Careers

PRIORITY ONE SERVICES, INC.

BLDG 49 Central Animal Facility: Animal Health Technician I

Summary

Under the direction of the Small Animal Health Technician III and Senior Animal Health Team Leader, the Animal Health Technician I provides technical and clinical support services within the Building 49 Central Animal Facility (CAF). This position requires a working knowledge of veterinary technology and animal science, along with the ability to perform routine technical procedures and support animal health monitoring.

The Animal Health Technician I must demonstrate competency in basic clinical and technical skills, including identifying abnormal animal conditions and supporting veterinary treatments as prescribed by the facility veterinarian.

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Requirements

• Certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) at the Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) level required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a laboratory animal facility.
• Experience must include species housed within Building 49 CAF (e.g., rodents, rabbits, and non-human primates).
• Minimum education: High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and general computer systems.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and work effectively within a team environment.

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Duties and Responsibilities

Technical & Animal Care Support

• Perform routine technical procedures including:
  • Injections
  • Blood collection
  • Tumor observations
  • Timed mating and plug checks
  • Weaning of animals
  • Tail biopsies and ear tagging
  • Weighing animals
  • Subcutaneous transponder implantation
• Support environmental enrichment activities.
• Assist with sanitation of surgical rooms and support areas.
• Transport carcasses and sentinel animals to diagnostic laboratories.
• Work under ABS Level I and II conditions.

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Monitoring & Compliance

• Adhere to all established Building 49 SOPs, security procedures, and confidentiality requirements.
• Identify and report potential issues involving animals, equipment, or facility conditions.
• Maintain accurate data entry using Microsoft Office and facility systems.

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Team Support

• Work effectively with co-workers, veterinary staff, and laboratory personnel.
• Follow oral and written instructions as directed.
• Assist Animal Health Team Leaders in meeting contractual obligations and daily operational needs.

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Hours

Basic work week of forty (40) hours per week. Work schedule is dependent upon contract requirements and institutional research needs. Weekend and holiday work may be required. Reliable attendance is essential to ensure appropriate levels of animal care. May be subject to call-in for facility or animal health emergencies and may provide weekend coverage during staffing shortages.

Physical Requirements:

Activity	Not Applicable	Occasionally	Often
Climbing		X
Stooping			X
Kneeling			X
Reaching			X
Standing			X
Sitting		X
Walking			X
Pushing		X
Pulling		X
Talking			X
Hearing			X

Lifting/Moving Requirements

Light work; lifting to 50 pounds occasionally; repetitive lifting/manipulation of up to 10 pounds; applying up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move or roll objects.

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Environmental Conditions

Work is performed in animal care and vivarium environments. Duties may require entry into barrier facilities, surgical suites, and laboratory settings. Exposure to hot/humid conditions, odors, aerosols, dust, animal dander, and noise may occur. Use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is required.

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Summary

Under the direction of the Facility Veterinarian(s) and Program Management, the Veterinary Technician IV Supervisor will provide technical and clinical support services and assistance to veterinarians, and researchers. Veterinary Technician IV must demonstrate a working knowledge of laboratory animal science and technology with competency in clinical care, anesthesia, and technical procedures.  Experience should be related to the species housed in the program including rodents, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, frogs and non-human primates. Veterinary Technician IV will provide supervision and coordination for animal health services within the veterinary technician support departments.

Requirements

Personnel must be certified by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) as a Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG). Work experience must include over five years’ experience as a veterinary technician in laboratory animal facilities with at least 2 or more years supervisory experience.  Formal education shall include a minimum of a high school diploma or GED equivalent, B.S. degree in a science related field, and be literate in written and spoken English. A working knowledge of computers and associated software catered to veterinary care (e.g., MS Office Suite) is required.

