Laboratory Animal Caretaker Jobs
Laboratory Animal Caretaker jobs are open across research universities, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and government labs, at every level from entry-level technician to senior animal care specialist, with specializations in rodent husbandry, surgical support, and colony management. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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About the Organization
Hope’s 2nd Chance Animal Sanctuary houses pets of domestic violence survivors while the survivors are either in shelters or looking for a better situation. H2C provides a temporary, safe, loving, and free environment for the pets, so the survivors know their pets are safe and do not have to worry about them while they are bettering their own lives.
We are seeking an experienced, dependable, and compassionate Animal Caretaker who understands that healing begins with safety, consistency, and trust.
Position Summary
This is not an entry-level animal care position. The Animal Caretaker & Facility Maintenance Assistant role is designed for individuals with prior hands-on experience working with animals displaying fear, anxiety, reactivity, trauma responses, or behavioral challenges. The ideal candidate is also comfortable performing general facility maintenance, repairs, and hands-on improvement projects to maintain safe, secure, and functional animal housing environments.
The ideal candidate is calm under pressure, highly observant, committed to confidentiality, and capable of reading and responding appropriately to animal body language and stress signals. This position requires emotional maturity, strong boundaries, practical problem-solving skills, and the ability to work safely and independently on both animal care and facility-related tasks.
Animal Caretakers play a critical role in helping animals decompress, rebuild trust, and prepare for the next stage of their journey. They also help ensure the sanctuary's kennels, buildings, and surrounding property remain safe, clean, durable, and suitable for animals with varying behavioral and physical needs.
Key Responsibilities Animal Care & Welfare
- Provide daily care, including feeding, watering, medication administration as directed, cleaning, enrichment, exercise, and monitoring of animals.
- Observe and document animal behavior, stress levels, appetite, medical concerns, and behavioral changes.
- Safely handle animals with varying temperaments, including fearful, undersocialized, reactive, or trauma-affected pets.
- Utilize low-stress handling techniques and trauma-informed approaches to animal care.
- Implement behavioral management plans and enrichment activities as directed.
- Maintain clean, sanitary, and safe animal living environments.
Behavioral Observation & Safety
- Read and respond appropriately to canine and feline body language and behavioral cues.
- Recognize early signs of fear, overstimulation, anxiety, aggression, or shutdown behaviors.
- Follow safety protocols and proper handling procedures at all times.
- Assist with decompression and transition support for newly admitted animals.
- Communicate concerns promptly regarding medical or behavioral changes.
- Identify potential safety hazards, damaged kennel components, and areas requiring repair or modification to prevent injury or escape.
Facility Maintenance, Repairs & Improvements
- Perform routine maintenance, repairs, and improvement projects throughout animal housing areas, kennels, buildings, and the surrounding property.
- Measure, mark, cut, and prepare materials to the appropriate size for kennel repairs, construction projects, and facility improvements.
- Install, secure, and attach materials within kennels and animal housing areas to improve durability, safety, and functionality.
- Repair holes, damaged panels, chewed materials, and other destruction caused by dogs, using appropriate materials and methods to restore safe, secure environments.
- Prepare and paint kennel floors and other designated surfaces using appropriate products and application methods.
- Assist with installing waterproof wall panels and other protective wall coverings to improve sanitation, moisture resistance, and ease of cleaning.
- Assist with building, installing, repairing, and maintaining fencing, gates, and other barriers to ensure secure animal containment.
- Assist with routine mini-split heating and cooling system maintenance, such as cleaning accessible filters and exterior components as directed by the manufacturer. Identify and report issues requiring qualified HVAC service.
- Use and maintain hand tools, power tools, ladders, and other equipment safely and appropriately.
- Help with measuring, assembling, fastening, painting, sealing, and installing materials for ongoing construction and renovation projects.
- Maintain an organized work area, properly store tools and materials, and clean up after completing projects.
- Follow appropriate safety procedures when completing repairs, including securing animals away from work areas and allowing paints, adhesives, sealants, and other materials to cure or dry fully before animals return.
- Assist with seasonal property maintenance and other facility projects as needed.
- Communicate repair needs, supply shortages, equipment concerns, and larger maintenance issues to leadership.
Confidentiality & Professionalism
- Maintain strict confidentiality regarding survivor information, foster locations, animal histories, case details, and organizational operations.
- Understand the sensitive nature of the populations served by Hope’s 2nd Chance Animal Sanctuary.
- Demonstrate professionalism, compassion, and discretion in all interactions.
- Follow organizational policies, safety procedures, and instructions related to animal care, facility access, and maintenance activities.
Team Support
- Work collaboratively with staff, fosters, volunteers, veterinary partners, and community partners.
- Support facility projects, supply organization, and general sanctuary upkeep.
- Assist with identifying practical solutions to improve animal housing, safety, sanitation, and operational efficiency.
- Support the mission and values of Hope’s 2nd Chance Animal Sanctuary in all aspects of the role.
Qualifications
Required or strongly preferred qualifications include:
- Previous professional or extensive volunteer experience in animal rescue, sheltering, veterinary care, animal behavior, boarding, or related fields.
- Strong understanding of canine and feline body language and behavior.
- Experience working with fearful, reactive, undersocialized, or trauma-affected animals.
- Demonstrated ability to complete hands-on maintenance, repairs, or construction-related projects.
- Comfort using basic hand tools and power tools safely.
- Ability to measure and cut materials, attach or install components, patch damaged surfaces, paint, and complete general repairs.
- Practical problem-solving skills and the ability to recognize when a repair requires specialized expertise.
- Ability to remain calm, patient, and observant in high-stress situations.
- Excellent communication and documentation skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Physical ability to lift and carry supplies and building materials, clean kennels, safely handle animals, and remain active throughout shifts.
- Ability to work in varying weather conditions and in indoor and outdoor environments.
- Reliable transportation, dependability, and a willingness to take initiative while following established procedures.
Preferred but not required:
- Experience in nonprofit rescue or crisis-response environments.
- Experience with kennel construction, fencing, flooring, wall panels, painting, or general building maintenance.
- Familiarity with routine mini-split HVAC system upkeep.
Pay: $14.00 per hour
Expected hours: 15.0 – 25.0 per week
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: In person
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Find JobsLaboratory Animal Caretaker Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in laboratory animal caretaker jobs.
- Experience with rodent husbandry including breeding colony maintenance and health monitoring
- Knowledge of standard operating procedures and IACUC protocol compliance requirements
- AALAS certification at ALAT level or willingness to obtain certification within a set timeframe
- Ability to perform cage changes, sanitation, and animal health observations according to facility standards
- Physical ability to lift feed bags, push cage racks, and work in environments requiring PPE
- High school diploma or GED with relevant hands-on animal care experience in a research setting
Tips for Your Laboratory Animal Caretaker Job Search
Highlight AALAS certification on your resume
AALAS certification levels (ALAT, LAT, LATG) signal verified competency to hiring managers screening dozens of applications. List your current certification level prominently near the top of your resume, and note any in-progress certifications with expected completion dates.
Tailor your resume to species experience
Job postings for laboratory animal caretakers frequently specify species: rodents, non-human primates, rabbits, or zebrafish. Match the species you've handled directly to the listing's requirements rather than listing all species in a generic block under one bullet.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists laboratory animal caretaker openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare to discuss IACUC protocol compliance
Interviewers at research institutions routinely ask how you've handled protocol deviations, animal welfare concerns, or documentation errors. Prepare a specific example that shows you identified an issue, reported it correctly, and followed the facility's standard operating procedures.
Search by facility type to find the right fit
Academic vivaria, biotech startups, and contract research organizations operate very differently in pace, species mix, and compliance culture. Filtering your search by employer type helps you target openings where your specific husbandry background and preferred working environment align.
Follow up after your interview with specifics
A follow-up note that references a specific animal care challenge discussed during the interview, such as a colony health monitoring protocol or enrichment program, stands out more than a generic thank-you and reinforces your technical attentiveness to the hiring manager.
Laboratory Animal Caretaker Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most laboratory animal caretakers?
The most active employers for laboratory animal caretakers right now are Labcorp, Island Pet Movers, and Pampurred Paws Hotel, and the most openings are in Washington, Hawaii, and Michigan, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Research universities and contract research organizations consistently post the highest volume of openings throughout the year.
How many laboratory animal caretaker jobs are remote?
About 0% of laboratory animal caretaker openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, since most roles require hands-on animal care that cannot be done off-site. Administrative roles within animal care programs, such as colony record management or compliance coordination, account for the majority of remote or hybrid-eligible positions in this field.
How do you become a laboratory animal caretaker?
Most entry-level laboratory animal caretaker roles require a high school diploma and some hands-on experience with animals, which you can gain through veterinary clinics, shelters, or farm work. Earning an ALAT certification through AALAS strengthens your candidacy significantly. Once hired, facilities provide on-the-job training in their specific protocols, species care, and regulatory compliance requirements.
Can you get hired as a laboratory animal caretaker with no experience?
Yes, entry-level laboratory animal caretaker positions exist specifically for candidates with limited formal research experience. Employers in this field prioritize reliability, attention to detail, and comfort around animals over prior lab credentials. Volunteering at a shelter, completing an ALAT exam prep course, or working as a veterinary assistant gives you concrete talking points that differentiate you from other entry-level applicants.
What does the laboratory animal caretaker interview process look like?
Most interviews for laboratory animal caretaker roles involve an initial phone screen with HR focused on availability and basic background, followed by an in-person or video interview with the vivarium manager or animal facility supervisor. Candidates are typically asked about species experience, how they handle protocol deviations, and their familiarity with cage sanitation and health observation procedures. Some facilities include a brief facility tour or working interview.
Where can I find and apply to laboratory animal caretaker jobs?
You can find and apply to laboratory animal caretaker jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and contract research organizations across the United States. Search for roles that match your species experience and certification level, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background and preferred location.
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