Animal Research Technician - No Experience Required

Charles River Laboratories; Ashland (OH); On-site; USD 21,593 - 30,754; Full time

Job summary

Charles River Laboratories is seeking a Technician I for their Safety Assessment site in Ashland, OH. This full-time position requires training and involves animal handling, husbandry, and data collection.

The role offers a starting pay of $19/hour and requires a high school diploma. Candidates must have strong communication skills and be able to manage multiple tasks in a team-oriented environment.

The position includes weekend shifts and potential overtime.

Qualifications

• No previous experience required; equivalent education and experience may be accepted.
• Ability to work under specific time constraints.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Ensure humane care for all animals with positive interactions.
• Collect, document, and verify data on forms or electronic systems.
• Follow safety, PPE, and cleaning protocols.

Skills

Written and verbal communication skills

Ability to manage multiple tasks

Computer skills (Microsoft Office)

Education

High school diploma or G.E.D.

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking a Technician I, Technical Operations for our Safety Assessment site located in Ashland, OH.

This is a full‑time position that requires 5–9 weeks of training Tuesday‑Friday 6:00 am–4:30 pm at $19/hour. After training the weekday shift is Tues‑Fri 6:00 am–4:30 pm; every 4th weekend, every other holiday. We also have weekend shifts available (Friday‑Sunday or Saturday‑Monday 6:00 am–6:30 pm, every other holiday after training). There is a 10% pay differential for Saturday/Sunday hours only.

A Technician I is in training to perform and become proficient in onboarding skills, procedures, and cooperating in a team environment. The technician learns basic skills required to support a study, which may include animal handling, husbandry, observations, basic physiological indices, and data collection/recording to support each skill. The technician may occasionally perform basic skills independently but continues working under supervision to gain proficiency on skills still in development.

The starting pay for this position is $19.00 per hour. Starting salaries vary based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Core duties include:

• Ensure good welfare and humane care for all animals worked with through gentle, positive human–animal interactions.
• Train in onboarding skills which may include animal handling, husbandry, observations, basic physiological indices, and data collection/recording to support each skill. Specific tasks will be based on each area’s training plan and business needs.
• Collect, document, review, and verify data on forms, or in electronic data capture systems.
• Ensure high levels of study quality to meet study goals.
• Follow all PPE, safety, cleaning, and cross‑contamination elimination practices.
• Maintain appropriate communication with other personnel.
• Support teammates, technicians, and members of other departments.
• Follow direction from team leaders, trainers, research associates and supervisors.
• Use and maintain instrumentation and equipment according to SOPs.
• Perform all tasks per SOP, BOP, and/or protocols.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or General Education Degree (G.E.D.) preferred.
• Experience: No previous experience required. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
• Certification/Licensure: None.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities to achieve goals.
• Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite), commensurate with essential functions, including the ability to learn a validated system.
• Ability to ensure that a safe working environment is maintained by observing all safety procedures and working methods by making proper use of protective clothing and equipment, and by reading, understanding, and following all safety documents issued or notified of.
• Ability to ensure the integrity of the studies and fulfill the regulatory agencies requirements by performing the activities according to the Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Business Operating Procedures (BOP) and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) rules.
• Ability to work extended hours beyond normal work schedule to include, but not limited to evenings, weekends, extended shifts, and/or extra shifts, sometimes on short notice.
• Ability to work under specific time constraints.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without a sponsor visa, now or in the future.

Physical Demands

• Employees must be able to lift, move, manipulate, and/or hold heavy objects up to and including 50 pounds; this includes work materials, equipment, and/or animals.
• Must be able to perform laboratory procedures, which require talking, hearing, standing, or sitting for long periods of time, entering data into a computer, using appropriate instruments, reaching with hands and arms, working in narrow spaces, and wearing safety equipment (PPE) according to OSHA regulations and company standards.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• Work in a research environment, which requires use of sharp objects, working around mechanical parts, working with or near known or unknown toxic or caustic chemicals and/or biological hazards, exposure to fumes and airborne particles, working at noise levels ranging from moderate to loud.
• The employee regularly works with live animals with risk of exposure to allergens, zoonotic disease, and biohazards.
• The noise level in the work environment ranges from low to high depending on the species housed.

Comments

• This position requires overtime, weekend, holiday, and/or after hours shift coverage, as needed.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River Laboratories is an Equal Opportunity Employer – all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

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