Small Animal Lab Part-Time Assistant

Job Summary:

The Small Animal Lab Part-Time Assistant reports to the Facility Manager/Director of the Center. This position assists with the supervision of daily husbandry in the laboratory animal facilities and performs husbandry duties as needed. This position entails front-line supervision of daily work production and provides husbandry staff with daily direction. The Small Animal Lab Part-Time Assistant also assists in staff training and development and troubleshoots problems, issues, and concerns (equipment issues, husbandry procedures, personnel problems) of a routine nature. May act as a functional manager in the absence of the manager.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Helps to coach, lead, and train staff l30+ PT student workers at two sites); assists with on-going staff development.

• Oversees the daily workflow of direct reports at assigned facility.

• Provides learning opportunities and constructive feedback.

• Sets daily operational goals and initiatives for direct reports

• Schedules staff

• Participates in weekly staff meetings

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Animal Husbandry: Provides animal care and oversees the daily work of the staff at assigned site for the day. Performs feeding, watering, and observations of animals and cage cleaning. Operates vivarium equipment including cage washers, floor machines, etc. Maintains animal census records and other animal care records. Performs end-of-day quality control checks of animal rooms and records.

• Animal Health: Alerts Facility Manager and/or veterinary staff on animal health related matters and maintains health logs. Provides veterinary assistance for treatments and procedures on animals. Breeds, weans, and euthanizes animals.

• Research/Teaching Support: as required but not limited to- obtains supplies, transports animals restrains, weighs, or doses animals, and collects samples. Provides access for students doing work in the lab and assists with tour groups and community outreach activities (A-Day, Kids camps, etc.)

• PhysicaI Environment: Maintains a current awareness of regulatory requirements pertaining to the housing of animals and maintains compliance with applicable regulations. Performs general custodial tasks as directed. Provides a safe working environment for all staff. Maintains vivarium equipment including scheduled preventative maintenance, and provides timely reporting of all environmental and plant conditions that are out of order.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Possesses strong supervisory skills to motivate, mentor and lead a diverse team of student workers.

• Has a desire and ability to work with a variety of small animals.

• Possesses strong interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, and ability to give and follow oral, and written instruction in English.

• Ability to utilize computer software including Word, Excel, Access, and Power Point.

• Working knowledge of federal regulations pertinent to animal research.

• Must have physical fitness, manual dexterity and adequate strength and stamina for handling animals, feeds, supplies, and equipment operation. Includes physical agility to stand, bend, reach, and perform moderate activity in very warm and humid environments and low light conditions. Includes sensory ability to see, hear and observe animals and environmental conditions.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in biological veterinary sciences and a min. of 3 years' experience working with a variety of laboratory animals.

• Supervisory experience preferred.

• Working knowledge of federal regulations pertinent to animal research.

• AALAS certification expected.

• On-going training required.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Occasionally sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Occasionally lifting 50 lbs. or less

• Frequently lifting 25 lbs. or more

• Typically standing or walking

• Typically bending, crouching, stooping

• Climbing ladders and step stools

• Performing tasks requiring high manual dexterity and repetitive motion (assembling caging and water bottles, animal restraint, use of pipettes, syringes and needles for injections, oral dosing and venipuncture.)

• Exposure to chemicals

• May be exposed to human pathogens.

• Exposure to animal allergens

• Exposure to moving machinery.

• Exposure to unpleasant odors

• Exposure to animal feces and specimens

• May be exposed to animal bites, scratches and contagious diseases.

• Required to wear personal protective equipment for up to 6 hours at a time (respirators/masks; gloves, safety eyewear)

• High noise environment

• High dust, dirt, grease environment

• High humidity, air temperature, and low light conditions

• Alternative work schedule. Hours vary and include early mornings, days, evenings, weekends, holidays and breaks.

• Required to be on-call.

• Required to work on-site

• Essential staff status