Animal Technician I, Animal Resource Center (Service Department - Galveston)

Minimum Qualifications:

High school or equivalent and one year of animal related experience.

Preferred:

Experience Working with Animals 

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.

Marginal or Periodic Functions:

• 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.
OTHER:
Specific job requirements or physical location of some positions allocated to this classification, 
may render this position security sensitive, and thereby subject to the provisions of Section 
51.215, Texas Education Code.