OPT Animal Care Technician Jobs
Animal Care Technician jobs on OPT are available at research universities, veterinary clinics, pharmaceutical companies, and animal shelters. Most roles align with biology, animal science, or veterinary technology degrees. Your OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility will matter to employers, so have those details ready.
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MaineHealth Institute for Research
Service/Maintenance Support
Req #: 86951
Posting Position Summary:
This Lab Animal Tech I position is designed for someone interested in participating in the day-to-day operation of the MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR) Animal Facility, under general supervision of the Animal Facility Manager. The MHIR Animal Facility supports research projects from over 20 Principal Investigator-driven research labs. We have world-class scientists working on the most advanced biomedical problems. The Lab Animal Tech in this position works on a team to help ensure proper care and humane treatment of approximately 10,000 mice during their use in our research. The MHIR Animal Facility is proudly and fully accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC).
This position is a full-time, onsite, benefitted role at our Scarborough, ME research facility.
Learn more about the MaineHealth Institute for Research in this short video!
Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
- Education: Associate degree in an Animal Science or Veterinary program preferred.
- License/Certifications: N/A
- Experience: N/A
- Additional Skills/Requirements Required: Ability to follow written and oral instructions and maintain accurate, legible records. Interpersonal skills necessary to maintain effective communications.
Additional Information
MaineHealth is committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive environment where care team members can thrive while making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve across Maine and New Hampshire. We offer competitive benefits including paid parental leave, flexible work options, student loan assistance, professional development opportunities, and well-being resources—so you can grow your career while feeling supported both personally and professionally.
We recognize the value each team member brings to our organization. Any offer of employment will depend on qualifications such as skills, relevant experience, education, certifications, and other job-related factors. The base range is an estimate and does not reflect the full value of our total compensation package.
The pay range for this position is $20.27 to $24.36 per hour.
Compensation for part-time positions is determined on a prorated basis consistent with the scheduled hours and applicable full-time equivalent (FTE).
In addition to base pay, MaineHealth offers comprehensive benefits, recognition programs, career growth opportunities, and, where applicable, shift differentials or other incentives.
If you have questions about this role, please contact sharon.nightingale@mainehealth.org
Hiring Scam Alert
MaineHealth will never request financial information during the interview or pre-hiring process. All legitimate communications will come from an email address ending in @mainehealth.org. If you suspect fraudulent activity, please report it immediately to mhcareers@mainehealth.org.
Notice Regarding Maine Employer Surveillance Statute: Pursuant to Maine's Employer Surveillance Statute, prospective care team members are notified that MaineHealth may monitor, collect, record, review, or retain information related to the use of its systems, networks, applications, files, data, communications platforms (including notified recordings), smart badges, building access, company vehicle GPS data, business calls, and workplace security cameras.
Information collected may be used for legitimate business purposes, including security, safety, compliance, investigations, training, quality assurance, and operational management.
Description
MaineHealth Institute for Research
Service/Maintenance Support
Req #: 86951
Posting Position Summary:
This Lab Animal Tech I position is designed for someone interested in participating in the day-to-day operation of the MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR) Animal Facility, under general supervision of the Animal Facility Manager. The MHIR Animal Facility supports research projects from over 20 Principal Investigator-driven research labs. We have world-class scientists working on the most advanced biomedical problems. The Lab Animal Tech in this position works on a team to help ensure proper care and humane treatment of approximately 10,000 mice during their use in our research. The MHIR Animal Facility is proudly and fully accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC).
This position is a full-time, onsite, benefitted role at our Scarborough, ME research facility.
Learn more about the MaineHealth Institute for Research in this short video!
Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
- Education: Associate degree in an Animal Science or Veterinary program preferred.
- License/Certifications: N/A
- Experience: N/A
- Additional Skills/Requirements Required: Ability to follow written and oral instructions and maintain accurate, legible records. Interpersonal skills necessary to maintain effective communications.
Additional Information
MaineHealth is committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive environment where care team members can thrive while making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve across Maine and New Hampshire. We offer competitive benefits including paid parental leave, flexible work options, student loan assistance, professional development opportunities, and well-being resources—so you can grow your career while feeling supported both personally and professionally.
