The Laboratory Animal (LAR) group at Princeton University is a centralized administrative department reporting to the Office of the Dean for Research and is responsible for animal and veterinary care of all research animals at Princeton University. The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Technician provides state-of-the-art animal care and transport for laboratory animals. The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Technician oversees the functions of the cage wash operations and transport duties for LAR. The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Technician is considered essential services staff.
The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Technician is responsible for maintaining and coordinating the delivery of adequate supplies of food, caging, and bedding materials including personal protective equipment (PPE) for LAR facilities. He/she will work together with other LAR technicians according to a schedule prepared by the Facilities Manager and must be willing and able to rotate through all LAR facilities to support essential functions of the program. The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Technician pursues and improves methods of animal husbandry and resource utilization. He/she ensures the highest quality of laboratory animal care and research support, and has good communication skills with co-workers, management team, PI’s, research staff, students, facility maintenance crews and other support services. The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Technician will cross train and provide absentee support for other animal care technicians for our facilities. He/she will be willing to rotate with other animal care technicians for week night, weekend and holiday coverage as needed. This position reports directly to the Facility Manager.
The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Technician pursues and improves methods of animal husbandry, cage wash and transport operations. He/she will oversee and coordinate the LAR transportation fleet.
Drive and operate trucks and vans on and off campus sites within strict deadlines while maintaining safe driving practices. Ensure completion and verification of bill of laden and paperwork required for transport documentation.
Inspect trucks for mechanical items and safety issues. Responsible for basic vehicle maintenance.
Clean and sanitize trucks between deliveries as needed; according to standard operating procedures.
Follow instructions and read road maps. Drive up to 100 miles in a day.
The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Technician is responsible for maintaining adequate supplies of food, caging, and bedding materials including Personal Protective Equipment - making sure that all internal research supplies are ordered, stocked, and in compliance as it relates to expirations, dated, and properly tagged for accreditation purposes.
Provides animal care for all species housed according to specified Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) including sanitizing all supplies (cages, water bottles, food bins and other animal care related equipment). Operated cage wash machinery, ventilated caging, water system, bedding dispensing units, full size to table top autoclaves and other equipment while following safety procedures.
Oversight of the LAR centralized cage wash operations. Ensure supplies are properly organized, staged and prepared for transport.
The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Technician will assist in cross training all new and existing animal care technicians and provide absentee support for other animal care technicians for their facility.
The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Technician will work together with other animal care technicians according to a schedule prepared by the Facilities Manager and must be willing and able to rotate through all LAR facilities to ensure daily operational efficacy and fulfillment of duties.
The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Technician is willing to rotate with other animal care technicians for week night, weekend and holiday coverage as needed.
The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Care Technician will carry the LAR phone with them during work hours and respond to all inquiries from management, staff, business office, veterinarian technicians, and vendor/animal deliveries.
The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Care Technician will assist management with dynamic scheduling if someone calls out sick (single days).
The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Care Technician will be responsible for fixing Avidity issues during work hours and after work hours on a rotational on-call schedule.
The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Care Technician will communicate with LAR management for work orders and vendor repair calls.
He/she ensures the highest quality of laboratory animal care and research support, and has good communication skills with co-workers, management team, PI’s, research staff, students, facility maintenance crews and other support services.
The Logistics and Cage Wash Lead Animal Care Technician is responsible for ensuring that communication and understanding is occurring amongst the technicians for their facility. This will include reviewing LAR emails and posting critical information in the lunch/break area/office area.
Essential services staff perform jobs that are necessary and required to maintain basic University operations. Work attendance during scheduled or unscheduled work closures due to emergencies, events or other situations. Must have the ability to work weekends and holidays when scheduled by the supervisor.
Comply with all safe work practices, policies, and processes at all times.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
-Basic knowledge of biology and behavior of laboratory animal species.
-Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a laboratory animal resources team and ability to share husbandry knowledge with other animal care staff, students and new researchers.
-Proven ability to work independently and communicate well with different levels within the organization, and work well with a diverse team for a common goal consistent with the mission of the Laboratory Animal Resources Department.
-Knowledge of federal, state and local Animal Welfare legislation and sound judgment ON how to balance optimal animal care, research goals, and regulatory compliance.
-Ability to handle assignments and changing priorities as circumstances may dictate.
-Excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate well person to person as well as per E-mail.
-Ability to use Microsoft Office Applications including Outlook and other software applications used in animal research and compliance such as ELECTRONIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS and AVIDITY's Watchdog.
Minimum Qualifications:
-High school Diploma or GED.
-Must achieve AALAS certification at the LAT level (and /or a veterinary technician license in at least one US state) within the first year of employment and keep current through ongoing professional development in animal husbandry, equipment, caging, and related topics in laboratory animal science through active participation in local and national professional organizations.
-Valid driver's license. Must have the ability to drive trucks and vans. Expected to exercise safe drive practices at all times. Knowledge of traffic laws and DOT regulations.
-Willing and able to work safely with biological and chemical hazards and able to lift A minimum OF 50 POUNDS.
-Pallet jack experience required; forklift experience preferred.
-Clean driving record.
-No DUI/DWI convictions.
-Must be honest, accurate, and capable of making simple arithmetic calculations.
The following tasks and skills that would be necessary for any person to fulfill while working as an Animal Cage Washer in Laboratory Animal Resources:
stand or walk continuously up to 6 hours per day;
sit for up to 2 hours per day;
lift or carry up to 20 pounds frequently (34-66% of the day) and up to 50 pounds occasionally (less than 33% day);
push or pull using forces up to 50 pounds frequently (34 – 66% of the work day);
use hands for simple grasping, pushing or pulling, and fine manipulations constantly (more than 66% of the day);
kneel, bend, squat, reach overhead, lift overhead, or push or pull frequently (34 – 66 % of the work day);
knee stand, crawl, or climb step stools or 6-foot stepladders occasionally (less than 33% of the workday);
lift up to 50 pounds in a range of motions from floor to waist height;
lift up to 20 pounds in a range of motions from floor to overhead;
work in a controlled laboratory environment under a variety of temperature and humidity conditions;
possess ability to maintain balance, a full range of body motions, and physical agility.
Preferred Qualifications:
-B.A/B.S. degree in an animal related field.
-Ability to handle assignments and changing priorities as circumstances may arise.
-Excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate well person to person as well as email.
-Ability to organize tasks with the ability to meet strict and multiple deadlines.
Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS