Animal Care Technician III - University of Florida

Responsible for carrying out the Animal Care Services' (ACS) directives and SOPs as governed by the Animal Welfare Act and all applicable rules, regulations and professional standards.   Provides specialized care and support functions for animals and animal facilities.   Is responsible for overall care of animals and/or completes specialized activities such as administering oral medications, injections, specialized diets, etc.  Completes ACT I and ACT II animal care duties and responsibilities including cage wash duties as directed by Operations Manager or their designee.  Trains other Animal Care Technicians and /or investigative staff.  All actions are completed by strictly and consistently following applicable ACS SOPs including IACUC and EHS safety procedures and policies.  Reports any suspected or actual deviations to SOPs or non-routine situations immediately to Operations Manager or their designee.  In absence of area manager may lead assigned personnel, assist in supervisor daily room checks, provide facility tours, animal order approval and supply ordering

When performing husbandry duties, will change cages and racks as scheduled, observes and reports animals for signs of illness, injury, and physical or behavioral changes.  Under supervision, performs euthanasia of rodents using carbon dioxide with approved alternate secondary method.  Observes, documents, and reports changes in environmental parameters outside acceptable ranges, e.g. temperature, humidity, lighting, etc.  Restrains and handles animals for treatment. Sanitizes equipment and animal holding facilities.  Ensures housing and environmental compliance with the "NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Maintains supply stock in all assigned rooms for daily use of investigative staff. Follows established procedures to minimize contamination and insure optimum results for researchers. Observes animals; recognizes and report early manifestations of disease such as labored breathing, lethargy, sores, and dehydration.   Restrains animals for examination for injection; collects urine and/or fecal samples as directed by veterinary staff. Collects specimens for clinical analysis and obtains vital signs as directed by veterinary staff. Collects specimens for clinical analysis and obtains vital signs as directed by veterinary staff. Monitors health status of postsurgical and experimental animals. May provide assistance to researchers. When working in cage wash section will operate washers, autoclaves, water bottle fill stations and perform preventative maintenance tasks (i.e. jets are cleaned and sump tanks emptied daily) outlined in cage wash maintenance sheet on main area door.  Will perform routine start-up and shut down procedures of equipment as outlined in SOP’s. Ensure equipment being processed is in optimal condition and removed from circulation if damaged or worn. Perform scheduled quality control tests of equipment and submit samples (biological indicators, water sample etc.) to ACS diagnostic lab for processing. Will assist in receiving and rotating feed and supplies.  Transports caging supplies between animal rooms and cage wash rooms.  Will sanitize cage washing rooms and other support areas, such as hallways and storage rooms

Will provide guidance, instruction and direction to ACTII and ACT I staff following directives provided by facility supervisor/manager. Will be part of the training program for all new staff and provide input and updates to facility manager. In absence of area manager may lead assigned personnel, assist in supervisor daily room checks, provide facility tours, approve animal orders/transfers and supply ordering.  Will assume these responsibilities in the absence of the area manager under the directions of an alternate operations manager or the AD of operations

Will be required to keep up to date on SOP’s in Policy Manger and input time worked on Time Clock Plus using facility computers during normal working hours. Ensure that leave request, overtime requests and weekend change requests are submitted timely to area supervisor/manager.

Other duties as assigned.   

High school diploma or equivalent and three years of relevant experience; or certification as a Laboratory Animal Technologist by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.  Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience. Maintains a valid state driver’s license.

Prefer HS degree or higher with at least 5 years’ experience with research animal care at a research institution or other appropriate environment. AALAS LATG certification at time of hire or within 12 months of hire.