We recognize the value each team member brings to our organization. Any offer of employment will depend on qualifications such as skills, relevant experience, education, certifications, and other job-related factors. The base range is an estimate and does not reflect the full value of our total compensation package.
The pay range for this position is $20.27 to $24.36 per hour.
Compensation for part-time positions is determined on a prorated basis consistent with the scheduled hours and applicable full-time equivalent (FTE).
In addition to base pay, MaineHealth offers comprehensive benefits, recognition programs, career growth opportunities, and, where applicable, shift differentials or other incentives.
If you have questions about this role, please contact sharon.nightingale@mainehealth.org
Hiring Scam Alert
MaineHealth will never request financial information during the interview or pre-hiring process. All legitimate communications will come from an email address ending in @mainehealth.org. If you suspect fraudulent activity, please report it immediately to mhcareers@mainehealth.org.
Notice Regarding Maine Employer Surveillance Statute: Pursuant to Maine's Employer Surveillance Statute, prospective care team members are notified that MaineHealth may monitor, collect, record, review, or retain information related to the use of its systems, networks, applications, files, data, communications platforms (including notified recordings), smart badges, building access, company vehicle GPS data, business calls, and workplace security cameras.
Information collected may be used for legitimate business purposes, including security, safety, compliance, investigations, training, quality assurance, and operational management.
See all 66+ OPT Animal Care Technician Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Animal Care Technician Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Animal Care Technician
Lead with your OPT authorization dates
Employers hiring Animal Care Technicians want to know how long you can work without a visa transfer. State your OPT start and end dates clearly in your application and be ready to confirm whether you qualify for the 24-month STEM extension.
Target research institutions and universities
Research universities and academic medical centers hire Animal Care Technicians regularly and are experienced with OPT work authorization. These institutions often have dedicated HR processes for international employees, making them more receptive than smaller private practices.
Highlight hands-on lab and husbandry experience
Animal care employers prioritize candidates with documented experience handling specific species, operating autoclave equipment, or following IACUC protocols. Concrete skills from coursework, internships, or campus vivarium work make your application stand out to sponsorship-willing employers.
Confirm your degree field aligns with the role
OPT requires a direct connection between your degree and your job. Animal science, biology, veterinary technology, and zoology degrees typically satisfy this for Animal Care Technician roles. Be prepared to explain that connection clearly if an employer or DSO asks.
Ask about STEM OPT extension eligibility early
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field like biology or animal science, you may qualify for a 24-month extension. Mentioning this early shows employers you have longer-term availability, which can be the deciding factor in a hiring decision.
Get your DSO to confirm employment before you start
You cannot legally begin work as an Animal Care Technician until your OPT EAD card is in hand and your DSO has recorded the employer in SEVIS. Confirm these steps are complete before your first day to protect your immigration status.
Animal Care Technician OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Animal Care Technician on OPT?
Yes, as long as the role is directly related to your degree field. Animal science, biology, veterinary technology, and zoology degrees typically satisfy the OPT employment requirement for this role. Your employer does not need to sponsor a visa for you to work on OPT, but the job must align with your area of study.
Do Animal Care Technician employers typically support OPT workers?
Research universities, pharmaceutical companies, and contract research organizations are the most OPT-friendly employers for this role because they regularly hire from academic pipelines and have HR teams familiar with work authorization. Smaller veterinary clinics or private shelters may be less experienced with OPT, so it helps to explain the process clearly during interviews. Migrate Mate lists Animal Care Technician roles from employers open to OPT candidates.
Does an Animal Care Technician job qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as biology, animal science, or biochemistry, and your employer is E-Verify registered, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. The role itself does not need a STEM designation. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO to verify eligibility before your initial OPT period expires.
What happens to my OPT status if my Animal Care Technician contract ends?
OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment during the standard period and 150 days during the STEM extension. If your contract ends, those days begin accumulating immediately. You can take on a new Animal Care Technician position or a related role to stop the clock, but you must update your employment in SEVIS through your DSO within 10 days of starting.
Can I work part-time as an Animal Care Technician on OPT?
Yes. Post-completion OPT permits part-time work of at least 20 hours per week, and that counts as authorized employment. Working fewer than 20 hours per week is treated as unemployment and counts toward your 90-day limit. If you are on the STEM extension, you must work at least 20 hours per week to maintain valid status under the extension requirements.