Laboratory Animal Attendant

University of Minnesota; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PSLF opportunity

Paid holidays

Retirement plans

Tuition assistance

Job summary

University of Minnesota is seeking a Laboratory Animal Attendant to care for laboratory animals in the Twin Cities campus. The role is full-time, 6:00 AM–2:30 PM, Monday through Friday, with weekend and holiday coverage as needed, and overtime eligibility under essential staffing policies.

The LAA position is union represented by Teamsters Local 320 and requires strict adherence to safety, sanitation, and research protocols. Pre-employment medical clearances and background checks apply.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Must read and write in English and follow instructions.
• Able to work onsite 100% and maintain reliable attendance.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily husbandry including feeding, care, and observation of lab animals.
• Change out housing to ensure clean bedding, feed, and water.
• Provide enrichment to prompt species-appropriate behavior.
• Place incoming animals into appropriate housing per documented specs.
• Follow protocols written or spoken in English.
• Operate animal housing washers, autoclaves, and bedding equipment as needed.
• Attend required safety trainings and maintain records.
• Move/lift heavy equipment and animals.
• Perform routine vivarium upkeep and assist with euthanasia when required.
• Order and store feed and supplies; keep equipment clean.

Skills

English literacy

Strong attendance

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job ID: 376673

Location: Twin Cities

Job Family: LR-Service/Maintenance/Labor

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Job Code: 6062

Employee Class: Teamsters Local 320

About the Job

Title: Laboratory Animal Attendant

Job code: 6062

Employee Group: Union Represented - Teamsters Local 320

Full/Part Time (FTE): Full-time, 100% FTE

Regular/Temporary: Regular

About the Job:

Job Summary:

This Laboratory Animal Attendant (LAA) position is responsible for the care of laboratory animals in accordance with applicable safety, sanitation and research requirements.

Bargaining unit consideration begins 10/20/2026 and ends 10/27/2026.

LAA staff are represented by the Teamsters union, local 320.

This position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship.

Essential Employee Designation

This position is defined as an essential role under the University's State of Emergency policy, and plays a key role in ensuring the health and welfare of RAR's research animals. During emergencies or other situations that impact normal operations, this position may be required to perform additional duties as assigned to support the team and ensure animal care is not compromised. These duties may include, but are not limited to, animal husbandry, sanitation, feeding, health monitoring, and will be determined at the discretion of the direct supervisor and/or RAR senior leadership based on operational needs. Training will be provided as needed. Unscheduled, mandatory overtime may be assigned by the direct supervisor/leadership as needed to ensure animal health and welfare.

Location and Work Schedule

This position works 100% time in-person on the Twin Cities campus, and is scheduled to work Monday-Friday, 6:00AM-2:30PM. Weekend work and work on holidays will be required when scheduled, and is eligible for overtime and holiday pay.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide daily husbandry including feeding, caring for, and observing the physical condition of mice, rats, and other lab animals for health concerns
• Change out rodent animal housing equipment on a regular basis to ensure animals have clean bedding, feed, and water
• Provide animal enrichment in order to prompt species specific behavior in a lab environment
• Place incoming lab animals into the appropriate housing equipment according to the lab's documented specifications
• Follow strict protocols and instructions written and orally presented in English
• Operate animal housing equipment washers, autoclaves, and bedding dispensing/disposal equipment as needed
• Attend and complete safety training by the required due dates.
• Move/lift heavy equipment/animals
• Maintain appropriate room, animal receipt and other records
• Perform routine vivarium upkeep tasks on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis
• Participate in and perform euthanasia of small animals
• Order and store feed and supplies
• Clean and sanitize equipment, rooms, and facilities
• Any other duties as assigned by supervisor

Physical and Environmental Requirements

• Ability to lift 50 lbs
• Ability to stand while working for extended periods of time
• Ability to walk for extended periods of time
• Ability to work in odorous, warm, humid, noisy conditions while wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) including a PAPR (powered air-purifying respirator) and lab coat.
• Ability to push/pull heavy objects using dollies, carts, pallet jacks, flatbeds, racks, etc. up and down inclined surfaces.
• Ability to bend below the waist

Health, Safety, & Compliance

Offers of employment are contingent upon medical clearance through the Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP). The University provides all required protective gear, testing, and medical evaluations, which include:

• Pre-employment medical questionnaire and fitness-for-duty examination.
• Current Tetanus immunization.
• Annual hearing tests (if assigned to noise conservation areas).
• Annual Tuberculosis (TB) testing and annual Influenza vaccination (species-dependent).
• Rabies vaccination/titer (or signed declination form) and Measles titer, as applicable.
• Protective equipment fit testing

Some work assignments will involve exposure to animal allergens, high levels of noise, and/or disinfectants and sanitizing agents. The employee may work in wet rooms or around large industrial cage washers. The employee may work in an outside environment in any weather conditions.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• High school graduate or equivalent
• If assigned to be a driver, must pass a department of motor vehicle record screening.
• High degree of personal reliability, consistent punctuality, and a strong attendance record.
• Ability to work 100% onsite to support daily hands-on facility operations
• Must be able to read and write in English, with the ability to communicate electronically via email and follow oral instructions

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three (3) months of education related to laboratory animals, or three (3) months experience with laboratory animals, or three (3) months experience caring for, cleaning, feeding, and monitoring animals.
• Experience with rodents.
• Comfortable operating iPads and computers
• Basic skills in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Calendar, Chat) or Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)

About the Department

Research Animal Resources (RAR) provides the University of Minnesota research community with animal care, procurement services, veterinary knowledge, and maintenance of housing facilities for animal-related research activities. The position of Laboratory Attendant is union represented, and is part of a staff of over 150 employees including Professional and Administrative staff, Civil Service staff, and Union Represented members. RAR has a daily census of 24,000 rodent cages in 20 buildings split into 7 geographic teams around the Twin Cities Campus.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: Starting rate is $23.17/hr unless otherwise specified per the Teamsters contract

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.