Duties

• Assisting the  Project Managers in assuring that all contract terms and conditions are met on time, within established cost limits and at acceptable performance levels.
• Assisting the Project Managers in compiling, preparing, and distributing applicable required monthly reports and deliverables.
• Establishing liaison/communications with research personnel to gauge satisfaction with performance/accomplishment of support/service requests and implement corrective actions as required should performance be rated as marginal or substandard.
• Extensive experience with Humanized Germ-Free mice
• Assuring that procedures and practices involving the program of animal care are appropriate for the continued maintenance of AAALAC accreditation of the FDA/DVS facilities.
• Assuring that personnel adhere to security procedures and confidentiality requirements.
• Ensuring adherence by contract staff to established FDA/DVS SOPs.
• Monitoring the performance of all subordinate personnel, praising quality performance, or providing counseling or additional training/supervision and retraining for individuals with deficient performance, to maintain a high level of quality and services.
• Assisting the Project Managers and Training Department in establishing, maintaining, and documenting a veterinary support employee-training program, specialized training, or cross training of contract staff to maximize staffing/delivery of service flexibility.
• Assisting the Program Managers in anticipating/planning for changing workloads/schedules, equipment, and supplies.
• Working in concert/cooperation with FDA/DVS compliance assurance entities (FDA Safety and DVS/IC IACUC committees).
• Provide routine animal health surveillance and/or assessment of sick animals along with colony health (sentinel) coordination.
• Routine veterinary care/support and treatments as prescribed by the Veterinary Staff.
• Maintains permanent animal health records and reports.
• Diagnostic support to include sample collection and preparation (e.g., blood, serum, tissue, etc.), fecal analysis, hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis, radiology, and dental prophylaxis.
• Anesthesia support to include induction, maintenance, and recovery of animals.
• Surgical support to include instrument preparation and sterilization, animal preparation, sterile and non-sterile scrub assistance for the support of aseptic surgeries.
• Establishing minimum/maximum ordering levels, maintaining logbooks, and maintaining inventory of drugs and surgical supplies, and placing orders.              
• Sanitation of procedure rooms and support areas.
• Routine preventive maintenance of all surgical support equipment (e.g., intensive care units, anesthesia machines, etc.).
• Perform and supervise technical procedures including but not limited to routine injections, blood collection, tumor observations, timed matings, plug determinations, and weaning of animals, tail biopsies, ear tagging, weighing of animals, application of treatments and animal health monitoring.
• Perform monthly QA/QC inspections of all procedure rooms, veterinary technician support areas, associated logbooks and clinical case tracking logs.
• Pre-procedural food and/or water restriction of animals.
• Scheduling sample collection for the Sentinel Animal Program as directed by the Facility Veterinarian.
• Operate a computer to enter animal related data. Use of Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.
• Supervision of assigned subordinates and scheduling of resources to comply with specific Laboratory Staff Requests (i.e. Technical Service Requests, Clinical requests, etc.).
• Demonstrate use of good leadership, team building and management skills.
• Other duties as assigned.

Hours: 

Basic workweek of forty (40) hours per week with the start and the end of the workday dependent on the contract requirements of the workplace.  Hours are dictated by the NIH/DVR research schedule and weekend and holiday work may be required. Must be reliable in attendance to ensure animals receive appropriate level of care. Potential for call-in to assist with facility or animal health related emergencies.

Laboratory Animal Resources/Research Resources - Rodent Animal Care Technician
(Animal Technician II)
Work Hours:6:00 AM to 2:30 PM from Monday through Friday and supervisor scheduled weekends/holidays/weather emergencies/university closings.

Summary:
The Laboratory Animal Resource (LAR) group at Princeton University is a centralized administrative department reporting to the Dean for Research and is responsible for animal and veterinary care of all research animals at Princeton University. The Animal Technician for the Life Sciences Complex provides state-of-the art animal care for laboratory animals housed within these facilities. He/she receives direction from the LAR Facility Manager. The primary responsibility is to provide animal care to the various laboratory species (rodents, aquatics, and USDA-covered species), the majority will be in the care of rodents. The Animal Technician ensures the cleanliness of the facility and the maintenance of adequate supplies of food and bedding materials, including PPE. The Animal Technician will work together with other technicians according to a schedule prepared by the LAR Manager and must be willing and able to rotate through all LAR facilities. The Animal Technician pursues and improves methods of animal husbandry and resource utilization. He/she ensures the highest quality of laboratory animal care and research support, and has good communication skills with co-workers, the LAR management team, PI’s, research staff, students, facility maintenance crews and other support services. This position reports directly to the Facility Manager.
Animal Husbandry:

