PRR Animal Caretaker

Agupdate; New Jersey; On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Animal Caretaker to join their Primate Research Program. This role involves providing essential care for nonhuman primates, ensuring compliance with regulations, and maintaining high standards of animal welfare. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a team. This position is vital for the ethical treatment of research animals and offers a unique opportunity to contribute to important research endeavors. If you are passionate about animal care and research, this is the perfect opportunity for you to make a significant impact.

Benefits

Health Benefits

Overtime Eligibility

Essential Services Personnel

Probationary Period of 90 Days

Qualifications

• AALAS certification at the ALAT level or within the first year of employment.
• Ability to work safely with biological and chemical hazards.

Responsibilities

• Provide essential care for nonhuman primates and maintain cleanliness.
• Monitor animal health and welfare, implementing treatments as necessary.

Skills

Animal Husbandry

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Biological and Chemical Hazard Safety

Flexibility for Weekend and Holiday Work

Education

Degree in Biology or Animal-Related Field

AALAS Certification at ALAT Level

Tools

Electronic Management Systems

Job description

PRR Animal Caretaker

US-NJ-Princeton

Job ID: 2024-20287
Type: Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Research and Laboratory

Overview

The Primate Research Program (PRR) at Princeton University operates as a centralized facility overseen by the Director and Attending Veterinarian (Dir/AV) of the PRR, falling under the Office of the Dean for Research. Tasked with the care of large research animals, particularly nonhuman primates (Nhp), the PRR ensures compliance with USDA regulations. Nonhuman Primate Animal Care Technicians (Nhp ACTs) play a crucial role in maintaining the facility's cleanliness and ensuring an adequate supply of food, bedding materials, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Working under the guidance of the Floor Leader, delegated by the Dir/AV, Nhp ACTs collaborate with fellow technicians on a predetermined schedule. They are pivotal in upholding the welfare and ethical treatment of research animals, constantly striving to enhance animal husbandry practices and resource management. Effective communication skills are essential for interactions with colleagues, management, principal investigators (PIs), research personnel, students, maintenance crews, and other support services, ensuring the highest standards of animal care and research support.

Animal Care Technicians are considered essential services staff. Essential service staff performs jobs that are necessary and required to maintain basic University operations during scheduled or unscheduled work closures due to emergencies, events or other situations. The position requires periodic weekend and holiday work.

Responsibilities

Animal Husbandry:

• Provide essential care for USDA-covered nonhuman primate species housed within the facility.
• Maintain cleanliness and adequate supplies of food, bedding, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Collaborate with colleagues to enhance animal husbandry practices and resource utilization.
• Monitor and report animal health and welfare, implementing prescribed treatments as necessary.
• Enrich animal environments in accordance with research needs and best practices.

Facility Management:

• Manage inventory of cleaning materials, PPE, and dietary supplements.
• Facilitate the receiving of new animal shipments and maintain accurate records.
• Ensure timely and accurate data entry into electronic management systems.

Other tasks as assigned by the management or veterinary care groups:

• Example but not limited to: Help researchers with specific research procedures.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

• AALAS certification at the ALAT level (or within the first year of employment).
• Ability to work safely with biological and chemical hazards and lift heavy objects and animals.
• Flexibility for weekend, holiday, and emergency work.
• Basic knowledge of biology and behavior of laboratory animal species.
• Proficiency in communication and teamwork.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in a biology or animal-related field.
• AALAS ALAT (or above) Certification.
• 2+ years’ experience with non-human primates species.
• 1+ years’ experience with macaques and marmosets species.

The following tasks and skills are necessary for any person to fulfill while working as an Animal Caretaker:

• Stand or walk continuously up to 6 hours per day.
• Sit for up to 2 hours per day.
• Lift or carry up to 20 pounds frequently (34-66% of the day) and up to 50 pounds occasionally (less than 33% of the day).
• Push or pull using forces up to 50 pounds frequently (34 – 66% of the work day).
• Use hands for simple grasping, pushing or pulling, and fine manipulations constantly (more than 66% of the day).
• Kneel, bend, squat, reach overhead, lift overhead, or push or pull frequently (34 – 66 % of the work day).
• Knee stand, crawl, or climb step stools or 6-foot stepladders occasionally (less than 33% of the workday).
• Lift up to 50 pounds in a range of motions from floor to waist height.
• Lift up to 20 pounds in a range of motions from floor to overhead.
• Work in a controlled laboratory environment under a variety of temperature and humidity conditions.
• Possess ability to maintain balance, a full range of body motions, and physical endurance.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Standard Weekly Hours: 40.00

Eligible for Overtime: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Probationary Period: 90 days

Essential Services Personnel (see policy for detail): Yes

Physical Capacity Exam Required: Yes

Valid Drivers License Required: No

Experience Level: ..

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