Lucom Animal Care Technician

The Animal Care Technician provides a critical function and service to LUCOM faculty and students by ensuring the well-being of animals housed within the Center for Medical and Health Sciences (CMHS). Responsibilities include (but are not limited to) daily animal handling, maintaining vivarium inventory and cleanliness, ensuring faculty and students are compliant with animal welfare policies, ensuring appropriate documentation exists to satisfy requirements set forth by the university, and supporting faculty and students in project-specific tasks.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works effectively as a team member, embracing and fostering LU’s mission.

• Performs weekly inventory of critical vivarium supplies and, working with the Research Manager, ensures their availability to LUCOM faculty, staff, and students.

• Provides direct technical support related to Animal Care and/or handling for LUCOM faculty as deemed appropriate.

• Works collaboratively with the Research Manager to ensure compliance with regulatory policies.

• Other duties as assigned by the Dean, or designee.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Does the position directly or indirectly supervise other employees? ☐ YES ☒ NO

Does the position supervise subordinate supervisors? ☐ YES ☒ NO

If yes, please list the subordinate supervisors (names and titles) reporting to this position.

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How many employees are indirectly overseen by this position through subordinate supervisors?

Select the number of indirectly supervised employees.

Does this position directly oversee non-supervisory personnel? ☐ YES ☒ NO

If yes, how many non-supervisory personnel are directly overseen by this position?

0

Does the position interact with individuals/entities outside the company? ☐ YES ☒ NO

If yes, please describe:

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QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

Education and Experience

• High school degree or GED required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Completed coursework or degree in biological sciences.

• Professional experience with animals or in a scientific environment.

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Demonstrate time management skills and organizational skills.

• Reliability and punctuality.

• Ability and interest to learn new concepts and skills.

• Ability to problem-solve.

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE JOB

Communication and Comprehension

• Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing to convey clear, well-articulated information.

• Ability to understand, read, speak, and write English in order to convey messages and correspond in an articulate and professional manner.

• Ability to interpret, adapt, and apply knowledge of guidelines, policies, and procedures in a variety of situations.

• Ability to contribute to a team environment and contribute expertise at appropriate times while recognizing each team members strengths and contributions.

• Use of “listen first" communication style to ensure that everyone is heard so the best decision can be reached.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to show respect to their colleagues and to work in a collegial manner.

• Knowledge and sensitivity to critical and subtle issues which can potentially impact academic performance and wellness, particularly for students from culturally and socio-economically diverse backgrounds.

• Demonstrated experience effectively advising students.

• Passion to ensure both academic success and overall personal wellness.

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with FERPA guidelines.

Problem Solving

• Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, and apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and complex nature.

• Exercise critical thinking, using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

• Active learning by understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making needs.

• Systems analysis and evaluation to determine how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes; identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

• Skilled negotiator, with the ability to positively persuade and influence behaviors.

• Exercise time management of self and team members

Physical and Sensory Abilities

• Social perceptiveness, being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

• Occasionally required to travel to local and campus locations.

• Frequently required to sit for extended periods to perform deskwork or type on a keyboard.

• Regularly required to hear and speak in order to effectively communicate orally.

• Occasionally required to stand, walk, and climb stairs to move about the building.

• Regularly lift 30 or fewer pounds.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Environment

The working environment in which one will typically perform the essential functions of this position is a climate-controlled office setting. It is well-lighted, and the noise level is moderate. Rodents are housed within the CMHS and therefore rodent odor and dander are present.

Driving Requirements

Use of one’s personal vehicle (or LU vehicles) is required for travel in the performance of the essential functions of this position. Proof of a valid Virginia driver’s license, an acceptable DMV record, and liability insurance is required.