Laboratory Animal Caretaker Jobs in Massachusetts

INTRODUCTION

The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc. Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

JOB SUMMARY

A Research Animal Specialist 3 provides all the animal husbandry, facility maintenance, sanitization, health and welfare monitoring duties of a RAS 1 and 2. In addition to RAS1/2 technical duties, the RAS 3 position serves as a group lead for the area of work assignment. In this role, the RAS 3 should check-in and reassign work for their area work group and serve as mentor for newly assigned technicians in the area. Additional technical responsibilities include providing research support services, performing complex or non-standard husbandry requests, maintenance of facility and animal medical records, and ensuring compliance standards are followed within the CCM animal facilities. All Research Animal Specialists are required to work in a team environment following Lean Management principles and participate in continuous improvement and problem-solving projects. This position involves daily exposure to laboratory animals, their waste products, and possibly chemical agents, radioactive isotopes and ASBL2 hazards. Rotating weekend and holiday work hours are required.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Following Duties Are Performed Daily With Minimal Supervision

- Able to perform all duties and responsibilities of a Research Animal Specialist 1 and 2 (Please reference RAS 1 and 2 job description for detailed descriptions of each topic)
- Performs Facility Cage Wash Operations
- Assures monthly autoclave validations are completed
- Supervise and schedule cagewash team tasks and reallocate task assignments as required
- Clean and sanitize animal caging and accessory equipment
- Troubleshoot and maintain equipment and performs routine repairs on caging and racks, and train cagewash staff on performing routine repairs and maintenance
- Ensure the routine cleaning, descaling, and preventative maintenance on the cage washers and autoclaves
- Schedule PMs with vendors
- Provides Facility Maintenance and Sanitization
- Performs Facility Support Functions
- Orders and receives facility supplies, monitoring material replenishment systems.
- Keeps cage slip supplies stocked
- Submits routine work requests/tickets through the appropriate BWH applications and/or vendors.
- Coordinates daily with cage wash technicians ensuring all RAS staff have adequate supplies available.
- Prepares, submits, and maintains required cage wash records, charts, logs, and inventories as requested
- Authorized hands-on trainer for CCM cagewash operations
- Works with the CCM Training Program Manager to provide training to new and transferred facility staff on facility procedures and SOPs.
- New hire training
- SOP proficiency review
- SOP training (new and/or revised)
- Safety training
- Remedial / refresher training
- Hands-on training
- Updates employee training files to document trainings and proficiency review
- Serves as subject matter expert for cagewash
- Responsible for the creation, validation and maintenance of visual controls within the facility.
- Interact with all personnel and outside entities with excellent and professional oral and written communication.
- Helps evaluate SOP drafts
- Complies with CCM and BWH policies and standard operating procedures.
- Works holiday and weekends as assigned.
- All other duties as assigned.

The Following Duties May Be Performed As Needed

- Performs Animal Husbandry Tasks
- Supervise animal care tasks within a portion of the facility and reassign task assignments as required.
- Working with team to address non-standard husbandry requests. Assists in importation/quarantine, isolation, and housing of animals in the BWH facilities with any special health concerns to protect the health of other colony animals.
- Performs containment and monitoring duties in the case of infection or disease health outbreaks or other bio-containment situations.
- Able to perform husbandry and health monitoring of animals in ABSL2 areas.
- Works within prescribed protocols for chemical and biological hazards.
- Able to perform husbandry and health monitoring of USDA covered species, updating Individual Animal Records when required.
- Houses incoming or newly arrived animals.
- Performs initial inspections and ensures that they are acclimated and appear physiologically stable prior to research initiation.
- Transfers animals to cages/pens per SOP.
- Documents and processes new arrivals.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent required or Associate's Degree Animal Sciences preferred. Associate's Degree Related Field of Study preferred. Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree? No

Experience

- Animal Care Experience 3-5 years required
- Preferred 2 years of laboratory animal care experience and have been assessed on all basic husbandry SOPs, basic facility operations SOPs, and the basic technical skills SOPs.
- Certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science at the ALAT certification level or successful completion of CCM leadership training curriculum.

Skills / Abilities / Competencies Required

- Proficient in verbal and written English.
- Ability to learn CCM and Partners computer applications.
- Knowledge of basic computer skills including email and Microsoft Outlook.
- Ability to lift and move 50 lbs on a regular basis.
- Long periods of standing.
- Has a customer-focused, positive attitude and enjoys working with similarly dedicated persons in a team fashion within a high-energy research environment.
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
- Ability to problem solve work process within the scope of their job.
- Ability to learn and use bar code/tablet technology and basic computer skills including email and Microsoft Outlook.
- Valid driver’s license if assigned to team with delivery responsibilities.

WORKING CONDITIONS

- The animal facility has a variety of environmental conditions.
- Specifically, employees may be exposed to noise, dust, chemicals, extreme heat, and animal waste products.
- The duration of exposure to any of the above is dependent on the assigned duties. Some aspects of this position may expose the incumbent to potentially fatal zoonotic diseases.
- Appropriate protective clothing and equipment may be required and will be provided when required, accompanied by appropriate training.
- This position may also expose the employee to animals treated with chemical hazards, radioactive dyes, and other induced conditions as part of approved protocols.
- Employees are expected to conduct all work in a safe manner that includes maintaining knowledge of animal handling techniques consistent with the condition of the animal, protocol, regulations and department policy, including radioactive treatments and bodily fluids.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

No direct reports.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Responsible for economical use of resources and time.

Additional Job Details (if Applicable)

Remote Type Onsite
Work Location 60 Fenwood Road
Scheduled Weekly Hours 40
Employee Type Regular
Work Shift Day (United States of America)
Pay Range $ - $29.01/Hourly
Grade 5

At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite you to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of your potential compensation and benefits package.

EEO STATEMENT

The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework

At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.