Animal Care Training Specialist

The Division of Laboratory and Animal Resources (DLAR) is seeking an Animal Care Training Specialist who will be responsible for providing hands-on animal husbandry training. The candidate will train DLAR and research personnel on species specific animal care, welfare, and common veterinary procedures consistent with DLAR business needs, institutional practices and standards and regulatory requirements.

Besides performing training, the Animal Care Training Specialist will also help develop, revise, and maintain training materials which utilize a combination of instructor-led, computer based, and interactive training methods to support the needs of the program. They will also be required to document and update employee files.

The successful candidate must demonstrate effective teaching techniques as well as professional and positive verbal, written, interpersonal and customer service skills. The Animal Care Training Specialist must have excellent time and process management skills. They must be available to work occasional weekends and holidays, stand for extended periods of time, lift 50 pounds, push/pull heavy equipment, pass the mandatory criminal and social background checks, and possibly Child Protection Clearances. Vaccinations and/or TB testing may be required.

Provides hands-on, training regarding the care and use of animals in research, to personnel consistent with business needs, institutional practices and standards, and regulatory requirements. Develops educational training materials across a variety of mediums.

The employee must be able to:
• read, understand, and follow DLAR and other institutional guidance documents (SOPs, policies), including IACUC approved animal protocols when applicable;
• follow written and verbal instructions;
• have sufficient visual and hearing acuity to recognize and identify normal and abnormal species-specific clinical appearances and behavior patterns, safely handle and restrain the animal species involved with his/her duties, and operate and maintain facility equipment and supplies utilized in the provision of animal husbandry and care and in the cagewash areas;
• wear facility specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required by the job duties based on risk assessment from EH&S;
• work directly with live or dead animals and clean or soiled bedding and caging with reasonable accommodations if necessary;
• accurately and legibly document written information in English in a timely manner, including electronic formats and applications (e.g., PRISM, CAMS);
• effective written and verbal communication in English, including the use of email;
• receive vaccinations and health assessments, including TB testing, required to work in some animal holding or procedure areas in accordance with DLAR and/or EH&S policies and practices.

The employee must be able to:
• stand for extended periods of time throughout the majority of the work day;
• lift and move objects weighing up to 50 pounds including but not limited to caging and equipment, bags or boxes of animal diet and animal bedding, and operate flatbed hand trucks or pallet jacks to move heavier objects or weights exceeding 50 pounds;
• perform repetitive motion tasks that involve pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting and/or bending;
• physically handle and restrain a variety of small and large laboratory animals;
• negotiate and navigate around animal facility caging, equipment, and the physical plant.
• ability to wear personal protection equipment (PPE) appropriate for the species, animal housing conditions, or work area.
• must be able to stand for extended periods of time, lift 50 pounds and push/pull heavy equipment.