• Animal Technicians are considered essential services staff. Essential service staff performs jobs that are necessary and required to maintain basic University operations during scheduled or unscheduled work closures due to emergencies, events or other situations.
• Provides animal care for all species housed according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including giving food and water to the animals, changing cages, sanitizing all supplies (cages, water bottles, food bins and other animal care related equipment), maintaining clean animal rooms, procedure rooms, hallways and other support areas, and keeping records related to animal care.
• Completes work in a timely fashion and according to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and follows other written and verbal instructions as needed.
• Monitors animal health and welfare daily and reports sick and dead animals to the responsible researcher and Veterinary Services. Provides treatments to laboratory animals as prescribed by researchers and/or Veterinary Services.
• Monitors, documents and reports deviations of normal, species-specific and environmental parameters such room temperature, humidity, lights and air quality.
• Provides innovative and species-specific environmental enrichment of laboratory animals under the direction of Veterinary Services and according to research needs.
• Conduct AM and PM animal health observations.
• Operates cage washing machinery, ventilated caging, Edstrom watering system, bedding dispensing units, full size to table top autoclaves and other animal care equipment typical of animal care operations while following safety procedures.
• Assists with transgenic rodent breeding colony management. Demonstrates ability to perform tissue sample collection, set up mating pairs, wean animals, and track data in various software applications.
• Discovers and reports any facility maintenance issues to the Lead Animal Technician and Facility Manager.

PRIORITY ONE SERVICES, INC.

Building 49 CAF

NIMH Research Specialist II

Summary

Research Support Specialist II for the National Institute of Mental Health under the direction of the Veterinary Medicine and Resources Branch (VMRB) and Institute Veterinarians. The Research Specialist II must demonstrate a working knowledge of veterinary science and technology (e.g. first aid response, pharmacy and pharmacology, surgical support, treatment, nursing care, and examination), as well as have experience with a wide variety of laboratory animal species. The candidate should have experience with anesthesia and surgical support, anesthesia monitoring, constant rate infusion and/or total intravenous anesthesia, surgical (sterile prep and surgical scrub) preparation and surgical assistance. The ideal candidate will have experience in behavioral studies and handling of nonhuman primates, rodents, and technical experience in using computers and computer software to conduct research studies.

Requirements

Candidate shall be certified at the AALAS ALAT level. Will be required to obtain a LATG certification within 1 year of eligibility.

Must have a minimum of three years’ experience in laboratory animal facilities.  Applicants shall have experience working with rodents and non-human primates.  Candidate should have experience with animal husbandry/caretaking procedures, accurate data sample collection, accurate and timely record keeping, and data processing.  Must be able to lift 40lbs to 60lbs, climb, stoop, bend, reach, and stand for prolonged periods.  Must be responsible and reliable to work independently when necessary and maintain good customer and team relationships.  Must be available to work evenings and weekends when necessary.

Duties

Primary responsibilities: Implements and improves environmental enrichment plan for all VRMB nonhuman primates.

• Documents compliance with environmental enrichment Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Prepares, distributes, and maintains all enrichment items for NIMH animals housed at Building 49.
• Assists with animal socializations (i.e. pairs or groups) and completes related documentation.
• Assists with colony data (paper and electronic) as per USDA requirements and NIH policies.
• Performs behavioral observations/assessments, both of individual animals and groups, when          necessary and/or requested.
• Provides behavioral treatments to animals exhibiting certain behaviors.
• Provides conditioning training to animals when necessary and/or requested.
• Assists with developing, reviewing and revising environmental enrichment SOPs and forms.
• Assists with developing and evaluating new enrichment items or methods for implementation at VRMB.
• Assists Research Technicians in animal activities to include first aid response, pharmacy and pharmacology, physiology, physical examination, and treatment under the direction of a veterinarian with various animal species.  Candidate will take all technical directions from the NIMH investigative staff.

• Other duties as assigned.

Hours: Basic workweek of forty (40) hours per week with the start and the end of the workday dependent on the contract requirements of the workplace.  Hours dictated by the institutional research schedule, weekend and holiday work may be required. Must be reliable in attendance to ensure animals receive appropriate level of care. Potential for call-in to assist facility or animal health related emergencies. Potential to provide weekend coverage if there is short staffing and unable to find replacements. 

