Animal Feed and Bedding - Team Lead

Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corporation; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corporation is seeking an Animal Feed and Bedding Team Lead for NIEHS contracts. The role focuses on sanitation of equipment, maintenance of autoclaves, and monitoring feeding/bedding systems.

You will work with QA and COR staff to ensure clean, compliant operations in a demanding animal facility. The position requires flexibility to work nights and weekends, attention to safety, readiness for background checks, and a proactive mindset to support multiple projects and teams.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; ALAT preferred or equivalent experience with animal care.
• Training and clearance for Cagewash Technician duties may be required.
• Experience with disinfectants and operation of autoclaves, cage washers and related equipment.
• Ability to think critically, make decisive judgments and work with minimal supervision.
• Flexible scheduling including nights, weekends and holidays; background check clearance likely.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain facility autoclaves and related equipment.
• Autoclave contaminated/hazardous supplies following SOPs.
• Monitor pneumatic feed and bedding system (Ducon).
• Decontaminate feed/bedding chutes as directed by QA Laboratory.
• Monitor and fill feed and bedding bins; perform routine maintenance and record logs.
• Operate and maintain forklift and transport supplies around campus.
• Collect weekly feed/bedding samples and deliver to QAL.
• Perform pest control monitoring for multiple building areas.
• Order, receive, inspect and inventory feed/bedding deliveries.
• Schedule and conduct decontamination in animal rooms per SOP.
• Assist with entering data, maintaining records, and supporting multiple projects.

Skills

Critical thinking

Decisive judgment

Work with minimal supervision

Flexibility in scheduling

Safety awareness

Education

High School Diploma or GED

AALAS ALAT certification preferred

Tools

Autoclaves

Cage washers

Conveyor belts

Bedding dispensers

Bottle fillers

High pressure steam cleaning devices

Job description

Position Summary:

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is one of 27 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NIEHS's broad focus on the environmental causes of disease makes the institute a unique part of the NIH. NIEHS is home to the National Toxicology Program (NTP), the nation's premier program for testing and evaluation of agents in our environment. The focus of the NIEHS research is to discover how the environment affects people to promote healthier lives.

The Animal Husbandry Support Contract for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences provides care, maintenance, and technical services for laboratory animals, seven (7) days per week, including weekends and holidays, for 72,447 square feet of laboratory animal facility space (which includes ancillary support areas outside of the main facility, including a separate facility located approximately one mile from the main facility). The contractor is responsible for the care and maintenance of the animals, the sanitation of equipment, technical training, and the general maintenance of the facilities in such a manner as to maintain the highest level of Accreditation from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International (AAALAC, Intl.) The services provided by this contract are considered mission critical.

The Animal Feed and Bedding Team Lead will be responsible for sanitation of equipment, feed, and general maintenance of the facility. The ideal candidate will have great communication skills and works well with a team, is adaptable, acts in a positive, professional, and helpful manner, and demonstrates a strong work ethic. This position is pending contract award.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Responsible for operation and maintenance of facility autoclaves.
• Autoclave contaminated/hazardous supplies generated in the animal facility in accordance with the relevant SOP.
• Operate and monitor performance of pneumatic feed and bedding system (Ducon system).
• Decontaminate feed and/or bedding chutes and as directed by the Quality Assurance Laboratory (QAL).
• Monitor and fill all feed and bedding bins in the Animal Bedding and Feed building.
• Perform routine maintenance and repair of equipment, record in maintenance log and submit to COR.
• Operate and maintain forklift
• Collect weekly feed and bedding samples and deliver to QAL.
• Perform pest control monitoring program for building 101 as well as building 104 feed and bedding storage areas.
• Perform weekly feed and bedding inventory and submit to QAL and COR/program manager.
• Order, receive, inspect, stock and inventory deliveries of feed and bedding.
• Transport supplies and equipment to and from campus storage areas and other animal facilities.
• Flush eyewash stations and record weekly
• Receive, unpack and assemble new caging, equipment and accessories.
• Schedule and/or perform decontamination procedures on animal rooms, animal study areas, procedure rooms, necropsy rooms and surgical suites in accordance with SOP as requested by the COR or her/his designee.
• Additional duties as requested by supervisors.

Minimum Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED
• AALAS certification at the ALAT level preferred and/or demonstrated equivalent experience in the custodial care of animals.
• Receive training and clearance for duties and responsibilities of the Cagewash Technician.
• Prior knowledge of disinfectant use and operating knowledge of autoclaves, cage washers, conveyor belts, bedding dispensers, bottle fillers and high pressure and steam cleaning devices.
• Ability to use critical thinking skills, decisive judgement, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Flexibility in scheduling and ability to work nights, weekends, holidays and/or on-call.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain site access and pass a background check.

Work Environment:

Employees are subject to adverse variables of environmental conditions, both inside and outside. Work areas are often hot, humid, and noisy due to operation of cage washing machines and autoclaves. After proper training, Employees may be working with biological, chemical, and radiation hazards. Employees are potentially exposed to minor injuries such as cuts, bites, scrapes, pulled muscles, burns and unpleasant odors, and the possibility of exposure to hazardous materials including radioisotopes. Employees are exposed to animals and animal urine, feces, and dander that can act as allergens or as potential sources of zoonotic disease.

Animal care personnel are required to wear a contractor supplied, washable cotton/polyester two-piece uniform of scrub pants and a long sleeve, snap-front shirt (a one piece cotton coverall may be substituted), safety shoes, disposable shoe cover, head cover, surgical mask), and gloves when working in the animal rooms.

Protective clothing is required to be worn by ALL personnel entering an animal room from the return corridors. The disposable PPE identified above is furnished by the Government. The contractor is responsible for an annual fit test of all personnel required to wear an N95 respirator

Must be professional and able to handle multiple tasks and support multiple projects simultaneously. Contract may have vaccination requirements.

Physical Demands:

Duties require constant lifting (sometimes greater than 50 pounds) and pushing and pulling of carts and dollies. Duties also require continuous walking, standing, sitting, and considerable arm and hand movements. Employees must possess the physical strength, dexterity, and endurance to handle cages, racks, large pieces of equipment, feed and bedding bags and other materials and equipment.

Disclaimer:

This is not to be an exclusive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the person in this job. KIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Pursuant to The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 43 U.S.C. Sec. 1601 et seq., and federal contractual requirements, Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corporation may legally grant certain preference in employment opportunities to KIC Shareholders and their Descendants. Successful candidates must adhere to KIC's Drug and Alcohol policy/testing requirements and may be required to pass a background and/or Motor Vehicle Records check. The salary range for this position is based on several factors, including relevant experience, education, skills, and current market conditions.