Senior Research Animal Specialist

1200 The General Hospital Corporation; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 31,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Mass General Brigham in Cambridge, MA, seeks a Vivarium Specialist to oversee the daily care of laboratory animals, support researchers, and mentor junior staff while ensuring compliance with animal welfare regulations in the Ragon Institute vivarium.

The role includes breeding coordination, records management, and collaboration with veterinarians and research teams to maintain high standards in a state‑of‑the‑art facility.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or Associate's Degree in Animal Sciences preferred.
• Experience: Animal Care Experience 3-5 years required.
• Knowledge of animal welfare regulations (e.g., Animal Welfare Act) and guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care for laboratory animals, including feeding, watering, and maintaining clean housing.
• Collaborate with researchers to implement animal research protocols.
• Adhere to animal welfare regulations and institutional policies.
• Develop enrichment programs to enhance welfare of animals.
• Maintain facilities and equipment in clean, operational condition.
• Train and mentor junior animal care technicians.
• Implement health monitoring programs.

Skills

Animal care

Research protocols

Leadership

Communication

Physical ability

Education

Associate's Degree in Animal Sciences

High School Diploma

Job description

Site: The General Hospital Corporation Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

Job Summary

Responsible for the care and well-being of laboratory animals used in scientific studies and experiments including overseeing the daily care of animals, ensuring compliance with animal welfare regulations, providing technical support to researchers, and mentoring junior staff. Does this position require Patient Care? No

Essential Functions

• Provide daily care for laboratory animals, including feeding, watering, and maintaining clean and sanitary housing conditions.
• Collaborate with researchers to implement animal research protocols.
• Adhere to all relevant animal welfare regulations, institutional policies, and ethical guidelines for the use of laboratory animals in research.
• Develop and implement enrichment programs to enhance the mental and physical well-being of research animals.
• Maintain animal care facilities and equipment in a clean and operational condition.
• Train and mentor junior animal care technicians in proper animal handling, husbandry techniques, and research protocols.
• Implement health monitoring programs to identify and manage potential health concerns within animal populations.

Qualifications

Education High School Diploma or Equivalent required or Associate's Degree Animal Sciences preferred or Associate's Degree Related Field of Study preferred

Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree? No

Experience Animal Care Experience 3-5 years required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Understanding of animal husbandry practices and experience in caring for a variety of laboratory animal species (e.g., mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs).
• Familiarity with research protocols and experimental procedures involving laboratory animals.
• Knowledge of animal welfare regulations, such as the Animal Welfare Act, and guidelines set by organizations.
• Leadership and mentoring skills to guide and support junior animal care staff.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with researchers, veterinary staff, and other team members.
• Physical ability to lift and move heavy equipment, cages, and animals when necessary.

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

The Ragon Institute is a highly unique, innovative, and collaborative research center at the forefront of biomedical science. Founded by Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT, and Harvard, the Ragon vision is a bold one: to harness the power of the immune system to prevent and cure human disease on a global scale. This vision is pursued and advanced every day by a group of highly motivated individuals. The Ragon Institute, at every level, depends upon collaboration, compassion, dedication, and innovation. It is a results-oriented organization that seeks people who not only embrace these values but who thrive in teams and want to work in a dynamic environment. The Ragon Institute is seeking a skilled individual for a Vivarium Specialist position in the Ragon Institute. The Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT, and Harvard is a located in the heart of Technology Square in Cambridge. The vivarium is a brand new, state of the art facility.

Under the supervision of the Vivarium Manager (or Supervisor), the Vivarium Specialist is responsible for the breeding services within a high-level animal research program.

Duties include

• Coordinates and carries out multiple aspects of animal colony maintenance including but not limited to, breeding consultation with laboratory staff, setting up breeding pairs, pup checks, weans, identification, genotyping, filling breeding requests, detailed record keeping, and monthly mouse colony counts.
• Assists Vivarium management with ensuring adherence to all institutional, local, state, and federal regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure proper animal care, health, and welfare.
• May help perform vivarium maintenance tasks on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis such as autoclaving, supply inventories, ordering, organization, shipping and receiving, working with vendors, and undertaking special projects as required.
• Contributes to unit goals by undertaking other duties as required.
• Liaise with, contribute, support, and provide data and information to the Veterinarian, Vivarium Managers and research staff.

Remote Type Onsite Work Location 600 Main Street Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Employee Type Regular Work Shift Day (United States of America) Pay Range $22.60 - $29.01/Hourly Grade 5

At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth.

EEO Statement

EEO Statement: 1200 The General Hospital Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law.

We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework

At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.

Combat disease

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Help people.

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About Mass General Brigham

Mass General Brigham is a passionate, welcoming community where minds meet caring hearts. Come be a part of the world’s most powerful force in medicine, where every role is important in changing lives. Are you ready? Our history includes New England hospitals founded over 200 years ago, some of the first and most prestigious hospitals in the world. Built on the legacy of two leading academic medical centers, we’re more than a system—we’re leaders in the practice of medicine. Mass General Brigham is committed to serving the community. We are dedicated to enhancing patient care, teaching and research, and taking a leadership role as an integrated health care system. We recognize that increasing value and continuously improving quality are essential to maintaining excellence.