Summary

The responsibilities of Facility Support Specialist include, but are not limited to the following: direct supervision and training of the Facility Support Technicians (I and II) assigned to the area, assuring that the facility maintains quality control standards, including microbiological monitoring and that all performance goals established for the areas are met daily; assures that clean caging, nonhuman primate chairs and supplies are provided on a daily basis to each animal holding floor to maintain established cage changing schedules; receives all incoming animal shipments and CAF supplies, establishes inventory controls on all supplies and maintains an accurate and complete inventory on all facility supplies on a weekly basis; provides routine ordering of facility supplies; assures all preventive maintenance on cage wash equipment is completed as scheduled.

Requirements

• Must have prior experience in supervisory and/or training roles in a laboratory animal facility.
• Literate in written and spoken English.
• Real ID Driver’s License
• American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification at the Assistant laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) level.
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Good interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Ability to cooperate with co-workers and function productively with others in accomplishing assigned tasks.
• A working knowledge in quality assurance, inventory control, supply and receiving, cage wash equipment, caging systems, types of bedding, sanitation procedures, autoclaving procedures and material handling is also required.
• Ability to follow through on instructions.

Duties:

Work Assignments are based on work requirements to meet the contract needs, which may include the following duties:

• Adhere to established Bldg 49 SOPs
• Supervise and train the staff assigned to their floor
• Assist the Project Management in coordinating husbandry and cage changing requirements between floors within their area
• Plan and control of staff resources on the floor or area to assure coverage of all tasks, perform quality assurance inspections
• Schedule, perform, and document activities necessary to accomplish task/work assignments.
• Establish liaison/communications with all sections to facilitate responsiveness.
• Adhere to security procedures and confidentiality requirements.
• Distribute, store and inventory of all CAF facility supplies, feed and bedding.
• Ensure areas and equipment are clean/sanitize
• Monitor the performance of all subordinate personnel, praising quality performance, or providing counseling or additional training/supervision for individuals with deficient performance, to maintain a high level of quality service.
• Assure accurate inventory reports and adequate inventories are maintained of routinely used items.
• Identify and report potential problem areas with personnel, equipment, or facilities.
• Support/comply with the QA/QC and Training programs
• Maintain a current knowledge of existing and proposed laws, regulations, and guidelines affecting the care and use of animals.
• Communicate in English (both oral and written form) and demonstrate use of good leadership, team building and management skills
• Assist Sr. FSS Team Leader in meeting contractual obligations and confer with Task Project Officer as needed.
• Ensure delivery of supplies and newly arrived animals throughout the facility and report receipt of all CAF supplies making notations of any discrepancies.
• Ensure collection of dry waste, MPW boxes and glassware boxes from the “B” utility corridor
• Ensure cleaning, sanitation and/or sterilization of all cages, racks, caging accessories, equipment, nonhuman primate test chairs and boxes, and cage wash area.
• Collection of samples for microbiological monitoring of cages, racks, caging accessories, feed, bedding, autoclave and cage wash area.
• Ensure dumping and proper disposal of animal waste
• Operation of tunnel washers, rack washers, autoclaves, bottle fillers, waste disposal system, central proportioner and other sanitation equipment
• Routine cleaning and basic preventive maintenance on cage wash and Tunnel wash machines, autoclaves, waste disposal system, water bottle fillers, rack flushing stations and central proportioners, flatbeds, hand trucks, and carts
• Ensure preparation of complete “clean” rodent cage setups with water (sterile, RO, etc.) and autoclaved feed and bedding, and large animal cages and pans with clean bedding, absorbents or filters
• Sterilization of caging, MPW waste, feed, bedding, and water
• Transporting dirty cages/racks from the floors and providing clean cages/racks to the floors
• Documentation of cage wash water temperature and pH, central proportioner, sanitation procedures and autoclave cycles
• Perform routine water monitoring and perform routine minor maintenance and repair of equipment, i.e. carts, rodent racks, including periodic lubrication of casters.
• Perform minor preventative maintenance on rack/tunnel washers, autoclaves, and water
• Other duties as assigned
• Ensure staff is present at their assigned area on time.
• Inspect all rooms and common areas for damage equipment and abnormal environmental parameters.
• Ensure all personnel in your area are wearing proper PPE.
• Ensure special husbandry request for food and/or water are carried out as directed.
• Ensure caging is processed in accordance with establish Bldg 49 SOPs.

Hours:

 Basic workweek of forty (40) hours per week with the start and the end of the workday dependent on the contract requirements of the workplace.  Hours dictated by the institutional research schedule, weekend and holiday work maybe required. Must be reliable in attendance to ensure animals receive appropriate level of care. Potential for call-in to assist facility or animal health related emergencies.

Physical Requirements:

Lifting/Moving Requirements:

Light work; lifting to 50 pounds occasionally; repetitive lifting/manipulation of up to 10 pounds, applying up to 10 pounds constantly to move/roll objects.

Environmental Conditions:

Work may require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in these facilities.  Cage wash areas may be prone to hot and humid conditions, and subject to objectionable odors, aerosols, dust, animal dander, and noise.