Veterinary Research Tech

MPF Federal; Kentucky; On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal opportunity employer

Medical benefits

Paid time off

Holiday pay

Job summary

MPF Federal is seeking a dedicated Poultry Animal Care Specialist to support Veterinary Services at BSL-2 facilities and SPF breeder buildings. You will perform daily husbandry, health checks, sanitation, and record-keeping seven days a week in accordance with AUPs and SOPs.

Responsibilities include feeding, monitoring, pen sanitation, hatchery operations, PPE decontamination, and assisting with research procedures under supervision, with emphasis on biosecurity and safe handling of potentially

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience in BSL-2 agricultural animal research operations or poultry breeder flock management and husbandry.
• Ability to demonstrate competency in the alternate skill set as approved by veterinarians.

Responsibilities

• Feed, water, transport, clean, and monitor poultry; perform daily health checks 365 days per year and report abnormalities to veterinary staff.
• Maintain accurate animal records, environmental parameters, inventory, and daily checklists per client/SOP requirements.
• Sanitation of pens, coops, isolators, and cages; conduct hatchery operations and PPE laundering.
• Assist with research procedures, restraint, minor medical treatments, euthanasia, artificial insemination, and challenge-study handling as directed.
• Perform facility-management tasks: disinfection, weekly safety/shower checks, equipment logs, and work-order entry.

Skills

Poultry husbandry

Record-keeping

Biosecurity protocols

Tools

PPE procedures

Autoclaves

Environmental monitoring

Job description

Provides comprehensive poultry animal caretaking and facility-management support to the Veterinary Services team across BSL-2 research facilities and SPF breeder flock buildings at the client site. Performs daily husbandry, health checks, record-keeping, sanitation, and research-procedure support seven days per week in accordance with AUPs and SOPs.

Key Responsibilities

• Feed, water, transport, clean, and monitor poultry; perform daily health checks 365 days per year and report abnormalities to veterinary/research staff.
• Maintain accurate animal records, environmental parameters, inventory/census, and daily checklists per client/AUP/SOP requirements.
• Perform sanitation of pens, coops, isolators, and cages; conduct hatchery operations, laundry of PPE, and biohazardous-waste handling.
• Assist with research procedures, restraint, minor medical treatments, euthanasia, artificial insemination, and challenge-study handling as directed.
• Perform facility-management tasks: disinfection, weekly emergency shower/eyewash checks, equipment logs, and work-order entry.

Security & Suitability

• Must pass the client's required background investigation (a moderate-tier federal suitability investigation) prior to unsupervised work; contractor/employee bears fingerprinting and associated costs.
• Must complete required federal employment and facility ID/badging forms; a government PIV/credential is issued upon favorable adjudication.

Biosecurity & Physical Conditions

• No contact with outside avian species; must sign and honor the client No Avian Contact Form / avian-exclusion attestation (excludes backyard poultry ownership, bird hunting, and similar avian exposure).
• Willing to comply with barrier-research entry/exit protocols: multiple showering, scrubs, and proper donning/doffing of PPE.
• Able to repetitively lift up to 50 lbs and tolerate dust, temperature extremes, disagreeable odors, feed augers, autoclaves, and related equipment.
• Comfortable handling diseased animals and performing or assisting with euthanasia in accordance with IACUC and AVMA guidelines.
• Able to pass an annual occupational-health physical assessment.
• Annual flu vaccination is encouraged but not required. N95 respirators are not required in BSL-2 spaces (no fit-test needed).

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in EITHER (a) BSL-2 agricultural animal research operations OR (b) poultry breeder flock management and husbandry.
• Ability to demonstrate minimum competency in the alternate skill set (the one not already held), as approved by the client’s veterinarians, before working unsupervised.

Preferred Qualifications

• Poultry research experience (explicitly preferred in the SOW).
• Experience with artificial insemination of poultry, blood collection, and hatchery operations.

MPF Federal 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, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. We offer a competitive compensation package including a competitive salary, medical benefits, PTO, holiday pay and more.