Necropsy Technician III

Charles River Laboratories, Inc.; Shrewsbury (MA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus incentives

401K

Paid time off

Stock purchase program

Health and wellness coverage

Employee wellbeing support

Work-life balance flexibility

Job summary

Charles River Laboratories, Inc. is seeking an experienced necropsy specialist to independently perform advanced necropsy procedures and support preclinical studies in a regulated lab environment. The role involves tissue collection, histology basics, data documentation, and mentorship of junior staff.

The position emphasizes quality control, compliance with protocols, and collaboration with study teams. It is based in a safety-conscious lab in Massachusetts, with opportunities to participate in

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of pathology lab and/or necropsy experience.
• Experience with GLP studies and working within a regulated laboratory environment preferred.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to accurately document and review study data.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced necropsy procedures and tissue collection as needed.
• Prepare study-specific necropsy procedures and supporting records.
• Conduct quality control reviews of study data to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Assist in responses to audits, deviations, inspections, and reviews.
• Train and mentor junior staff in necropsy techniques and best practices.
• Maintain a safe and organized laboratory environment and adhere to safety requirements.

Skills

Necropsy techniques

Histology

Study documentation

Quality control

Training & mentoring

Regulatory compliance

Team collaboration

Education

Associate/Bachelor in Biology or related field

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Laboratory software

LIMS

Microsoft Office

Job description

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

Independently perform advanced necropsy procedures in support of preclinical research studies. Prepare, review, and maintain study documentation, perform quality control reviews of study data, and serve as a technical resource for pathology and necropsy-related activities. Provide guidance and training to less experienced staff while ensuring compliance with applicable protocols, regulatory requirements, and quality standards.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Independently perform specialized necropsy procedures, including tissue collection for special analyses, perfusion fixation, fetal evaluations, specialized dissections, neurodissections, and gross pathology photography.
• Prepare study-specific necropsy procedures, technical documentation, and supporting records.
• Conduct quality control reviews of study data and documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance.
• Assist in the preparation of responses to audits, deviations, inspections, and other internal or external reviews.
• Participate in method development initiatives, troubleshoot technical challenges, and recommend process improvements.
• Serve as a subject matter resource for pathology and necropsy-related study activities.
• Attend and contribute to study meetings and may lead discussions related to pathology and necropsy procedures.
• Train and mentor junior staff in necropsy techniques, procedures, and best practices.
• Perform basic histology procedures, including trimming, processing, embedding, microtomy, staining, and coverslipping, as needed.
• Assist with advanced histology techniques, including slide quality control, special staining procedures, serial/step sectioning, and preparation of thin or thick tissue sections.
• Maintain a safe and organized laboratory environment while adhering to company, regulatory, and safety requirements.

Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Animal Science, Pathology, or a related life science discipline preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of pathology laboratory and/or necropsy experience.
• Experience supporting GLP studies and working within a regulated laboratory environment preferred.

Additional Qualifications

• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated competency in necropsy procedures and completion of all required skills associated with preceding job levels.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to accurately document and review study data.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Proficiency with standard computer applications and laboratory documentation systems preferred.
• Commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Available for occasional weekend, holiday, and/or on-call work as required based on study demands.

The pay rate for this position is $33.00/hour. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

About Safety Assessment

Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state-of-the-art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market. Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.

About Charles River

Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life.

• Based on your position these may include: bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e‑mail message to . This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

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