Vivarium Technician

Trinity University; United States; On-site; USD 26,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Trinity University in San Antonio, TX is seeking a Vivarium Technician to maintain the animal care facility and provide consistent husbandry services in accordance with university policies. The role supports daily care of research animals, operates facility equipment, and requires self-motivation, dependability, and keen attention to detail.

The position emphasizes adherence to IACUC protocols, safety standards, and proper sanitation, with opportunities to grow through required training and

Qualifications

• Required: High school diploma or equivalent.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in biology or animal sciences.
• Required: One year of experience in animal care, laboratory animal husbandry, veterinary care, research support, or a related setting.
• Preferred: Three years of experience in animal care, laboratory animal husbandry, veterinary care, research support, or a related setting.
• Required: Ability to learn and consistently follow animal care, safety, sanitation, and facility procedures.
• Required: Ability to recognize and promptly report changes in animal health, behavior, food or water consumption, and environmental conditions.
• Required: Ability to safely handle and restrain multiple laboratory animal species after appropriate training.
• Required: Time and task management skills, including the ability to complete scheduled care activities reliably and accurately.
• Required: Organization, recordkeeping, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Preferred: Knowledge of laboratory animal care practices, biosecurity principles, and IACUC requirements.
• Preferred: AALAS ALAT certification, or willingness to pursue certification.

Responsibilities

• Provides daily husbandry for multiple laboratory animal species, including health checks and observations.
• Maintains complete and accurate daily room logs and monitors consumable expirations.
• Operates cage-wash and sanitation equipment.
• Prepares cages, racks, and related equipment for washing by breaking down caging, removing bedding and waste, and dumping or scraping cages as required.
• Reassembles and prepares clean caging and equipment for use.
• Stocks and maintains husbandry and facility supplies, including personal protective equipment, animal feed, bedding, enrichment materials, cleaning products, and other consumables.
• Reports low inventory, equipment malfunctions, and facility concerns promptly.
• Complies with institutional health and safety requirements, general laboratory practices, approved IACUC protocols and policies, standard operating procedures, and applicable animal-welfare requirements.
• Participates in required training and promptly reports animal-health, safety, or compliance concerns.
• Cooperates and collaborates with other employees in the spirit of teamwork and collegiality and interacts with confidence, patience, and integrity.

Skills

Animal care

Attention to detail

Recordkeeping

Time and task management

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree in biology or animal sciences

Job description

Job Family Group: Staff Department/Office: D. R. Semmes School of Science

Time Type: Full time Compensation: $18.98-$23.73

Please note, starting salaries are based on factors including internal equity, relevant experience, and education.

Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Job Description

The Vivarium Technician maintains the animal care facility and provides consistent, high-quality husbandry services in accordance with Trinity University policies and procedures. The position operates and maintains facility equipment and supports the daily care of research animals housed at the institution. The Vivarium Technician is expected to be self-motivated, dependable, attentive to detail, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

JOB DUTIES

• Provides daily husbandry for multiple laboratory animal species, including health checks and observations; feeding; monitoring automatic and manual watering systems; changing and cleaning animal cages, racks, and related accessories; and safely handling and restraining animals.
• Provides animal-room services, including maintaining complete and accurate daily room logs; monitoring expiration dates for consumables; following special husbandry instructions associated with approved research needs; and sanitizing rooms, surfaces, and equipment using appropriate disinfectants and detergents.
• Operates cage-wash and sanitation equipment.
• Prepares cages, racks, transport carts, and related equipment for washing by breaking down caging, removing bedding and waste, and dumping or scraping cages as required.
• Reassembles and prepares clean caging and equipment for use.
• Stocks and maintains husbandry and facility supplies, including personal protective equipment, animal feed, bedding, enrichment materials, cleaning products, and other consumables.
• Reports low inventory, equipment malfunctions, and facility concerns promptly.
• Complies with institutional health and safety requirements, general laboratory practices, approved IACUC protocols and policies, standard operating procedures, and applicable animal-welfare requirements.
• Participates in required training and promptly reports animal-health, safety, or compliance concerns.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Cooperates and collaborates with other employees in the spirit of teamwork and collegiality and interacts with confidence, patience, and integrity.
• Complies with all Trinity University policies and guidelines.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION

• Required: High school diploma or equivalent.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in biology or animal sciences.

EXPERIENCE

• Required: One year of experience in animal care, laboratory animal husbandry, veterinary care, research support, or a related setting.
• Preferred: Three years of experience in animal care, laboratory animal husbandry, veterinary care, research support, or a related setting.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Required: Ability to learn and consistently follow animal care, safety, sanitation, and facility procedures.
• Required: Ability to recognize and promptly report changes in animal health, behavior, food or water consumption, and environmental conditions.
• Required: Ability to safely handle and restrain multiple laboratory animal species after appropriate training.
• Required: Time and task management skills, including the ability to complete scheduled care activities reliably and accurately.
• Required: Organization, recordkeeping, and written and verbal communication skills.

• Preferred: Knowledge of laboratory animal care practices, biosecurity principles, and IACUC requirements.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• Preferred: AALAS Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification, or willingness to pursue certification.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• All jobs require a current Criminal Background Check (CBC).
• Ability to work scheduled weekends, holidays, and emergency or overtime assignments as required to maintain continuous animal care.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None.

DECISION MAKING

Performs recurring work under established procedures while exercising judgment to identify and promptly report unusual animal-health, facility, equipment, safety, or research conditions.

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY

None.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

None.

Equal Opportunity Employer – Disability and Veteran

Trinity University is an equal opportunity employer and as such provides equal opportunity for employment and advancement of all employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any status protected by Federal, State, or Local Laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer – Disability and Veteran Trinity prohibits harassment and discrimination based on protected status , including sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. Any person may report discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct online or by contacting Interim Trinity's Title IX Coordinator, Michaela Postell. You may also report in person or by mail addressed to her at One Trinity Place, Northrup Hall 210, San Antonio, TX 78212.