Animal Technician

Socket.dev; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

Job summary

SciTech Services, Inc. seeks an Animal Technician to support USDA ARS with daily animal care, feeding, and monitoring of research animals. Responsibilities include health checks, record-keeping, and ensuring facility hygiene and biosecurity compliance.

The role requires following SOPs/AUPs, lifting up to 50 lbs, and willingness to work weekends and federal holidays. This position emphasizes teamwork and precise documentation in a regulated environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience caring for animals in research veterinary settings preferred.
• Ability to follow SOPs and AUPs precisely.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily animal health checks and report abnormalities to veterinary staff.
• Follow all guidelines and policies in animal care.
• Maintain hygiene and biosecurity standards for facilities and equipment.
• Provide food and water to animals per SOPs/AUPs.
• Record observations and maintain animal inventories and census data.
• Assist with cleaning, housing, and laundry to ensure readiness of facilities.

Skills

Animal care

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Clearance requirement:Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a favorable suitability determination and pass an employment drug screening.

SciTech Services, Inc. (SciTech) is seeking an Animal Technician to provide animal care support services to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS). The Animal Technician assists with the daily care and monitoring of research animals. The Animal Technician role involves providing daily care for animals, including feeding, watering, cleaning enclosures, and monitoring overall wellbeing.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform daily animal health checks and report any abnormal conditions or concerns to the veterinary and research staff.
• Follow all guidelines and policies in the care of research animals.
• Adhere to strict entry/exit procedures to prevent cross contamination while performing duties.
• Ensure the proper function and integrity of equipment used during husbandry activities to properly maintain animal caging and support equipment.
• Assist in maintaining the facility in a safe, clean, and fully operational condition in coordination with other personnel.
• Clean and sanitize floor pens, mobile coops, isolators, brooder cages, and single-house caging to maintain compliance with facility hygiene and biosecurity standards.
• Provide food and water to animals according to AUPs and/or standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Maintain accurate documentation, logs, forms, and animal identification records in accordance with USNPRC requirements, AUPs and SOPs.
• Record observations of general conditions and health status of animals.
• Conduct animal inventories and process census data.
• Weigh animals and record as required.
• Document completion of all daily duties by entering status updates on the daily checklist.
• Maintain fully stocked animal housing and research areas by ensuring the timely availability of all required supplies, including PPE, feed, isolator filter materials, cleaning agents, and bedding.
• Perform general laundry services utilizing the equipment designated to each building to maintain a steady supply of clean PPE.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Candidates should possess skills in animal care, handling, and methodologies in a research, agricultural, or veterinary setting.
• Ability to follow detailed written and verbal instructions, SOPs, and AUPs.
• Ability to communicate effectively using scientific and medical terminology in written and verbal interactions.
• Must pass a federal Tier 2 background investigation.
• Must be willing to sign a No Avian Contact attestation form (no contact with outside avian species).
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs repeatedly.
• Must be available to work rotating schedules including weekends and federal holidays.
• Strong attention to detail, reliability, and organizational skills, with the ability to complete physical tasks such as lifting, cleaning, and standing for extended periods.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills to collaborate with research, veterinary, and facility staff.

SciTech offers an excellent benefits package for full-time employees that includes: health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, a great 401(k) package, vacation, and sick leave.

Equal Opportunity Employer including Disability and Veterans.