Animal Care Technician II

Innovive; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Life insurance

401k with company match

Mental Health Program

Casual work environment

Job summary

Innovive, LLC in San Francisco Bay Area is seeking an Animal Care Technician II to maintain daily care of research animals, uphold vivarium standards, and support scientific studies under supervision. Duties include routine husbandry, health monitoring, basic dosing, and record keeping.

Candidates should have 1–2 years in a lab animal facility or a related degree; AALAS ALAT certified preferred. The role is on-site with comprehensive benefits and a bimodal schedule (Sun–Thu or Tue–Sat).

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of experience in a laboratory animal facility or a related degree.
• AALAS ALAT certification preferred; euthanasia training required under CA regulations.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine animal husbandry including feeding, watering, cage changes, daily health monitoring, and health surveillance checks.
• Demonstrate proficiency in technical tasks such as body weights, SC/IP/PO dosing, post-op care, and scoring.
• Accurately sex and wean litters using digital colony maintenance and data systems.
• Prepare and maintain records, room logs, census sheets, cage cards, and supply inventories.
• Sanitize and decontaminate facility areas and equipment; follow biosecurity standards.
• Follow SOPs, safety protocols, and biohazard guidelines (BSL I & II).
• Receive, identify, and house incoming shipments; dispose of waste per SOPs.

Skills

Rodent dosing/injection

Body weight recording

Post-op care

Animal handling

Digital colony software

MS Office

Education

Associate/Bachelor’s degree in animal science or related field

AALAS ALAT certification preferred

Tools

Digital colony maintenance software

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Job description

The Animal Care Technician II (ACT II) is a critical team member responsible for ensuring the health, welfare, and daily care of research animals, maintaining a clean and compliant vivarium environment, and performing technical procedures with minimal supervision. Building upon foundational husbandry skills, approximately 85-90% of duties focus on daily care and husbandry, with the remaining time dedicated to technical services. Reporting to the Manager of Vivarium Solutions, the ACT II demonstrates initiative, strong communication, and operational excellence to support scientific research goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform routine animal husbandry, including feeding, watering, cage changing, daily health monitoring, and health surveillance checks.
• Demonstrate proficiency in technical tasks such as body weights, SC injection, IP injection, PO dosing, and post-op care and scoring.
• Accurately sex and wean litters using digital colony maintenance and software data systems.
• Prepare and maintain records, room logs, census sheets, cage cards, and supply inventories.
• Sanitize and decontaminate facility areas, equipment, and animal racks while maintaining biosecurity standards.
• Adhere strictly to established SOPs, safety protocols, room entry order, and biohazard containment guidelines (BSL I & II).
• Receive, identify, and house incoming animal shipments according to protocols.
• Dispose of waste following appropriate SOPs and designated waste streams.
• Perform basic animal health treatments under veterinary or manager direction.
• Humanely euthanize animals as requested or required.
• Assist in animal restraint and manipulation of rodent species (mice and rats).
• Collaborate effectively with team members and researchers to maintain operational excellence and research standards.
• This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties. Employees may be required to perform other related tasks as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Qualifications & Skills

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in rodent dosing/injection (SC, IP, PO), body weight recording, post-op care, animal handling, digital colony maintenance software, and Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Core Competencies

• Collaboration & Innovation: Works effectively across teams and departments, fostering open communication. Values diverse perspectives and encourages creative problem-solving. Identifies opportunities for improvement and contributes to innovative solutions.
• Customer Focus: Approaches challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. Strives to deliver high-quality products and services that exceed customer expectations. Builds and maintains strong, long-term relationships.

Education & Experience

• Education & Experience: 1-2 years of experience in a laboratory animal facility or an associate/bachelor's degree in animal science or related field.
• Certificates & Licenses: AALAS ALAT certification preferred. Completion of euthanasia training/certification required pursuant to CA Code of Regulations Title 16 Sec 2039.

Work Conditions

• Location & Travel: On-site vivarium environment; minimal to no travel required.
• Physical Demands: Ability to lift up to 50–55 lbs; prolonged standing, walking, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, and reaching; ability to wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for extended periods.

Compensation: $28.00 - $34.00 / hour

Schedule: Sunday - Thursday OR Tuesday - Saturday

Benefits Offered: We offer excellent benefit packages and employee programs including paid time off, paid holidays, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, FSA or HSA, 401k with Company match, Mental Health Program or EAP, employee discounts, and a casual work environment with excellent career development opportunities.

At Innovive, we understand that our success and continued growth wouldn't be possible without a dedicated, passionate, hardworking, and talented team. If you relish the challenge, thrive on finding solutions, and like being a part of a fast-growing company that helps make other people’s lives better, we would love to hear from you!

Equal Opportunity Statement

Innovive, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related conditions, and lactation), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Innovive, LLC's management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment.