Laboratory Animal Caretaker Jobs in Texas

Job Posting Title:

Animal Attendant III, Animal Resources Center

Hiring Department:

Animal Resources Center

Position Open To:

All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

FLSA Status:

To Be Determined at Offer

Earliest Start Date:

Ongoing

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

Location:

AUSTIN, TX

Job Details:

General Notes

The Animal Resources Center at The University of Texas at Austin covers approx. 150,000 sq. ft. of research animal space. The Animal Resources Center is responsible for managing three centralized animal facilities as well as some of the smaller satellite locations.

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage
• Retirement contributions
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid holidays

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered.

Purpose

The Animal Resources Center (ARC) oversees the care and use of vertebrate animals utilized as part of the research and teaching activities of the University. The ARC is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and improving human and animal health through the highest standards of care and ethical treatment of laboratory animals. We support the academic community by providing exceptional animal husbandry, veterinary care, and compliance with regulatory standards, ensuring that all research conducted is humane, responsible, and of the highest quality. Our commitment to education and collaboration fosters an environment of respect and compassion for animals, while promoting innovative research that contributes to the global understanding of biology and medicine.

Responsibilities

- Provides animal husbandry and care to all ARC-managed species. Observes animals for signs of disease and/or illness and reports conditions to the veterinary group. Completes all required documentation, including per diem sheets, checklists, animal records, and files. Provides cross-campus support by fulfilling assigned job responsibilities in all ARC vivaria, as needed, to ensure consistent coverage during staff absences or fluctuations in animal census.
- Cleans cages, pens, and animal quarters. Sanitizes animal rooms, equipment, and facilities to prevent infections and disease. Maintains accurate records of room/equipment sanitation.
- Coordinates with research staff the transport of husbandry equipment and caging supplies to satellite facilities and PI care animal housing rooms. Prepares or mixes feed according to specific instructions. Tracks inventory of feed supplies and notifies supervisor when supplies need re-stocking.
- Ability to execute facility-level tasks in UT-RMS AOPs software (cage card scanning and printing).
- Drives UT owned carts and vehicles to transport equipment and/or animals between facilities and pick up equipment and/or animals.
- Participates in training and continued education activities as provided by the ARC and required by federal guidelines and accreditation standards. Interacts and communicates effectively with ARC staff and University of Texas at Austin research staff. Attends meetings as needed to improve skills and knowledge or as required by management.
- Serves as a backup for all Animal Attendant positions during outages or emergency coverage as needed.
- Sets up incoming animal deliveries. Receives, identifies, and cages newly arrived animals. Verifies animal deliveries against order documentation and submits delivery documentation to supervisor.
- Works without onsite supervision on weekends and holidays. Completes all required documentation for weekend work. Including inclement weather closures (hazardous duty).
- May train other Animal Attendants. Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

- High school diploma or GED and at least 3 years of experience in animal care
- Demonstrated commitment to understanding policy, procedure, and regulations regarding care for lab animals.
- Ability to safely lift, carry, push, and/or pull items weighing up to 50 pounds on a regular basis.
- Applicant must complete and pass a physical abilities WorkSteps test.
- Must possess and maintain a valid Texas Driver’s License.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience working with primates
- AALAS Certification
- Previous experience working in a research vivarium
- Relevant degree in a related field

Driving Required

This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident. Employees who are required to have a CDL are subject to drug and alcohol testing (pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, random, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing).

Salary Range

$46,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

- Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished)
- May work in all weather conditions
- May work in extreme temperatures
- May work around chemical fumes
- May work around standard office conditions
- May work around biohazards
- May work around chemicals
- May work around electrical and mechanical hazards
- Use of manual dexterity
- Climbing of stairs
- Climbing of ladders
- Lifting, pulling, pushing, and moving items weighing up to 50 pounds
- Work hours and shifts may vary and are subject to change with advance notice when possible
- Occasional evening, weekend and holiday work to meet essential operational standards

Required Materials

Please mark "yes" on the application for required materials. Failure to attach all additional materials listed may affect candidates being considered for the position.

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor.
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin uses E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified as a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.