Animal Technician

Job Summary:

Under direction of the Animal Resources Supervisor or assigned lead, the Animal Technician (AT) has experience, training and is capable of performing all duties within the scope of the job description for Assistant Animal Technicians. Animal Technicians performs assigned duties in a manner that achieves the LARC mission.  Animal Technicians are expected to identify problems, remedy and report them immediately.  Animal Technicians must ensure the proper care and use of animals and Animal Technicians must be able to perform some technical procedures required within LARC or to support the research effort. 

Department Summary:

The Laboratory Animal Resource Center (LARC) supports the research programs of the faculty by providing all services associated with the care and use of laboratory animals including the purchasing/receiving, daily care and monitoring of the health of all species.   The Animal Technician is responsible for the daily care of animals in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.   Duties include changing cages and racks, delivering food and water in accordance to established procedures, maintaining equipment and animal housing areas according to standard operating procedures and federal and state regulations. Perform record keeping duties such as per-diems records, animal health surveillance, feed logs, temperature/humidity charts, animal receipt and disposition logs and performs other duties as assigned.  LARC provides care for various species of laboratory animals housed in multiple LARC research facilities located throughout the city of San Francisco.

Required Qualifications:

• Graduation from high school/GED, completion of training equivalent to the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician certification of the AALAS, and one year of animal care experience; or high school graduation and two years of animal care experience in the care of an animal species appropriate to the particular job; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
• 1 year of animal handling or lab animal sanitation equipment operations experience.
• Ability to communicate animal health information to appropriate personnel, maintain legible records for permanent status. All assignments require some use of computer/email.
• Satisfactory job performance ratings at all times during probationary employment period.
• Ability to follow instructions, work independently or in shared assignments with others. 
• Basic computer skills (e.g.,e/mail skills, ability to scan cage barcodes, sync PDA’s for submitting Health Surveillance Reports electronically, utilize email account for work-related communications, online training, MyTime timecard submission).
• Ability to follow work rules, including no eating or drinking in animal areas, no smoking at campus facilities.
• Ability to bend, squat, kneel, stand, reach above shoulder level, and move on hard surface for up to 7 hours/day. 
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment as required; includes protective clothing, protective glasses, safety shoes and gloves daily, face masks as required, respirator if assigned. 
• Ability to push and pull heavy objects and ability to safely move and or lift heavy loads (up to 50 pounds).
• Demonstrated experience working under general supervision.
• Complete and remain current in BRER training.
• Complete Ergonomics training.
• Complete Ethics training.
• Complete and remain current in Laboratory Safety for Researchers training.
• Complete Facilities Orientation for each assigned site. 
• Successful completion of ALAT in-house training curriculum within one year of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• General knowledge of feeding, caging, and space requirements for multiple species of laboratory animals used in biomedical research.
• Ability and skills needed to identify animal health concerns and regulatory compliance for their assigned areas and to report conditions to veterinary staff, researchers, and compliance staff.
• Full knowledge of disinfection, sanitation, and cleaning agents; knowledge and ability to use cage washers for cleaning and autoclaves for sterilization of cages.
• General knowledge of federal and other licensing agencies’ regulations.
• AALAS Assistant Laboratory Animal Medicine (ALAT).

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Identify the functions or tasks that employees in the job perform. The essential functions should state the purpose of the work and the results to be accomplished, rather than how the function is performed. Of the tasks listed, what percentage of time is devoted to each? The more time employees spend on a function, the more likely it is that the function is essential. Generally, include those functions that account for 10% or more of the work, i.e., key items that contribute significantly to the achievement of the job.  The functions should add up to 100%.

Budgeted Job Salary Range: 32.05