Animal Caretaker 4 - Biologic Resources Laboratory

University of Illinois Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid time Off

Tuition waivers

Job summary

University of Illinois Chicago seeks an Animal Caretaker 4 at the Biologic Resources Laboratory in Chicago to supervise animal care operations and staff, ensure compliant practices, and coordinate daily workflows.

Responsibilities include monitoring health records, assisting with veterinary care under supervision, and developing procedures to maintain high standards of animal welfare and facility operations.

Qualifications

• Four years of combined education/experience in animal care or related field.
• Two years supervisory or administrative experience in an animal care facility.
• LAT or LATG certification from AALAS.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate husbandry operations and staff.
• Inspect daily animal care areas for compliance.
• Provide guidance on regulatory guidelines.
• Schedule daily tasks for personnel (5–10 staff).
• Monitor staff and inspect daily operations for proper completion.
• Communicate with supervisors, caretakers, veterinarians and researchers.
• Oversee regulatory inspections and initiate corrective action.
• Maintain records on environmental monitoring and animal inventories.
• Under veterinary supervision, oversee animal treatment schedules and health records.
• Prepare standard operating procedures for animal care and sanitation.
• Oversee inventory management and supplier coordination.
• Train and evaluate husbandry personnel and participate in staff development.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Communication skills

Record keeping

Staff training

Education

LAT/LATG certification

High school diploma or equivalent

Animal science coursework

Job description

Animal Caretaker 4 - Biologic Resources Laboratory

Hiring Department: Biologic Resources Laboratory

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1041141

FTE: 1

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Weekend Rotations

Shift: Days

# of Positions: 1

Workplace Type: On‑Site

Salary Range (commensurate with experience): $33.65 - 40.38 / Hourly Wage

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation's preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting‑edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has nearly 260,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Employees in this position supervise lower-level personnel and/or supervise a function/procedure in laboratory animal care operation/setting and/or oversee facilities or units within larger facilities. Primary duties include the management of activities required for the proper care and maintenance of laboratory animals and research facilities, ensuring staff follow all SOP's and quality standards and providing resolutions to operational issues. Laboratory Animal Care Coordinators train and supervise staff, establish work priorities, coordinate and organize work schedules, develop and maintain effective teamwork with staff, management and research staff.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Supervise, manage and/or coordinate husbandry operational activities and personnel functions in one or more areas of the laboratory animal facilities.
• Oversight of daily inspection of animals, equipment, supplies, and related service areas of the facility for compliance.
• Guide, advise, and/or direct facility users on operational activities and/or government, industry, or institutional regulatory guidelines and standards.
• Establish work schedules for daily animal husbandry tasks for 5 10 employees and coordinate with appropriate experimental protocols, BRL expectations and/or departmental needs.
• Monitor staff and inspect daily operation of work area to ensure proper completion of assigned daily tasks as needed.
• Communicates effectively with other supervisors, caretakers, veterinarians and researchers.
• Oversight of inspections in the animal care facility areas for adherence with government and institutional regulatory guidelines and initiate corrective action as required.
• Monitor, research, and distribute information regarding changes in regulatory guidelines as well as trends and developments in techniques and technology relevant to the field; maintain and updates protocol/SOP manuals.
• Maintain accurate records on environmental monitoring, animal inventories, equipment, supply inventories, breeding programs, and individual job performance.
• Under veterinary supervision, oversee animal treatment schedules and maintain appropriate health record system.
• Completes daily record keeping and assists in performing regular time studies necessary for setting appropriate changes.
• Prepare standard operation procedures for animal care, room sanitation, environmental control, and use of equipment.
• Oversee inventory management to coordinate equipment/supply availability for scheduled job tasks. Inspect work areas for sanitation, and condition of cages to ensure proper compliance with federal and departmental guidelines.
• Select, purchase, and coordination of equipment and/or supplies. Serves as a main point of contact for suppliers and service personnel.
• Participate in personnel functions including interviewing, selecting, training, evaluating performance, developing staff; organizing staff meetings; coordinating continuing education training and in-services for staff.
• Assist in planning and implementation of animal care on‑the‑job and formal training programs. Train/evaluate husbandry personnel and participate in promotional or disciplinary action as required
• Perform duties of the lower levels of the Animal Caretaker classifications and/or other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

1. High school diploma or equivalent.
2. Any one or combination totaling four (4) years (48 months) from the categories below:
   1. Coursework in animal science, biological science, veterinary technology, zoology, or a closely related field, as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
      • 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
      • Associate's Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months)
      • 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
      • Bachelor's Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months)
   2. Work experience in an animal care facility which could include a research laboratory, veterinary hospital, veterinary clinic, intensive or industrial animal farm, or closely related experience.
3. Two (2) years (24 months) of supervisory or administrative experience in an animal care facility which could include a research laboratory, veterinary hospital, veterinary clinic, intensive or industrial animal farm, or closely related experience.
4. Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) certification from American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). **Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) is a higher certification to satisfy this requirement.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Thorough knowledge of basic biology and care of laboratory animals.
• Knowledge of federal regulations affecting animal care facilities.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Previous management and/or leadership experience within an academic laboratory research environment preferred.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non‑discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E‑Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.