Animal Care Trainee $19.25hr Ellsworth ME

The Jackson Laboratory; Ellsworth (ME); On-site; USD 55,159,104 - 60,614,400; Full time

Job summary

The Jackson Laboratory in Ellsworth, ME is seeking a committed Animal Care Associate for a full-time on-site role in a highly controlled clean room environment. You will learn basic animal care, support colony maintenance, sanitation, and information systems while handling routine transfers and room duties.

The position requires a high school diploma or GED, the ability to lift 25 lbs, walk ladders, and thrive in a fast-paced setting with strong attention to detail.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Ability to lift 25 lbs regularly.
• Ability to walk up ladders.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced work environment.
• Strong attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Learn basic animal care, husbandry, colony maintenance, room maintenance, sanitation, record keeping, and information systems.
• Transport supplies through the airlock, progress from basic transfers to cage changes with litter, aging, sexing, and weaning.
• Perform daily welfare checks for food, water, bedding, and overall wellbeing; report health variances.
• Identify abnormal animals and determine if necropsy or deviant search is required.
• Maintain inventory, perform room sanitation, and carry out colony management tasks such as breeding scheme maintenance, rotation, and accurate cage card data entry.
• Pack and ship mice for sales orders, selecting strains and preparing containers per packaging guidelines.

Skills

Lifting 25 lbs

Walk ladders

Attention to detail

Fast-paced environment

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Join the JAX Animal Care team and be part of a mission to improve human health worldwide. This full‑time position offers a dynamic and supportive work environment in a highly controlled clean room.

Responsibilities

• Learn basic animal care, husbandry, colony maintenance, room maintenance, sanitation, record keeping, and information systems.
• Transport supplies through the airlock, progress from basic transfers to cage changes with litter, aging, sexing, and weaning.
• Perform daily welfare checks for food, water, bedding, and overall wellbeing; report health variances.
• Identify abnormal animals and determine if necropsy or deviant search is required.
• Maintain inventory, perform room sanitation, and carry out colony management tasks such as breeding scheme maintenance, rotation, and accurate cage card data entry.
• Pack and ship mice for sales orders, selecting strains and preparing containers per packaging guidelines.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalency; prior successful work experience is required.
• Ability to lift 25 lbs regularly.
• Ability to walk up ladders.
• Comfortable in a fast‑paced work environment.
• Strong attention to detail.

Compensation

Hourly wage: $19.25 / hr.

About JAX

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, non‑profit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute‑designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees across the United States, Japan, and China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the biomedical community to improve human health.

EEO Statement

The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non‑discrimination laws.