Physical Requirements:

Activity	Not Applicable	Occasionally	Often
Climbing		X
Stooping			X
Kneeling			X
Reaching			X
Standing			X
Sitting		X
Walking			X
Pushing		X
Pulling		X
Talking			X
Hearing			X

Lifting/Moving Requirements:

Light work; lifting to 50 pounds occasionally; repetitive lifting/manipulation of up to 10 pounds, applying up to 10 pounds constantly to move/roll objects.

Environmental Conditions:

Customarily performs animal care, research management and administration duties in an environmentally controlled work area.  However, technical and management duties may be performed in an animal care vivarium, barrier facility, surgical or test procedure laboratory, animal housing/bedding cleaning and processing areas. Work may require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in these facilities.  Laboratory environment and/or animal care work areas may be prone to hot and humid conditions, and subject to objectionable odors, aerosols, dust, animal dander, and noise. 

PRIORITY ONE SERVICES, INC.

BLDG 49 ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN II

Summary

The Animal Health Technician II will provide surgical, technical, and clinical support services under the direction of the Senior Animal Health Team Leader or respective Animal Health Technician III. They must demonstrate a working knowledge of veterinary science and technology (e.g., first aid response, pharmacy and pharmacology, treatment, and examination) as well as technical experience and competency in surgical nursing, preparation and assisting, anesthesiology, nursing, laboratory procedures and radiology Experience should be related to the species housed in the Building 49 CAF.  Animal Health Technician II will assist the Animal Health Leaders in providing all animal health services.

Requirements

Preferred personnel be certified by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) as a Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG). Qualifications as a Licensed Veterinary Technician, Military Animal Care Specialist (91T), or degrees in veterinary medicine/science will be considered but individuals will be eligible to obtain certification at the LATG level within 2-4 years. Work experience must include four years’ experience in laboratory animal facilities.  Experience must be related to the species housed in the Building 49 CAF (e.g., Rodents, Rabbits, 13-lined Ground Squirrels, Zebrafish, Sand Rats, Swine, and Non-Human Primates). Formal education shall include a minimum of a high school diploma or GED equivalent with working knowledge computers and associated software (e.g., WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Electronic Mail).

Duties

• Adhere to established Bldg 49 Standard Operating Procedures.
• Work tactfully and effectively with Co-Workers and Laboratory Staff.
• Routine animal health surveillance and/or assessment of sick animals.
• Routine veterinary care/support and treatments as prescribed by the Veterinary Staff.
• Maintains permanent animal health records and reports.
• Diagnostic support to include sample collection and preparation (e.g., blood, serum, tissue, etc.), fecal analysis, hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis, radiology, and dental prophylaxis.
• Work under ABS Level I and II conditions.
• Anesthesia support to include induction, maintenance, and recovery of animals.
• Surgical support to include instrument preparation and sterilization, animal preparation, sterile and non-sterile scrub assistants for the support of aseptic surgeries.
• Environmental enrichment activities.
• Sanitation of surgical rooms and support areas.
• Radiation monitoring of posted rooms and/or areas within the CAF.
• Routine preventive maintenance of all surgical support equipment (e.g., intensive care units, anesthesia machines, etc.).
• Perform technical procedures including but not limited to routine injections, blood collection, tumor observations, weighing of animals, and implantation of subcutaneous transponders.
• Pre-procedural food and/or water restriction of animals.
• Routine serology screening for rodent surveillance and quarantine rooms.
• Identify and report potential problem areas with personnel, equipment, or facilities.
• Operate a computer to enter animal related data. Use of Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Food/waterlogs- email out an issues/follow up.
• Perform Rabbit PE/weights (bi-monthly)
• Perform Ground squirrel physicals (monthly)
• Perform Swine physicals (monthly)
• Assist Animal Health Team Leaders in meeting contractual obligations and deliverables.
• Other duties as assigned.

Hours:  Basic workweek of forty (40) hours per week with the start and the end of the workday dependent on the contract requirements of the workplace.  Hours dictated by the institutional research schedule, weekend and holiday work maybe required. Must be reliable in attendance to ensure animals receive appropriate level of care. Potential for call-in to assist facility or animal health related emergencies. Potential to provide weekend coverage if there is short staffing and unable to find replacements. 

