Animal Care Technician Jobs in Connecticut

INTRODUCTION

Excellence, Teamwork, Leadership, and Innovation. These are the values that define UConn Health. We are looking for team members that share these same values. Our top-rated organization is looking to add an Animal Care Technician to our growing team. If you have a background in this field, we want to hear from you.

At UConn Health located in Farmington, CT, this class is accountable for independently performing the full range of tasks involved in the care of various species of laboratory animals and their environment. This position will work in the Center for Comparative Medicine and includes rotating to the animal care washroom.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of an Animal Care Supervisor or other employee of higher grade.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

May lead lower-level laboratory personnel or students as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Feeds and waters animals
• Cleans and sanitizes cages, animal rooms and related environment as necessary
• Performs routine physical examinations and laboratory tests and special handling techniques for researchers as required
• Assesses the status of animal shipments including identity, number of individuals, weight, health, etc.
• Administers medications and gives injections under supervision
• Identifies animals as to sex, species or strain
• Provides support during surgical and experimental procedures
• Observes and collects animal facilities operation data for accurate reports and required records
• Reports findings to appropriate department staff
• May breed and wean animals
• Performs related duties as required

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY:

• Knowledge of animal care requirements, including animal facilities and husbandry regulations and basic animal disease problems and prevention techniques
• Some interpersonal skills
• Some oral and written communication skills
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions
• Ability to utilize computer software
• Manual dexterity and physical ability sufficient for handling animals, feeds, supplies and equipment

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

General Experience:

• A high school diploma or possession of a General Educational Development (GED) diploma
• One (1) year of animal care experience directly related to the maintenance of the health and wellbeing of laboratory animals to include care, use, handling, and/or treatment of laboratory animals.

SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED:

• Certification by the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science at the level of Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician may be substituted for the General Experience.
• Two (2) years of animal care experience directly related to the maintenance of the health and wellbeing of laboratory animals to include care, use, handling and/or treatment of laboratory animals.
• A college degree of two (2) or more years and one-half (1/2) year of animal care experience directly related to the maintenance of health and wellbeing of laboratory animals to include care, use, handling and/or treatment of laboratory animals.

Physical Requirements:

• Incumbents in this class must have adequate physical strength, stamina, physical agility and visual and auditory acuity, and must maintain such physical fitness as to be able to perform the duties.
• A physical examination may be required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift moderate to heavy weights; may be exposed to communicable diseases, hazardous substances and to risk of injury from animals.

SCHEDULE: Full time, 37.5-hour work week, Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, 30-minute unpaid meal break, rotating weekends and holidays, overtime as needed to accommodate departmental needs.

Why UConn Health

UConn Health is a vibrant, integrated academic medical center that is entering an era of unprecedented growth in all three areas of its mission: academics, research, and clinical care. A commitment to human health and well-being has been of utmost importance to UConn Health since the founding of the University of Connecticut schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine in 1961. Based on a strong foundation of groundbreaking research, first-rate education, and quality clinical care, we have expanded our medical missions over the decades. In just over 50 years, UConn Health has evolved to encompass more research endeavors, to provide more ways to access our superior care, and to innovate both practical medicine and our methods of educating the practitioners of tomorrow.

Additional Links:

This position is Benefit eligible; click here for an overview of available benefits.
This position is covered by the NP-2 Maintenance & Services Bargaining Unit; click here to review the current NP-2 Contract.
This position is in salary group TC-13; click here to review the current NP-2 TC Pay Plan.