Animal Care Technician - Contract - San Diego, CA
Be the hands-on heart of research-ensuring the health, care, and wellbeing of every animal, every day.
Proclinical is seeking an Animal Care Technician 1 to join our client's team in the US. This is an entry-level position responsible for performing essential daily care, husbandry, and welfare checks for research animals in a controlled vivarium environment. This role is fundamental to maintaining high standards of animal welfare and supporting research integrity by ensuring a clean, safe, and compliant facility.
Primary Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will work under direct supervision and strictly adheres to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and regulatory guidelines.
Skills & Requirements:
- Associate diploma or higher
- 0-2 years of hands-on experience in a laboratory animal facility (vivarium setting), or a relevant combination of experience and education (e.g., veterinary technician experience with relevant lab animal exposure).
- AALAS Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification preferred
- Experience in a vivarium setting or other highly regulated animal facility (e.g., GLP, AAALAC).
- Familiarity with maintaining aseptic techniques and barrier practices.
- Basic understanding of animal welfare and husbandry principles.
- Demonstrated reliability and punctuality, including the ability to participate in required weekend and holiday work rotations.
The Animal Care Technician's responsibilities will be:
Animal Care and Husbandry
- Perform and document daily husbandry for various research animals, primarily rodents, including:
- Changing cages, providing fresh bedding, and enrichment. ? Providing and tracking food and water provision.
- Conduct daily health and welfare observations, promptly reporting any signs of illness, injury, or abnormal behavior to the supervisory and veterinary staff.
- Ensure all animals are properly identified in their assigned housing locations.
- Maintain species-appropriate environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity) and ensure that cages contain proper enrichment.
- Assist with animal receipt and transfers as directed, ensuring accurate cage card information.
- Perform basic animal handling and restraint techniques for routine procedures.
Vivarium Operations and Sanitation
- Execute room, equipment, and facility sanitation tasks according to SOPs, including:
- Cleaning and sanitation of primary and secondary enclosures.
- Disposing of waste following established biosecurity protocols.
- Operate and clean basic vivarium equipment, such as Animal Transfer Stations, Biosafety Cabinets, and Animal Racks.
- Maintain inventory and stock animal care supplies (e.g., bedding, enrichment, feed) in designated areas.
- Adhere strictly to biosafety and biosecurity procedures, including the use of required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and maintaining proper traffic flow within the barrier facility.
Documentation and Compliance
- Accurately complete and maintain all required documentation, including daily husbandry checklists, health logs, and environmental monitoring records, using paper and/or electronic systems.
- Follow all Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)-approved protocols, SOPs, and institutional guidelines related to animal care and handling.
- Identify and report any potential deviations from SOPs or regulatory requirements to supervisory staff.
Compensation:
If you are having difficulty in applying or if you have any questions, please contact Shannon Briggs at s.briggs@proclinical.com.
If you are interested in applying to this exciting opportunity, then please click 'Apply' or to speak to one of our specialists please request a call back at the top of this page.
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