Entry Level Animal Care Associate Jobs
New grad animal care associate jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where hands-on internship work or volunteer time with animals can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Education, Animal Care & Pet Services, and Science & Research, with employers like Emory University, VCA Animal Hospitals, and Charles River Laboratories hiring at this level now.
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The ideal candidate should be highly motivated, extremely dependable, reliable, detail-oriented, and possess a positive attitude and passion for animal care in a research environment. The Animal Care Technician will be a team player who is willing to learn on the job and collaborate with coworkers and other departments at the facility. The Animal Care Technician will work to ensure the highest quality of husbandry and care. Efficient and effective communication skills with co-workers, the management team, PIs, research staff, students, and other support services are also required.
Collaborate. Innovate. Serve. These three simple words capture what we do at ENBRC to help advance science and improve the health and well-being of humans and non-human primates. If you are someone with animal care experience who is familiar with standard policies and practices associated with providing humane and compassionate care to animals in a biomedical research setting, this is an amazing opportunity to indirectly save and change lives and make a positive impact in the science and research community.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Performs routine duties associated with animal care in a research setting.
- Prepares food and feeds animals, maintains sanitary conditions, observes animal conditions and behavior, and collects animal specimens.
- May assist in animal restraint, maintaining animal housing and minor cage maintenance.
- Performs related responsibilities as required.
- Employees in this classification may be required to work with, take specific precautions against, and/or be immunized against potentially hazardous agents.
- A high school diploma or equivalent and six-months (fulltime) of animal husbandry or related animal care experience OR one year of animal husbandry experience in a laboratory animal facility.
- The ability to lift up to 75 pounds.
- Positions in this classification may require a valid Georgia driver's license and an insurable driving record.
- Excellent interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills.
- Previous animal care experience.
- AALAS certification.
- Collaborative and team spirited.
- Work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, alternating weekends and Holidays.
- Outdoor work environment and outdoor hazards (weather conditions and insects, for example).
- Work environment involves working with biohazardous blood and tissues.
- Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions.
- Work is normally performed in a typical laboratory environment.
- Requires the ability to bend, kneel, and/or squat.
- Requires significant walking.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING STATEMENT:
NOTE: Position tasks are required to be performed in-person at an Emory University location; working remote is not an option. Emory reserves the right to change this status with notice to employee.
Emory University is committed to ensuring equal access and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to seek a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Department of Accessibility Services at accessibility@emory.edu or call 404-727-9877 (Voice) | 404-712-2049 (TDD). We kindly ask that requests be made at least seven business days in advance to allow adequate time for coordination.
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Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Animal Care & Pet Services
- Science & Research
Entry Level Animal Care Associate Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level animal care associate job?
Start by gaining hands-on experience through volunteer shifts at a local shelter, humane society, or veterinary clinic, since most employers at this level value direct animal handling over formal credentials. A certificate in animal care or veterinary assisting strengthens your application. Highlight any experience with feeding, cleaning, restraint, or health monitoring, and tailor your resume to show comfort working with a range of species.
Which companies hire entry level animal care associates?
Companies hiring entry level animal care associates right now include Emory University, VCA Animal Hospitals, and Charles River Laboratories, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this experience level, the most active employers tend to be animal shelters, veterinary practices, zoos, aquariums, and pet care chains that regularly onboard candidates with limited formal experience.
Are there remote entry level animal care associate jobs?
Yes, though most animal care associate roles are hands-on and on-site by nature. About 13% of entry level animal care associate openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions typically involve coordination, client communication, or administrative support rather than direct animal handling. On-site openings remain the dominant format at this level.
Are these new grad animal care associate jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior animal care associate roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internship or volunteer work in place of full-time history, or lists a portfolio of animal handling or care documentation as an acceptable credential. Certifications and practical coursework also count toward meeting entry requirements.
Which industries hire the most entry level animal care associates?
Entry Level animal care associate roles concentrate in Education, Animal Care & Pet Services, and Science & Research, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive consistent entry level hiring because they rely on a rotating pipeline of junior staff to support daily animal feeding, health checks, enclosure maintenance, and client-facing care responsibilities.