PRIORITY ONE SERVICES, INC.

BLDG 49 ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN II

Summary

The Animal Health Technician II will provide surgical, technical, and clinical support services under the direction of the Senior Animal Health Team Leader or respective Animal Health Technician III. They must demonstrate a working knowledge of veterinary science and technology (e.g., first aid response, pharmacy and pharmacology, treatment, and examination) as well as technical experience and competency in surgical nursing, preparation and assisting, anesthesiology, nursing, laboratory procedures and radiology Experience should be related to the species housed in the Building 49 CAF.  Animal Health Technician II will assist the Animal Health Leaders in providing all animal health services.

Requirements

Preferred personnel be certified by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) as a Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG). Qualifications as a Licensed Veterinary Technician, Military Animal Care Specialist (91T), or degrees in veterinary medicine/science will be considered but individuals will be eligible to obtain certification at the LATG level within 2-4 years. Work experience must include four years’ experience in laboratory animal facilities.  Experience must be related to the species housed in the Building 49 CAF (e.g., Rodents, Rabbits, 13-lined Ground Squirrels, Zebrafish, Sand Rats, Swine, and Non-Human Primates). Formal education shall include a minimum of a high school diploma or GED equivalent with working knowledge computers and associated software (e.g., WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Electronic Mail).

Duties

• Adhere to established Bldg 49 Standard Operating Procedures.
• Work tactfully and effectively with Co-Workers and Laboratory Staff.
• Routine animal health surveillance and/or assessment of sick animals.
• Routine veterinary care/support and treatments as prescribed by the Veterinary Staff.
• Maintains permanent animal health records and reports.
• Diagnostic support to include sample collection and preparation (e.g., blood, serum, tissue, etc.), fecal analysis, hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis, radiology, and dental prophylaxis.
• Work under ABS Level I and II conditions.
• Anesthesia support to include induction, maintenance, and recovery of animals.
• Surgical support to include instrument preparation and sterilization, animal preparation, sterile and non-sterile scrub assistants for the support of aseptic surgeries.
• Environmental enrichment activities.
• Sanitation of surgical rooms and support areas.
• Radiation monitoring of posted rooms and/or areas within the CAF.
• Routine preventive maintenance of all surgical support equipment (e.g., intensive care units, anesthesia machines, etc.).
• Perform technical procedures including but not limited to routine injections, blood collection, tumor observations, weighing of animals, and implantation of subcutaneous transponders.
• Pre-procedural food and/or water restriction of animals.
• Routine serology screening for rodent surveillance and quarantine rooms.
• Identify and report potential problem areas with personnel, equipment, or facilities.
• Operate a computer to enter animal related data. Use of Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Food/waterlogs- email out an issues/follow up.
• Perform Rabbit PE/weights (bi-monthly)
• Perform Ground squirrel physicals (monthly)
• Perform Swine physicals (monthly)
• Assist Animal Health Team Leaders in meeting contractual obligations and deliverables.
• Other duties as assigned.

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. Potential to provide weekend coverage if there is short staffing and unable to find replacements. 

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:

Customarily performs animal care, research management and administration duties in an environmentally controlled work area.  However, technical and management duties may be performed in an animal care vivarium, barrier facility, surgical or test procedure laboratory, animal housing/bedding cleaning and processing areas. Work may require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in these facilities.  Laboratory environment and/or animal care work areas may be prone to hot and humid conditions, and subject to objectionable odors, aerosols, dust, animal dander, and noise. 

Acknowledgement: Signing below acknowledges that you have reviewed this job description to perform the assigned functions of the employment responsibilities with Priority One Services.