Animal keeper Jobs in Durham, NC

The Research Animal Technician is responsible for providing daily care and husbandry for laboratory animals and supporting research activities within the Animal Research Center (ARC). This position plays an important role in maintaining animal health and welfare, supporting study activities, and ensuring the facility operates in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), study protocols, animal welfare requirements, biosecurity procedures, and applicable safety standards.

The successful candidate will be dependable, detail-oriented, self-motivated, and comfortable working both independently and as part of a team. This position is ideal for an individual who enjoys working with animals, is eager to learn and develop new technical skills, and takes ownership of assigned responsibilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Animal Care & Research Support

• Provide daily animal husbandry and care to maintain the health, welfare, and quality of research animals.
• Monitor animal health and promptly report concerns to management and veterinary staff.
• Support research studies and biodevice testing activities, including incubation, candling, egg breakout, transfer, hatch, residue breakout, and cleanup.
• Perform and/or assist with technical procedures, animal treatments, sample collection, body weights, necropsies, and other study activities as directed by approved protocols.
• Operate and maintain equipment used in animal care and research activities, including cage washers, isolation cages, biodevices, incubators, and hatchers.
• Conduct euthanasia in accordance with applicable guidelines, approved procedures, and established documentation requirements.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and legible records and documentation.
• Review, correct, and verify study data for accuracy and completeness.
• Support animal health monitoring, biosecurity, and biosafety programs.
• Maintain clean and sanitary animal rooms and work areas in accordance with established procedures.
• Assist with microbial surveys, water analysis, mite surveys, and other facility monitoring activities.
• Follow all company policies, SOPs, accreditation standards, animal welfare requirements, and study-specific procedures.

Facility, Inventory & Operational Support

• Maintain inventory levels and ensure animal care and research supplies are properly stocked, organized, and stored.
• Move supplies and equipment between the main facility and off-site storage locations.
• Maintain off-site storage areas in a clean, organized, and inventoried condition.
• Support delivery and pickup of empty racks, egg racks, and boxes to and from local commercial poultry producers.
• Work with management, study directors, Facilities, and veterinary staff to identify, report, and resolve animal, equipment, and facility-related concerns.
• Take initiative to complete assigned tasks and anticipate upcoming operational needs.

Incubator & Hatcher Operations

• Set up incubators and hatchers for egg incubation and hatch studies as needed.
• Complete and maintain equipment-related documentation.
• Conduct required pre- and post-setup inspections according to established procedures and schedules.
• Monitor incubator and hatcher operations and respond to alarms or issues as required.
• Participate in a rotating after-hours, weekend, and on-call schedule to provide coverage for incubator and hatcher alarms.

Committee, Compliance & Audit Support

• Support preparation for and follow-up activities associated with semi-annual IACUC inspections and three-year AAALAC accreditation audits.
• Participate in facility inspections, program reviews, AWC investigations, and AUP/protocol reviews as needed.
• May serve as a non-voting member of the IACUC committee representing the vivarium.
• May serve as an EHS representative for the vivarium and participate in applicable meetings and activities.
• Support compliance with animal welfare, biosafety, biosecurity, environmental health and safety, and accreditation requirements.

Biosecurity & Safety

• Follow all facility and study-specific biosecurity and biocontainment requirements, including showering and PPE procedures.
• Follow all Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) policies, procedures, and requirements applicable to the vivarium.
• Properly use required PPE, which may include Tyvek garments, hairnets, respirators or PAPRs, gloves, safety glasses, uniforms, and designated footwear.
• Maintain strict adherence to procedures designed to protect animal health, employee safety, study integrity, and facility biosecurity.
• Report potential biosecurity, biosafety, animal welfare, safety, or facility concerns promptly to appropriate personnel.

Biosecurity Requirements

• Due to the nature of the research facility and its biosecurity requirements, employees are restricted from maintaining or having certain animal species at their residence, including birds, poultry, or swine. Additional biosecurity restrictions or requirements may apply based on facility and study needs.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent with relevant animal-care experience; an associate or bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Poultry Science, or a related field is preferred.
• Prior experience working with animals is required; poultry experience is strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently and effectively as part of a team.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow detailed written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to accurately complete documentation and maintain records.
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to learn new procedures, equipment, and technical skills.
• Ability to work in an environment requiring strict adherence to biosecurity, biosafety, animal welfare, and safety procedures.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate or bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Poultry Science, Veterinary Technology, or a related field.
• Experience working with poultry, laboratory animals, livestock, or in a research animal facility.
• Experience with animal husbandry, animal health monitoring, sample collection, necropsy, or other laboratory animal procedures.
• Experience operating or troubleshooting incubators, hatchers, isolators, cage washers, or similar equipment.
• Mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot basic equipment issues.
• Experience working in a regulated, research, agricultural, laboratory, or animal-care environment.

PHYSICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

This position is performed in an active animal research environment and requires the ability to:

• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Frequently bend, kneel, stoop, climb, balance, walk, and stand for extended periods.
• Push and pull equipment and other heavy items.
• Perform repetitive motions for extended periods.
• Safely perform work activities at heights ranging from approximately 8 inches above floor level to 6–7 feet above floor level.
• Work in environments with prolonged exposure to animals, animal dander, animal by-products, bedding materials, and related materials.
• Work in low-light conditions and distinguish colors as required to perform essential job duties.
• Perform fine-motor tasks safely and effectively.
• Comply with required PPE and facility-specific hygiene and biocontainment procedures.

Due to facility biocontainment requirements, employees may be required to shower multiple times during a workday, including washing hair, and fully secure hair using required hair coverings. Nails must be maintained at a length that allows employees to safely perform required tasks and comply with animal-care and biosecurity procedures.

Work Schedule & Availability

• Ability to work a flexible schedule based on facility and study requirements.
• Participation in rotating weekend and holiday coverage is required.
• May be required to work beyond regular business hours to complete assigned work, perform required cleanup, or respond to facility alarms.
• Participation in a rotating after-hours and on-call schedule is required for incubator and hatcher alarm coverage.

Additional Responsibilities

Complete other projects, duties, and responsibilities as assigned by management or as necessary to successfully support ARC operations, animal welfare, research activities, and facility requirements.

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