Animal Care Technician-D

Vassar College

Animal Care Technician-D

Department: Animal Resources
Duration of Position: Full year / Full time
Work Schedule:
Employee Type: Staff
Posting Date: 05/03/2022
Union Representation: CWA
Posting Number: AS215P
Pay Rate: $23.23 per hour

About Vassar College
Located in the scenic Mid-Hudson Valley, Vassar College is a highly selective, residential, coeducational liberal arts college. Vassar is deeply committed to fostering a community that reflects the values of a liberal arts education and to promoting an environment of equality, diversity and inclusiveness. Vassar seeks to create a pluralistic community for all staff, faculty and students. Vassar College is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity employer, and applications from women, individuals with disabilities and members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged.Vassar College is a smoke-free, tobacco-free campus.Note: Vassar College has a universal vaccination policy requiring a COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster, for all employees except for those exempt for medical or religious reasons.

Position Summary and Responsibilities
The Animal Care Technician (ACT) is the highest staff level position in the facility. This position functions under minimal guidance/supervision of the Animal Resources Program Facility Manager to perform functions in support of husbandry operations in accordance with federal, state and local regulations, guidelines and policies on the use of laboratory animals. This position may include rotational assignment to various animals and/or support areas. In addition, this position functions as a member of a work team, actively promotes a team-oriented work environment, and will be expected to lead and train others in completing daily animal care.

Position responsibilities:

• Assist with training of the ACS.
• Work together with facility manager on establishing workflow, staff's schedule, coverage when someone on staff is out ill or on holiday, monitors work of the staff to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures.
• The ACT, in conjunction with the staff, performs husbandry and cage wash duties, is responsible for maintaining animal colonies, feeding, cleaning, breeding, weaning, separating and record keeping.
• Along with the staff, the ACT will monitor health status of animals reporting changes of health status to facility manager and veterinarian as per vet directive or personal investigator's requests when working in the facility. The ACT will also assist with inspections of rooms, equipment, animal food, bedding, enrichment and environmental parameters in maintaining the facility inspection ready at all times.
• The ACT will communicate with animal users and facility operations personnel in the absence of the facility manager.
• Assist in ordering and maintaining adequate inventory of feed, bedding and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Assist with troubleshooting and maintaining equipment used to support husbandry, organize preventative maintenance and repairs, follow up with work order placed to make sure issues are addressed in a timely manner.
• Assist with maintaining records for the facility, including cage cards, training documents, IACUC protocols and inspection documents. This work includes update standard operating procedures for technicians and animal users.

Qualifications
Required skills and experience:

• Previous work experience and deep knowledge of animal husbandry and animal care.
• Acceptable work experience include the care, use, handling, and/or treatment of laboratory animals, surgical or necropsy activities, or cage wash operations. Clinical pathology, quality assurance, and procurement.

Education/Certification:

• B.S. in Animal Science or equivalent
• ALAT, LAT and LATG certification

Special Instructions to Applicants
To complete your on-line application, you will be required to attach your resume, cover letter, and contact information for 3 professional references. All attachments must be in PDF format. Review of applications will begin immediately. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources, 845-437-5820.

For full consideration applicants should apply by:

All applicants must apply online at: https://employment.vassar.edu/postings/2817.

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