Job Description
The University of Tennessee Knoxville is seeking a dedicated Laboratory Animal Technician to join our team. This position involves daily animal care for a variety of species, cage cleaning and preparation, and facility cleaning and maintenance. The successful candidate will work closely with the manager, other lab animal technicians, student assistants, faculty, research staff, and veterinary staff to provide the highest quality services and humane care for all animals used in support of UTK’s research programs.

Responsibilities
Provide routine daily husbandry, including health observations, provision of food, water, and enrichment, and cage changes for a variety of species
Perform animal health and welfare observations, record and report as necessary
Assist with breeding tasks such as identifying new litters, sexing, and weaning
Clean, wash, and disinfect animal rooms and cages
Assemble and prepare animal cages, racks, and related equipment for cage change outs or newly arriving animals according to instructions
Maintain clean, orderly, and sanitized work areas on a regular basis and document all tasks as required
Maintain all required records with accuracy (e.g., census, sanitation, environmental monitoring, enrichment, and cage card animal identification)
Maintain supply stock at both room and facility levels
Operate and maintain various types of equipment including cage washers, autoclaves, foggers, and biosafety cabinets
Collect and dispose of waste and hazardous material according to established procedures
Work in all areas of the facility to include specialized areas such as immunocompromised, quarantine, and areas with biological and chemical hazards
Perform all duties in compliance with facility regulations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), UTK policies, and local, state, and federal laws governing the use of research animals
Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Required Qualifications

Education: High School Diploma or GED
Experience: To qualify for hiring at the Lab Animal Technician 2 level, must have 6 months of experience relevant to the work for this position.
Ability to work extended hours beyond normal work schedule to include but not limited to evenings, weekends, holidays, extended or extra shifts, and/or during emergencies or inclement weather, occasionally on short notice
Must be able to work in an often physically demanding and fast-paced environment to include: lift 50 pounds, stand for long periods of time on concrete floor, bend, and pick up items above head and below knees
Must be able to work with chemicals, a variety of animal species, and animal feed and bedding ingredients which could include meat products, corn, soy, peanuts, and hays such as timothy, alfalfa, etc.
Ability to make sound decisions, acknowledge limitations, work independently, and multi-task under stressful conditions
Effective communicator, both oral and written, with the ability to maintain accurate records
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:


Preferred Qualifications

Education: Associate’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree; or vocational or technical training in an animal-related field
Experience: Experience working with animals in a research setting; Assistant laboratory Animal Technician or Laboratory Animal Technician certification from AALAS