiled bedding and caging with reasonable accommodations. if necessary
• accurately and legibly document written information in English in a timely manner, including electronic formats and applications (e.g., PRISM, CAMS)
• effective written and verbal communication in English, including the use of email
• successfully enroll in University of Pittsburgh Animal Exposure Surveillance Program (AESP) and other medical surveillance/immunization programs as dictated by current research activities
• receive vaccinations and health assessments, including TB testing, required to work in some animal holding or procedure areas in accordance with DLAR and/or EH&S policies and practices.

Physical Effort

The employee must be able to:

• stand for extended periods of time for the majority of the workday
• lift and move objects weighing up to 50 pounds including, but not limited to, caging and equipment, bags or boxes of animal diet and animal bedding
• operate flatbed hand trucks or pallet jacks to push/pull heavier objects or weights exceeding 50 pounds
• perform repetitive motion tasks that involve pushing, pulling, twisting, reaching, and/or bending
• physically handle and restrain a variety of small and large laboratory animals and
• negotiate and navigate around animal facility caging, equipment, and the physical plant.

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.

Assignment Category Full-time regular

Job Classification Staff.Animal Care Technician II

Job Family Research

Job Sub-Family Animal Research

Campus Pittsburgh

Minimum Education Level Required High School Diploma/GED

Minimum Years of Experience Required No experience required

Will this position accept substitution in lieu of education or experience? Combination of education and relevant experience will be considered in lieu of education and/ or experience requirement.

Required Licensure/Certification ALAT + Proficiency Testing Pass

Additional details about Required Licensure/Certification Certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) at the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) level ALAT certification. External candidates will need to attain within one year.

Work Schedule Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; some weekends and holidays

Work Arrangement On-Campus: Teams that work on campus, in an office, or in a lab.

Hiring Range $20.16/hr

Relocation Offered No

Visa Sponsorship Provided No

Background Check For position finalists, employment with the University will require successful completion of a background check

Child Protection Clearances Not Applicable

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.