Animal Care Technician I

at  Boston Childrens Hospital

JOB POSTING DESCRIPTION

This position involves assisting and providing support to animal care operations. Responsibilities include basic daily care and husbandry of laboratory animals in a research environment. Strong attention to detail when observing animals and completing documentation is necessary.

This Animal Technician I will be responsible for:

• Assembling and preparing animal cages/racks and related equipment for cage change outs, or newly arriving animals according to instructions
• Operating equipment such as tunnel washers, cage washers, bottle washers and autoclaves
• Maintaining clean, orderly and sanitized work areas on a regular basis and completing area documentation
• Maintaining the health and well being of laboratory animals by providing a stable sanitized environment with quality food and water, and completing area documentation
• Basic daily care and husbandry of laboratory animals housed in a research environment
• Performing and recording daily animal health observations, communicating adverse findings to the veterinarian technicians to ensure animal care standards are in keeping with applicable laws and regulatory guidelines (Animal Welfare Act, USDA, AAALAC, and IACUC)
• Identifying basic animal care issues such as sick and dead animals, and overcrowded cages, and notifying a Technician II or III
• Maintaining ARCH Animal Care Documentation
• Observing Safety and Personal Hygiene Procedures

To qualify, you must have:

• A high school level of education and the ability to read and understand written instructions is required. No prior experience required
• The ability to work directly with mice and rats, with no preexisting allergies to animals, hair or dander
• The ability to lift 50 lbs., box carry 30 lbs, and push or pull up to 100 lbs, amongst other physical tasks, which shall be verified by a physical preplacement assessment conducted by our designated partner
• The willingness to be fit tested and wear a N95 mask (by being clean shaven for proper and necessary fit) or alternatively if necessary a PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) as required in specific locations within ARCH throughout the workday
• Steel toed boots are to be worn at all times
• May occasionally need to report to work in the event of a disaster, or weather related event, if necessary
• May occasionally be required to work on weekends, holidays, and off hours
• Attention to detail when observing animals and completing documentation is necessary as employee error could cause catastrophic results to investigator research; the animals are extremely valuable and are sensitive research models

• Assembling and preparing animal cages/racks and related equipment for cage change outs, or newly arriving animals according to instructions
• Operating equipment such as tunnel washers, cage washers, bottle washers and autoclaves
• Maintaining clean, orderly and sanitized work areas on a regular basis and completing area documentation
• Maintaining the health and well being of laboratory animals by providing a stable sanitized environment with quality food and water, and completing area documentation
• Basic daily care and husbandry of laboratory animals housed in a research environment
• Performing and recording daily animal health observations, communicating adverse findings to the veterinarian technicians to ensure animal care standards are in keeping with applicable laws and regulatory guidelines (Animal Welfare Act, USDA, AAALAC, and IACUC)
• Identifying basic animal care issues such as sick and dead animals, and overcrowded cages, and notifying a Technician II or III
• Maintaining ARCH Animal Care Documentation
• Observing Safety and Personal Hygiene Procedure