ANML TCHN SR (Senior Animal Technician - Outdoor Colony)

Department PurposeThe California National Primate Research Center, CNPRC at UC Davis, is an Organized Research Unit that conducts interdisciplinary research programs on significant human health problems where non-human primates is the animal of choice. In addition to its major efforts in the area of research, the CNPRC is also committed to both UC Davis and NIH missions of teaching and service.

Job Summary

Under supervision of the Animal Care Supervisor, perform both routine and complex animal care tasks and technical procedures in the Outdoor Colony with duties that include observing animals for abnormal behavior, health monitoring, feed animals, and clean outdoor animal enclosures and corn cribs.
Position requires understanding of implementation of infection control practices; and provide technical assistance as directed by faculty and researchers, SOPs and IACUC protocols related to the care and welfare of non-human primates used in biomedical research. Provide animal care, technical and experimental project support services and study support services to research Principal Investigators (PIs), which includes performing technical laboratory animal procedures requiring various levels of biohazard containment and maintaining special pathogen free (SPF) animals in the outdoor nonhuman primate colony, such as monitoring and assessing health and preventative health program (morning/afternoon health management).Provide study support and technical services as required by research staff to include blood collection (venipuncture), dosing/administering IM injections, performing a variety of sample collections, and performing routine animal care tasks.
Provide research technical support by responding to scheduled colony and experimental work orders and supporting colony health management. Hand catch, capture and restrain primates as well as recognizing changes in physical appearance or abnormal behavior of nonhuman primates. Provide day-to-day responsibility for environmental maintenance, basic animal care, employee safety, and conducting proper technical procedures as requested by supervisors, principal investigators, or veterinarians.
The incumbent will work under minimal supervision in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, industry standards governing animal research (NIH/OLAW/AAALAC) and all safety procedures according to NIH standards and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Familiarity with regulations, guidelines, and policies to ensure that animals are provided appropriate care to promote physical and psychological well-being and minimize discomfort. Employee is required to work with animals (nonhuman primates) that are either naturally or experimentally infected with potentially hazardous infectious agents such as HIV, SIV, Herpes B, and Measles.
The position’s work schedule includes rotating weekend work.

Position Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Restrain animal for prolonged periods of time.
• Position self to move and handle a variety of animals weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Move up to 70 lbs. of soil in a wheelbarrow.
• Repeated lifting of cages that weigh 55-130 lbs. Lift and move loaded animal transfer cages weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Handle diversified tasks that may often require squatting, kneeling, bending, stooping, or standing up to 8 hours per day.
• Position self to maneuver feeds and bedding materials.
• Handle, move, and transport animals. Substantial contact with animals, including repeated capture and prolonged restraint of animals.
• Lift and move a 25-pound sack of chow.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• TB test and Measles vaccination or proof of illness required. This position is subject to Medical Surveillance procedures and review in accordance with Federal and State Laws and Regulations and University Policy with Occupational Health is required before employment and annually thereafter. Employee shall participate in required preventative medical and medical monitoring programs to meet Federal, State and University requirements.
• Perform assigned duties in BioSafety Level (BSL) 1, 2, or 3 facility where nonhuman primates may be either naturally or experimentally infected with potentially hazardous infectious agents such as HIV, SIV, or Herpes B virus.
• Required to wear protective clothing and respirator in circumstances that require personal protection from infectious diseases and animals.
• Restricted vacation during peak workload periods. Work irregular shifts, including weekends, holidays, and evenings. Work overtime, occasional weekends on short notice.
• Work outdoors on uneven ground daily throughout the year, including rain, warmer to hot temperatures, or cold weather that is consistent with Northern California climate.
  Restricted vacation during peak workload periods. Work irregular shifts, including overtime, occasional weekends, holidays, and evenings on short notice.
• California National Primate Research Center employees are directly or indirectly engaged in the performance of work on Federal or State contracts and grants as well as periodically come into contact with controlled substances; and are expected to abide by the UC Policy on Substance Abuse, the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, and the State Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1990
• The Smoke and Tobacco Free Environment policy is intended to provide a healthier, safer, and more productive work and learning environment for the entire UC community. The University of California prohibits smoking and tobacco use at all University owned or leased properties, or facilities operated by UC staff or faculty. Smoking and tobacco use are strictly prohibited in indoor and outdoor spaces, parking lots, residential space, and University vehicles. https://ucdavispolicy.ellucid.com/documents/view/271

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum License/Certification:

• Animal Technician (ALAT) or Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) or equivalent experience or must be eligible to obtain certification within one year from date of hire.

Minimum Education/Experience:

• Journey-level knowledge and experience as an Animal Technician in biohazard containment procedures under BioSafety Level (BSL) 2 or 3 facility.
• Must have applied experience and ability to handle laboratory animals in a manner that avoids injury to self or animals, and to exercise basic principles of animal care related to disease control, sanitation and environmental enrichment.
• Laboratory animal technical training and experience working with nonhuman primates which includes experience conditioning and training non-human primates, capture and physical restraint, technical experience administering IM injections, dosing, performing venipuncture, sample collections, and recognizing changes in physical appearance or abnormal behavior of nonhuman primates.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA):

• Skills to accurately assess habits, behavior, and physical appearances of animals to assure accurate research findings.
• Skills to apply critical thinking to properly evaluate the facts and information relative to the research being conducted.
• Knowledge of Primate Center Standard Operating Procedures to record data in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice Guidelines.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preferred Education/Experience:

• Experience in specialty area such as nonhuman primate facilities, barrier, hazard containment and animal facility.
• Experience handling and training nonhuman primates, including chair training, capture and physical restraint of macaques.
• Experience in Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) animal handling procedures, including infection control and containment, and Animal husbandry experience working with infectious animal housing.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA):

• Skills to learn and become certified to operate medical waste autoclaves, mechanical cage washer, steam pressure gun, and operating a forklift.
• Knowledge of NIH, OLAW, USDA regulations and AALAS practices and Protocols pertaining to primate non-human animal models.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Background Check

This position is a critical position and subject to a background check. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background investigation including criminal history and identity checks.

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