Laboratory Animal Care Technician II- Ranch - Inotiv

We are seeking an Animal Care Technician to join our dynamic team! This position will focus on overall animal care and welfare, production and selection for customer orders, facility upkeep and recordkeeping and procedural duties at our Big Horn Ranch site. The person in this role will need to feel passionate about working with animals, enjoy and excel at organization, and support and maintain a clean, safe and compliant working environment.  We are seeking someone that is hardworking, shows attention to detail, takes initiative, has a teamwork mentality and positive attitude.

This position is located in Livermore, CO. 

1. Animal Husbandry:.

• Perform routine husbandry for a variety of animal species, primarily maintaining sheep colony. As needed will provide husbandry to additional study animal species including but not limited to pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, rats and mice.The following duties will be performed according to SOPs, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the USDA Animal Welfare Act.
• Provide food and water, may include special diets as required by study protocol
• Cleaning and sanitation of animal caging, accessories, runs, and rooms
• Perform general room cleaning procedures
• Monitor cage change station filters and clean or change as needed
• Perform animal husbandry sanitization monitoring and water monitoring
• Perform daily observations of the animals and their pens/cages to assure the well-being, health, safety, and husbandry and sanitation is adequate
• Monitor temperature and humidity, promptly report any out of range readings to facility manager or supervisor, and continue to monitor progress until resolved
• General facility cleaning such as sweeping and mopping corridors and general work areas outside of animal rooms
• Maintain in-date animal feed and bedding storage and complete appropriate acquisition and use records
• Assure proper documentation for all procedures
• Ensure proper animal enrichment is in place
• Perform pest monitoring for rodents and insects

1. Clinical observations and treatments:

• Perform observations for study and colony animals, including daily health observations, clinical observations, post-op surgical observations, pre- and post-dose administration observations, and treatment observations
• Maintain proper documentation in the electronic data collection system or paper records as needed including study procedures
• Enter medical records including morbidity or mortality reports, notify veterinarian, enter appropriate follow up records and administer treatments as necessary and trained
• Administer treatments as necessary and as trained

1. Animal Receiving and Transportation:

• Perform animal receiving procedures including preparation of cage cards, perform physical exams, and completion of animal receipt records
• Ensure animals have adequate space, safe and secure housing, and appropriate enrichment
• Provide animal transportation for acquisition and disposal as needed

1. In-life study conduct:

• Study protocol and notebook review prior to study initiation, as applicable
• Assist with in-life study conduct procedures and raw data collection, as described in the study protocol and defined by SOPs, including but not limited to fasting of animals and clinical observations
• Dose animals by a variety of routes of administration including but not limited to: ocular, oral capsule, oral gavage, dermal, SC, and IM
• Collect biological samples (including but not limited to: blood, urine, or feces)
• Process biological samples
• Collect body or feed/water consumption weights

1. Animal Care and Facility Support:

• Support for the following activities may be included in job responsibilities;
• Review animal care facility documentation to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Assist with animal acquisition support helping with determining space availability, availability of caging, and providing advisement regarding space constraints
• Performing weekly animal census
• Monitoring for temperature and humidity deviations and reporting HVAC issues to manager
• Perform emergency generator performance checks
• Ensuring proper equipment maintenance and recordkeeping for animal facility equipment

Minimum Requirements

• High School diploma or GED
• AALAS Certification or commitment to attaining certification within 18 months of start date.
• Willingness to participate in continual training opportunities 
• Reliable transporation 

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate or higher degree in animal science or related field
• Two years of lab animal experience or equivalent field experience
• Animal handling experience

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to operate typical farm and mechanical equipment (tractor/loader, skid steer, trucks with stock or dump trailers, etc.) Must be able to back truck and trailers (bumper pull or goose neck hitch). 
• Good organizational skills and detail oriented. Plans and prioritizes work, manages time appropriately to meet deadlines. Deals with pressure and deadlines through good planning.
• Actively supports and contributes to the success of the team. Actively encourages and practices collaboration and cooperation.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas clearly and articulately both in oral and written form. Anticipates the information that others need. Practices attentive and active listening.
• Must possess internal drive toward action to achieve results efficiently, timely and accurately.
• Takes responsibility for own time and effectiveness. Identifies what needs done and does it before being asked or before the situation requires it. Seeks opportunities to contribute appropriately without direction.
• Exhibits accuracy and adaptability performing laboratory operations, some of which may be difficult and/or non-routine.
• Proficient in the use of a computer to compile and maintain simple data, spreadsheets, checklists and reports for records and inventory, utilizing the appropriate software.
• Exhibits an aptitude for quality, an eye for detail, the ability to follow written instructions and work with a minimum of supervision

Physical Activity & Working Conditions

• Ability to regularly lift up to 50 pounds and move heavy equipment in a safe manner
• Ability to stand and move (e.g., walk, bend, reach, lift, crouch, push, pull, lift.) throughout an entire work shift
• Ability to perform, observe, and audit necropsy, surgical, and medical procedures
• Manual dexterity (e.g., feeling, grasping, fingering, repetitive motion) to operate necessary equipment and perform essential tasks outlined in position description
• Required to have close visual acuity (e.g., preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small parts) and depth perception (with or without glasses/contacts)
• Required utilization of provided personal protection equipment (PPE)
• Occasional exposure to potential hazards such as hot water, steam, mechanical equipment, biological substances, loud noise, odors, chemicals, and to range of outdoor weather conditions
• Regular on-site attendance as scheduled by management
  

*This position could be offered at different levels for candidates who qualify with a combination of advanced levels of education and/or years of experience.  The salary range will adjust along with the level of the role to match the person’s relevant experience and/or education level. This is a nonexempt role paying $19.00-24.00/hr based on experience and qualifications. 

Inotiv is a growing contemporary drug discovery and development company where we “Play to Win” in an industry rich with opportunity.  Together, we face challenges and together we win in the delivery of world-class drug discovery and development solutions that impact the health and well-being of people all over the world.  There’s an opportunity for everyone at all phases of a career, each individual’s unique skill set has an impact on the work we conduct. If you have the talent and desire to impact the quality of people’s lives, we have the career opportunities to make it happen.  Join us in embracing research and science to impact the health and well-being of people all over the world.

Inotiv has been named a 2023 Top Workplace!

Salary will be commensurate with experience and responsibilities. Benefits include health and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability, paid time off, paid parental leave, 401K, and more!

Inotiv is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide a fair and equal employment opportunity to all persons, regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination and access to benefits and training.

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