Laboratory Animal Technician III (small animal)

OVERVIEW: 

Responsibilities include all activities required for the proper care and maintenance of on-site animals, and activities required for research animals maintained in government facilities.  All employees are expected to perform their duties as assigned, arrive to work at 7 am and depart at 3:30 pm (M-F).  You may be required to work on weekends and holidays.  The weekend/holiday hours are from 7 am to 12 pm.  This position is designated as essential.  In addition, you will be required to work extra hours during emergency situations or if any unexpected situation arise after hours.

Description of Duties:

• Understand and follow appropriate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), sanitation requirements, safety procedures, and quality assurance guide­lines.
• Proper personnel protective equipment must be worn as required per SOPs, additional protective wear may be required from time to time according to Safety Data Sheets and as required.
• Shall possess advanced technical knowledge of daily clinical rounds, routine and advanced veterinary treatments as prescribed by the veterinarian, health exam of sick animals, assistance with technical functions required by research protocols, maintenance of animal medical records, small animal enrichment, sentinel health monitoring programs, aseptic technique, sample collection, capture/restraint, dosing, etc.  
• Knowledge of small animal biomethodology to include breeding, common diseases, anatomy, anesthesia, safe handling and restraint techniques, proper use of PPE, euthanasia, and injection techniques as well as a working knowledge of veterinary treatment administration, surgery/aseptic technique and anesthesia techniques. 
• Provide relevant task-specific technical, husbandry and administrative training to facility animal users. 
• The Laboratory Animal Technician III (Small Animal) shall have knowledge of animal behavior and practical experience working with animals to habituate them to new procedures, equipment, and environments through training and positive reinforcement.  
• Usesdidactic and hands-on technical training methods, provide initial and refresher training to maintain and enhance employee skills and capabilities related to laboratory animal techniques. 
• Works with contract training staff to formulate teaching outline and determine instructional methods such as individual training, group instruction, or demonstrations to attain task proficiency.  
• Actively interact with customers as required to solve customer requests, inquiries, and complaints and to provide technical assistance. 
• Act as liaison between scientific staff and support personnel. 
• Provide support for perioperative and postoperative monitoring and oversight for small animal operative procedures to ensure compliance with institution policies, SOPs, and command directives, as well as external/federal regulatory guidelines, policies and procedures. 
• Provide support to other surgery functions to include sanitation, sterilization, animal handling and other pre- and post-operative support.
• Contractor shall provide staff with technical knowledge required to support the WRAIR/NMRC animal program.  
• Expected to have advanced knowledge of activities required for the proper care and maintenance of the animal species to include animal husbandry, sanitation procedures, and animal observations and may involve the use of potentially hazardous chemical, biological, or radiological materials.
• Ability to operate sophisticated technological equipment (ventilated cage systems, BSL2 hoods, automatic watering systems, etc.) and complex management policies for animal care. 
• Assists the Project/Contract Manager in implementing and maintaining the QC/QA program, which includes animal health surveillance. 
• Receive, examine, transfer, identify, and properly house incoming animal shipments according to SOPs. 
• Personnel must possess the physical strength, dexterity, and endurance to handle cages, racks, large pieces of miscellaneous equipment, feedbags and other materials and equipment normally found in a research facility.
• Dispose of waste from the facility following appropriate SOPs.
• Maintain clean and organized work and personal areas.
• Prepare and submit records, charts, logs, cage cards, and inventories as required by SOPs.
• Report all equipment malfunctions, failures, and repair needs to the supervisory staff as soon as possible.
• Knowledge of operating autoclaves, cage and rack washers, conveyer belts, bedding dispensers, bottle fillers, floor scrubbers, and high pressure and steam cleaning devises. 
• Perform other duties under supervision, as assigned.

 Requirements:  

• BS/BA and five years of experience performing duties as a Laboratory Animal Technician is preferred
• Must  be AALAS certified at the LATG level within 12 months of hire or eligibility
• Must complete the required training and receive clearance on the duties of Laboratory Animal Technician III (Small Animal).  
• Must possess the physical strength to lift a minimum of 50 lbs., dexterity and endurance to pull, push and handle cages, racks, large pieces of miscellaneous equipment, feed and bedding bags and other materials and equipment normally found in a research animal facility.