Animal Care Technician

Clark Science Center Administration Job Description

Job Summary

An entry level position providing for vivarium maintenance and for the daily care of animals housed under the Smith College Institutional Animal Care and Use Program. The position reports to the Animal Care Facility Manager.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

• Ability to care for multiple species (e.g. rodents, aquatics, live feeds)
• Assist research staff as needed
• Observe, record, and report atypical findings of the environment, physical plant, and animal health or behavior. These observations are to include but are not limited to sick animals, maintenance problems, safety hazards, inappropriate treatment of animals
• Perform animal husbandry duties; e.g., feeding, watering, cage/pen cleaning as described in departmental policies or procedures
• Perform scheduled sanitizing of facilities and equipment as described in departmental policies or procedures
• Restraint and sexing of laboratory animals
• Recordkeeping; e.g., census, sanitation, enrichment, feeding, equipment maintenance.
• Provide preventative and clinical care to colonies as directed
• Operate and perform routine maintenance and repairs on facility equipment (rack washer, autoclaves, and bio-safety cabinets / clean bench hoods, etc.)
• Receive and stock supplies and notify when ordering is required
• Remove and dispose of all waste.
• Perform other related duties as required

All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

• HS diploma or GED plus 2 years of animal husbandry experience
• ALAT certification plus HS diploma/GED, or college or higher degree plus 6 months of lab animal experience
• ALAT certification without HS diploma/GED, or any college degree plus 1 year of lab animal experience
• Certification of good health signed by a licensed physician
• Absence of allergic reactions to animals, feeds or bedding;
• Must be willing to seek certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) within 1 year of hire.
• Must complete continuing education and institutional trainings as assigned
• Ability to safely lift and carry up to fifty pounds (50 lbs.)

Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Skills

• Organizational skills and attention to detail
• Effective oral and written communication skills; basic computer skills
• Ability to interact professionally with all employees, students, and outside visitors
• Must be able to work effectively and harmoniously as part of a team

Additional Information

Forty hours per week; Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. Holidays and reduced staff coverage as needed. This position is contingent on continued annual funding through the Clark Science Center.

Please attach BOTH a current resume and a cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position . You may combine your resume and cover letter into a single file or attach multiple files to your application, but BE SURE you have provided all attachments BEFORE SUBMITTING your application. You will NOT be able to attach additional files after you have hit the Submit button.

Review of applications will begin

February 26, 2021

Compensation Grade:

Grade 263 6a

Position Type:

Regular

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Smith College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.