Animal Attendant II, Animal Resources Center Full-time

Animal Attendant II, Animal Resources Center

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

We are seeking dedicated individuals to join our team as Animal Attendant II. In this role, you will provide support to the ARC animal care mission, directly contributing to discoveries that improve lives through research.

Responsibilities

• Provides animal husbandry and care for all species housed in all ARC facilities, as needed, to assist when facilities are understaffed. 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. Provides animal husbandry to all ARC-managed species, including USDA-covered large animals, other USDA-covered species, rodents, and aquatics. Cleans cages, pens, and animal quarters. Sanitizes animal rooms, equipment, and facilities to prevent infections and disease. Maintains accurate records of room/equipment cleans.
• Completes all required documentation, including per diem sheets, checklists, animal records, and files.
• Serves as a backup for cagewash staff and operates cagewash equipment as needed.
• May work without onsite supervision on weekends and University holidays as required.
• Performs routine maintenance checks on equipment and reports any equipment that requires repairs or maintenance. Maintains accurate records of equipment checks.
• Sets up and coming animal deliveries. Receives, identifies, and houses newly arrived animals. Verifies animal deliveries against order documentation and submits delivery documentation to supervisor.
• Transfers or transports rodents, feed, and bedding materials to their specified room.
• Participates in training and continued education activities as provided by the ARC and required by federal guidelines and accreditation standards. Interacts and communicated 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.
• Prepares or mixes feed according to specific instructions. Tracks inventory of feed supplies and notifies supervisor when supplies need re-stocking.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and at least 1 year of experience in animal care.
• Experience learning new skills and application of that training to assigned tasks and responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to be detail oriented and meticulous when completing tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently in a high-stakes environment.
• Ability to understand 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 successfully pass the WorkSteps physical abilities test.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Certification.
• Previous experience working in a research vivarium.
• Relevant degree in a related field.

Salary Range

$41,000

Working Conditions

• Usual research or laboratory animal facility.
• Use of protective clothing is required and furnished.
• Contact with a variety of animals that may bite or scratch.
• Possible exposure to animal bites, diseases, allergens and bio-hazards.
• May work around chemical fumes, biohazards or chemicals.
• May work in all weather conditions
• May work in extreme temperatures
• Use of manual dexterity
• Climbing of stairs & ladders
• Lifting and moving
• 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.