Lab Animal Care Technician

Rutgers University; New Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, prescription, dental coverage

Paid vacation and holidays

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Rutgers University is seeking a Lab Animal Care Technician for the Office for Research. The role involves diverse animal care tasks, daily observations, and ensuring humane treatment across species used in research and teaching.

Responsibilities include maintaining facilities, recording data, and complying with regulations; candidates should be prepared for on-site work and possible weekend shifts. The position offers a structured salary schedule and benefits as part of a full-time role.

Qualifications

• High school or equivalent; ability to work with a wide variety of animal species.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Ability to read, write, follow instructions and communicate in English.

Responsibilities

• Provide diversified care, feeding, transport, and daily observation for all animal species used in research and teaching.
• Coordinate and assist in general maintenance of facilities.
• Ensure humane care and treatment of animals; report concerns.
• Maintain daily animal census and comply with regulations.
• Assist with protocol-specific daily husbandry needs.

Skills

Data recording

English communication

Occupational health compliance

Driving experience

Defensive driving

Education

High school/vocational education or equivalent

Tools

AALAS ALAT certification

Job description

Position Details

Recruitment/Posting Title: Lab Animal Care Technician

Job Category: AFSCME 1761 (COLT)

Department: Operations

Overview: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the State of New Jersey's preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. As one of the largest employers in the State of New Jersey, Rutgers University is committed not only to the students and the State that we serve, but also to the faculty and staff who work on our campuses. For two consecutive years, Rutgers is ranked on Forbes' list of America's Best Large Employers. Rutgers holds #64 of 500 employers and is the #1 New Jersey employer on the publication's 2023 list. Rutgers' commitment to its employees includes maintaining and fostering a safe, diverse, and respectful workplace environment, creating employment opportunities for our nation's military veterans, and ensuring accessibility and accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

Posting Summary: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Lab Animal Care Technician for the Office for Research. The Office for Research's mission is to support the research, scholarship, and creative endeavors of all Rutgers faculty. The Office accomplishes its mission by convening with academic and research leaders, providing integrated, user-focused resources, services, and tools, and partnering with faculty.

Key Duties:

• Provides diversified care, feeding, transportation, and daily observation for all animal species used in research and teaching.
• Coordinates and assists in the general maintenance of the facilities.
• Ensures the humane care and treatment of the animals.
• Performs daily maintenance of multiple animal colony rooms to be in compliance with animal welfare regulations, university and CMR policies.
• Reports performance of animal husbandry and monitors procedures with special attention to the needs of virus free species, observing and reporting signs of illness, injury or distress in animals.
• Interacts with their supervisor regarding needs of individual research projects and PI's and will become familiar with all project protocols as it relates to daily husbandry needs of the colony rooms they maintain.
• Ensures areas of noncompliance with regulations are reported; daily animal census is recorded and performs euthanasia when instructed.

FLSA: Nonexempt

Grade: 10

Salary Details:

• Minimum Salary: 35521.950
• Mid Range Salary: 41561.900
• Maximum Salary: 47845.520

Offer Information: The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university's broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

Benefits:

• Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage
• Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs
• Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options
• Employee and dependent educational benefits (when applicable)
• Life insurance coverage
• Employee discount programs

Position Status: Full Time

Standard Hours: 35.00

Work Arrangement: This position requires a fully on-site work arrangement.

Union Description: AFSCME - Local 1761 COLT

Payroll Designation: PeopleSoft

Terms of Appointment: Staff - 12 month

Position Pension Eligibility: PERS

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience:

• High school/vocational school education or equivalent, and the ability and willingness to work with a wide variety of animal species.

Certifications/Licenses:

• A valid driver's license.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to record and maintain data in computerized and non-computerized formats.
• Ability to read, write, follow instructions and communicate in the English language.
• Pass pre-employment and periodic physical examinations and to participate in occupational health programs for animal workers.
• Two years driving experience, and successful completion of the Rutgers Defensive Driving Course.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Animal handling experience in a research laboratory environment.
• Certification by American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) at the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) level.
• Two (2) or more years of experience as a Laboratory Animal Caretaker with knowledge of laboratory animals.

Equipment Utilized:

• Cage washing equipment, autoclaves, floor scrubbers, chemical mixing stations, dry heat oven, etc. Various computer programs.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to push and pull heavy loads of equipment, twisting of upper trunk, repetitive and overhead lifting.
• May work in cage wash and animal room conditions while wearing safety apparel and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• May be bending, stooping, or reaching for long periods of time. Additionally, the position requires the ability to stand or walk on hard surfaces for most of the workday, including slippery surfaces.
• The work environment includes potential exposure to zoonotic diseases, and the use of hazardous and restricted chemicals.
• Potential exposure to animal dander, fluids and soiled waste as well as cleaning chemicals.
• Wearing PPE may increase body temperature.
• Regular workweek may include weekends and/or evening shift work.

Special Conditions:

• Regular workweek may include weekends and/or holidays as needed.
• Safe Driving Record.

Posting Details

Posting Number: 26ST1798

Posting Open Date: 09/17/2026

Regional Campus: Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Home Location Campus: Rutgers University - New Brunswick

City: New Brunswick

State: NJ

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate's offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we encourage all qualified applicants to apply. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement