Animal Technician I, Animal Resources Center - Service Department (Galveston)
Minimum Qualifications:
High school or equivalent and one year of animal related experience.
Job Description:
To assist in providing care of laboratory animals in a humane, safe and sanitary manner using appropriate equipment and established procedures.
Job Duties:
- Provides daily husbandry care, including feeding and watering, for all species.
- Changes and sanitizes animal caging as scheduled.
- Maintains enrichment program as specified for each species.
- Sanitizes rooms, equipment and hallways as scheduled.
- Documents daily, weekly and monthly duties accurately.
- Observes animals for behavior change and/or evidence of disease and notifies veterinary staff as appropriate.
- Administers routine treatments and assists with technical support as needed.
- Receives transports and distributes incoming animals as specified.
- Ensures accurate cage cards and census.
- Provides specialized animal care, including quarantine, biohazard and sterile housing.
- Ensures equipment in animal rooms are functioning properly.
- Assists with maintenance and documentation of breeding colonies.
- Trains and mentors on husbandry procedures.
- Functions as Cage Washing Team Lead. Provides oversight of daily operation of the cage washing facility in cooperation with the supervisor. Ensures caging requests are completed in a timely manner. Reports maintenance issues and ensures follow-up. Notifies supervisor immediately to problem-solve any issues to ensure the team stays on schedule.
- Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.
- Attends in-house training programs to become more knowledgeable in the field of laboratory animal science.
- Provides superior customer service.
- Follows safety precautions and wears correct protective equipment.
- Follows rules and regulations related to laboratory animal care.
- May assist ARC logistics team with transport of caging or materials and with the receipt and storage of supplies.
- May assist cage washing team with preparation and sanitization of caging.
- Performs related duties as required.
EQUIPMENT:
- Industrial type cage and rack washers, autoclaves, pallet jacks, animal caging and racks.
- Support equipment used in a laboratory animal science multi-species facility and standard office equipment.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT/LOCATION OF POSITION:
- Standard research facility environment.
- Work weekends, holidays, and some overtime when needed.
- Lifting may be heavy and awkward, up to 50 pounds. Frequent contact with animal allergens, such as hair and dander.
- Frequent exposure to animal odors, heat and humidity from cage washing rooms, and chemicals used in the cleaning process.
- Possible contact with zoonotic diseases and or research materials could be hazardous to a fetus.
- Potential exposure to radiation and biohazards.
Salary Range:
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