Physical Requirements:

Activity	Not Applicable	Occasionally	Often
Climbing		X
Stooping			X
Kneeling			X
Reaching			X
Standing			X
Sitting		X
Walking			X
Pushing		X
Pulling		X
Talking			X
Hearing			X

Lifting/Moving Requirements:

Light work; lifting to 50 pounds occasionally; repetitive lifting/manipulation of up to 10 pounds, applying up to 10 pounds constantly to move/roll objects.

Environmental Conditions:

Customarily performs animal care, research management and administration duties in an environmentally controlled work area.  However, technical and management duties may be performed in an animal care vivarium, barrier facility, surgical or test procedure laboratory, animal housing/bedding cleaning and processing areas. Work may require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in these facilities.  Laboratory environment and/or animal care work areas may be prone to hot and humid conditions, and subject to objectionable odors, aerosols, dust, animal dander, and noise. 

POSITION TITLE: Animal Care Technicians

SUPERVISOR: Large Animal Team Leader

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Large Animal Team Leader the NHP Animal Care Technician shall have demonstrated knowledge and skill in handling animals, especially NHP's. The Large Animal Care Technician will have experience with Non-human Primates. They shall be able to recognize the appearance of abnormal animals and be able to maintain a clean environment for all animals. In addition, this person will also be responsible for assisting investigators, keeping appropriate records, and providing supplies when requested. The Animal Care Technician shall maintain accurate room logs and maintain the cleanliness of the facility.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have a High School Diploma or GED.
• Must have AALAS Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician certification or one year’ experience in a laboratory animal facility, animal hospital, zoo, or related animal field. All Animal Care Technician’s shall train and become ALAT certified within one year of employment.
• Candidates must possess an excellent command of the English language both written and verbal in order to effectively communicate with investigators and other staff members daily.

RESPONSIBLITIES AND DUTIES:

Essential Duties:

• Provide animal care and husbandry services, including but not limited to: feeding and watering animals; handling and restraint of animals, cage and bedding changeouts; cleaning and sanitizing animal rooms, hallways, ancillary equipment; monitoring environmental parameters as required; assessing the presence of vermin and effectiveness of control efforts; performing animal health checks; assisting in the local delivery and transport of animals; assisting in the inspection ad storage of feed and bedding materials; performing minor equipment and facility maintenance.
• Observe and report any abnormalities in animals, equipment, or facilities to the floor supervisor or the Project Manager.
• Perform husbandry, restraint, and environmental monitoring tasks in accordance with established NIH SOPs
• Ensure that procedures and practices involving the program of animal care are appropriate for the continued maintenance of AAALACi accreditation of the NIH facilities.
• Adhere to security procedures and confidentiality requirements.
• Assist, when requested, in experimental planning and logistics and scheduling of projects.
• Participate in the ongoing employee training program, with special emphasis on safety and health training, safe work practices, and use of personal protective equipment.
• Perform job tasks and duties in compliance with NIH “Guide”, facility policies, regulations, safety, and security procedures.
• Perform work in compliance with applicable safety requirements.
• Adhere to equipment sanitation and sterilization schedules.
• Ensure that records, logbooks and other project records are appropriately and contemporaneously maintained.
• Comply with the QA/QC program.
• Recommend changes in operational procedures that might increase the efficiency or effectiveness of work procedures or practices.

*Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination is required for all Priority One positions.

Candidate must have a high school diploma or GED and must have at least two years experience working with animals in a laboratory animal facility.  A diploma in a related science field or equivalent is desired. AALAS certification is preferred and laboratory animal experience is required. Salary will be commensurate with experience and AALAS certification level. Preferred skills include experience with:  animal care and husbandry, cagewash procedures, minor technical procedures, multiple species a plus, and recording keeping. “Applicant may be required  to travel to different facilities in Maryland basically; Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park and Laurel" Applicant must be reliable, able to work independently, and interact professionally with the research staff. Applicant must be flexible and learn quickly; be able to stand for prolong periods, bend, reach, and climb. Demonstrated math and reading comprehension and good English oral and written communication skills are required.