Animal Care Technician - Office of Lab Animal Resources

West Virginia University; Evansdale (WV); On-site; USD 32,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Sick leave

Retirement plan (401a)

Wellness programs

Job summary

West Virginia University is seeking an Animal Care Technician in the Office of Lab Animal Resources. The role includes washing and preparing animal cages, supporting vivarium operations, feeding and caring for multiple animal species, and maintaining sanitation per SOPs.

The position requires willingness to work weekends, holidays, or after hours and to participate in Occupational Medicine health monitoring.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent with animals.
• At least 6 months' experience with laboratory or farm animals.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Responsibilities

• Disassemble rodent cages, wash and sterilize equipment and prepare cages for room setups.
• Assemble cages and prepare rooms for animal housing and room changes.
• Provide cage setups and general support to Core Facilities within vivariums.
• Remove trash daily and perform general custodial duties in work areas.
• Attend training sessions and mandatory staff meetings; perform staff laundry and related duties.
• Assist in unloading feed trucks and receiving supplies for vivariums.

Skills

Observation skills

PPE (PAPR) use

English instructions

Animal welfare compassion

Education

Associate degree or equivalent

Job description

Job Description - Animal Care Technician - Office of Lab Animal Resources (30257)

Animal Care Technician - Office of Lab Animal Resources 30257

Description

The Office of Lab Animal Resources at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for an Animal Care Technician.

About the Opportunity

Performs animal care duties including washing soiled animal cages, caging racks and other equipment. Setting up clean cages for animal rooms. Performs other custodial duties within the animal vivarium, daily trash removal, cleaning support areas, maintaining certain types of specialized equipment. Feeding, watering and changing cages on a variety of animal species used in Biomedical Research. Observing animals closely and notifying veterinary staff or supervisors if any abnormalities are noticed.

NOTE: This position involves work during weekends, weekdays, holidays or after hours. The person in this position must be available to work during weekends, weekdays, holidays or after hours. This position also requires initial and periodic Medical Monitoring exams through the Occupational Medicine Program.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 15 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service( employee leave )
• 18 sick days per year(for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in‑laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information ? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Disassemble rodent caging and separate equipment. Dump soiled cages in cage wash area and run soiled cages through rack and tunnel washer. Operate cage washers for sanitizing and sterilizing rodent cages. Prepare routine daily maintenance on cage washers as described in SOPs and as directed by supervisors.
• Reassemble rodent cages, auxiliary equipment, other cages and equipment. Prepare cages for room setups and cage changes.
• Provide cage setups and general support to the "Core Facilities" within the perimeter of the vivariums.
• Remove trash daily, provide general custodial duties for work area and support areas.
• Animal Care Duties (25%)
  • Observe animals in assigned animal rooms and report any abnormalities to the supervisor or veterinary staff.
  • Provide food and water to animals and cage changes as described in the SOPs and daily work schedule.
  • Set up for newly arrived animals and put newly arrived animals in cages as directed by the Supervisor.
  • Provide topical and other basic clinical treatments as prescribed by veterinary staff.
  • Document all procedures performed in animal rooms including room logs, temperature/relative humidity and monthly room duties as described in logbook.
  • Report to supervisors any abnormalities with equipment in animal rooms or abnormalities that require immediate attention.
• Facility maintenance Duties (25%)
  • Maintain vacuum cleaners in animal rooms.
  • Change and maintain filter for change stations and ventilated racks.
  • Operate floor scrubbers and pressure washers for animal room sanitation and support area cleanliness.
  • Remove animal carcasses weekly from cold room and refrigerators and packed into boxes for removal by outside contractor.
  • Stock PPE cabinets and other area where supplies need to be stocked.
  • Assist in unloading feed truck and putting feed away.
  • Assist in receiving all other supplies to the vivariums.
  • Assist in transport of caging and other equipment between vivariums.
• Other (5%)
  • Attend all training sessions and complete all on-line required training.
  • Attend all mandatory staff meetings.
  • Responsible for laundry for staff scrubs and other items in vivarium that require laundering.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors.

Pay Grade: 10

Hours: 37.5

Qualifications

• Associate Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience with animals.
• A minimum of six (6) months of experience involving:
  • Experience working with either laboratory animals or farm animals preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience with animals.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Perform tasks in wash room in timely fashion by working efficiently and effectively as a team with co-workers.
• Ability to wear proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including a PAPR (personal air purification respirator).
• Good observation skills. Good manual dexterity for handling small laboratory animals (i.e. mice and rats).
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions in English.
• Ability to perform tasks which require exposure to animal species including mice, rats guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, pigeons, rabbits, cats, dogs, non-human primates, sheep and swine and other exotic animals.
• Must be able to accept exposure (with proper PPE and respirator protection) of animal dander, dusts and fecal matter, fumes from various cleaning solutions and chemicals. Also exposure to hot humid environment of cage washer and autoclaves and cold extremities for working outside with farm animals.
• Ability to pick up small animals with one hand while using the other to hold cage or equipment.
• Ability to be flexible to perform all types of tasks, and comprehend changes and be able to implement changes immediately. Provide feedback when changes are implemented.
• Ability for compassion toward animal welfare in a research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified by the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) as a Certified Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) preferred.

About WVU

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.
At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.
Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.
West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.