Lead Animal Health Technician

Wisconsin, Inc.; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Wisconsin, Inc. in Milwaukee seeks a proactive Lead Animal Health Technician I/II to supervise daily husbandry, health monitoring, and facility support across research animal programs.

You will coordinate tasks, train staff, document observations, and ensure compliance with policies and regulations while promoting animal welfare. This role requires strong organizational skills, ability to mentor a diverse team, and focus on data quality for surveillance programs.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of laboratory animal facility operations.
• Ability to motivate and provide direction to team.
• Ability to follow established procedures and instruct others.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Assign and oversee daily tasks of Animal Health Technician I's and II's.
• Provide weekend and holiday team leadership on a rotating basis.
• Perform daily observations of animals and their environment and report findings.
• Administer prescribed treatments and collect samples as directed.
• Sanitize rooms, cages, and equipment following SOPs and operate related devices.
• Train AHT I's and II's in collaboration with Training Staff.
• Cross-train in all facility areas and provide supervisor coverage as needed.
• Maintain records and assist in compliance with policies and procedures.

Skills

Team leadership

Animal health monitoring

Husbandry procedures

Documentation & data entry

Regulatory compliance

Training & development

Job description

Summary

Lead teams of Animal Health Technicians Is and IIs who maintain and promote the health and well-being of research animals by providing comprehensive husbandry, basic health care, facility support, and technical services to facilitate successful achievement of the BRC's mission in alignment with the BRC's vision and values and in a manner consistent with established policies, procedures, and regulations. Provide training and advanced assistance to facilitate efficient animal health and husbandry activities, quality assurance, and/or other operational areas.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assign and oversee daily tasks of Animal Health Technician I's and II's in performing support service-related functions, maintenance procedures, animal husbandry and animal health and welfare activities to ensure duties are performed in a manner that is consistent with established policies and regulations. Ensure daily tasks are completed efficiently and effectively. Provide weekend and holiday team leadership on a rotating basis.
• Provide ongoing feedback to supervisor regarding personnel, facility, and operational performance. Resolve routine issues under supervisor guidance.
• Perform daily observations of animals and their environment to assess their health status and detect abnormal conditions. Document and report findings consistent with established procedures. Administer prescribed treatments and other interventions, which may include animal euthanasia. Collect samples for the animal health surveillance program as directed. Maintain relevant records.
• Perform essential, daily animal care to include cleaning animal enclosures, providing clean caging, bedding, and enrichment, and supplying feed and water.
• Handle and restrain animals as needed by using appropriate techniques to allow for the care and research to be performed in a safe and humane manner Provide technical assistance during special procedures such as surgery or imaging under the direction of others to facilitate research and/or clinical activities.
• Sanitize animal rooms, cages, equipment, corridors, and support areas using appropriate techniques per standard operating procedures. Operate rack washers, tunnel washers, bedding dispensers, vacuum bedding disposal system, autoclaves, floor cleaning machines, and pallet jack. Empty garbage dumpster and operate trash compactor. Oversee packaging of waste materials to be sent for incineration to ensure proper procedures are followed.
• Receive incoming animal shipments and distribute animals into assigned rooms.
• Receive and properly process various shipments from the loading dock using push carts, flatbed carts and pallet jack.
• Monitor machinery and environment by obtaining, documenting, and comparing data against established standards. Troubleshoot problems as necessary, referring issues requiring outside service to supervisor. Perform non-routine and routine maintenance and ensure proper operation of equipment.
• In collaboration with the BRC Training Staff, train AHT I's and II's, ensuring duties are performed in a manner that is consistent with established policies and regulations. May assist in training husbandry and investigative staff in a variety of proper animal handling and procedure techniques under the direction of the training staff.
• Crosstrain in all areas of the facility and provide coverage for supervisor on an as needed.
• Assists with the receipt, stocking, and maintenance of supply inventories.
• Maintain records by collecting and recording data to facilitate management of the facility. Troubleshoot issues and resolve routine problems.
• Assist in providing on-going compliance with policy and procedures and provide feedback in the development of policies and procedures. Actively participate in continuous improvement. Assist with special projects under the direction of others as needed.
• Participate in unit/department education to become more knowledgeable in research animal science.
• Assist in providing on-going compliance with policy and procedures, and development of policies and procedures. Initiate continuous improvement activities and oversee implementation as assigned. Assist with special projects as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge - Skills - Abilities

• Thorough understanding of laboratory animal facility operations and methods.
• Ability to motivate and provide direction to team.
• Ability to work productively in a cooperative team setting.
• Ability to closely follow established procedures and instruct others.
• Ability to demonstrate responsibility and dependability when completing assignments, plan and organize work according to established priorities and complete assignments accurately within established timeframes.
• Strong critical thinking, problem solving, accuracy and attentiveness to detail required.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills. Data entry skills, basic proficiency in Microsoft Office and mobile