Vivarium Technician IV

Exelixis Inc; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k plan

Medical, dental & vision coverage

Discretionary annual bonus

Stock purchase plan

Paid holidays

Vacation days

Job summary

Exelixis Inc in Alameda, CA is seeking a Vivarium Technician IV to manage animal husbandry and support the in vivo pharmacology program. This role includes routine dosing, blood collection, tissue harvest, and daily health monitoring for mice and rats.

Responsibilities also cover animal intake, records management, preparation of media and reagents, and ensuring compliance with safety policies. Weekend and holiday work may be required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED plus 7+ years related experience, or AA with 5+ years, or BS with 3+ years.
• AALAS certification preferred.
• Experience with animal facility housekeeping, safety, inventory procedures and record keeping.
• Experience with receiving and caging animals.
• Experience with in vivo techniques including IV, IP, SC, PO and blood collection techniques, and organ harvesting.
• Basic computer skills (MS Word and MS Excel).

Responsibilities

• Maintain animal husbandry and housekeeping in holding areas.
• Perform routine dosing and blood collection in mice and rats; tissue harvest and daily health monitoring; weekend work as needed.
• Support shaving fur, body weight, re-housing, euthanizing, plasma/serum collection.
• Conduct daily clinical observations and report findings to management and staff.
• Set up, receive, and identify incoming animals.
• Maintain records and archives/files appropriately.
• Prepare routine media, reagents, and custom solutions for use by department.
• Stock and distribute laboratory supplies and equipment.
• Perform general laboratory maintenance and equipment handling.
• Comply with health and safety policies and practices.
• Other duties as requested.
• Willing and able to work weekends and holidays.

Skills

Animal handling

Data entry

Laboratory safety

MS Excel

Education

High school diploma/GED

AA degree

BS degree

Tools

IV technique

Blood collection

Organ harvesting

AALAS certification

Job description

SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE

Responsible for animal husbandry and housekeeping of animal holding and support areas. The Vivarium Technician IV assists and supports the daily activities for the in vivo pharmacology program.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintains animal husbandry and housekeeping of animal holding and support areas.
• Performs routine dosing and blood collection in mice and rats via multiple routes as well as tissue harvest and daily health monitoring, including on weekends as needed.
• Provides additional support including, but not limited to, shaving fur, taking body weight, re-housing animals, euthanizing animals, plasma/serum collection, etc.
• Performs clinical observations of animals daily and reports to management and research staff.
• Sets up, receives, and identifies incoming animals.
• Maintains records and archives/files appropriately.
• Prepares routine media, reagents, and custom solutions for use by department and other research staff.
• Stocks and distributes laboratory supplies and equipment for assigned department.
• Performs general laboratory maintenance including collecting, washing and storing procedure tools, arranging and dismantling laboratory apparatus and operating husbandry equipment.
• Complies with company health and safety policies and general laboratory practices.
• Other duties as requested.
• Willing and able to work weekends and holidays.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE / KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

Education: High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and a minimum of 7 years related experience; or, AA degree and a minimum of 5 years related experience; or, BS degree and a minimum of 3 years related experience; or, Equivalent combination of education and experience. AALAS certification preferred. Experience: Experience with animal facility housekeeping, safety, inventory procedures and record keeping. Experience with receiving and caging animals. Experience with in vivo techniques including IV, IP, SC, PO and blood collection techniques (tail vein, submandibular, cardiac puncture, etc.), and organ harvesting from small laboratory animals. Basic experience working with computers including MS Word and MS Excel required. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Basic knowledge of animal handling techniques, theories, and practices. Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Writes simple correspondences and effectively presents information in one-on-one and small group situations. Able to receive general instructions on routine work, and detailed instructions on new assignments. Able to lift 50 lbs. Works on assignments that are semi-routine in nature where the ability to recognize deviation from accepted practice is required. Applies job skills and company policies and procedures to complete a variety of tasks.

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Our office is a modern, open-plan space that foster collaborations and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.

LOCATION & COMPENSATION

#LI-JD1 Location: Alameda, CA Range for this position: $85,000 - $107,500 The base pay offered will take into account job-related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors. In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan. Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long-term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year. If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the recruiting process, please email us at: [e-mail].

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Every Exelixis employee is united in an ambitious cause: to launch innovative medicines that give patients and their families hope for the future. In this pursuit, we know our employees are our most valuable asset. After operating in the challenging biotech sector for 25 years, we have a proven track record of resiliency in the face of adversity. The success of our lead product has provided a solid commercial foundation allowing us to reinvigorate our research efforts, and grow our team in areas such as Drug Discovery, Clinical Development and Commercial. As we expand our global partnerships and further reinvest in R&D to help us discover the next breakthrough for difficult-to-treat cancers, we’re seeking to add talented, dedicated employees to power our mission. Cancer is our cause. Make it yours, too.