Job Details

Animal Technician I
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Position Number: 5977009
Location: El Paso, TX
Position Type: Agriculture - Animal Science

Animal Technician I

Job ID: 13119
Location: El Paso, TX
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: $RegTemp

About UTEP

UTEP is a comprehensive public research university that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve.

The University of Texas at El Paso is America's leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 24,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 172 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.

About the Department

The Laboratory Animal Resources Center (LARC) is committed to providing UTEP faculty, staff and students with veterinary and personnel training and expertise in laboratory animal technology and medicine. LARC exists to promote humane animal care and use in support of UTEP's research goals through compliance with the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) and our own IACUC and departmental policies. The LARC advises and educates researchers on animal experimentation issues and provides guidance and review in the protocol writing process, while promoting contemporary best practices for the responsible use of animals. Our goal is provision of quality animal care which is key to obtaining consistent and reliable data.

Position Information

Hiring Department: Laboratory Animal Resources Center (LARC)

Posting End Date: Applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM CDT on 02/09/2025.

Hours: 40 hours per week, standard Monday- Friday 8:00am- 5:00pm, flexibility is required on evenings and weekends

FLSA status: Non-exempt

Earliest Start Date: As soon as possible.

Salary: $30,250 annually.

Required Application Materials:

Resume
Cover Letter
List of three references

The primary accountabilities are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or some of the primary accountabilities listed. Specific tasks or responsibilities will be documented in the incumbents' performance objectives as outlined by the incumbents' immediate supervisor or manager. This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information. A valid driver's license issued by the State where the applicant resides and insurability as defined in UTS 157 may be required to perform the position's essential functions.

Purpose of Position

Essential Functions

Summary: Under supervision and with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment, provides appropriate housing conditions and husbandry for the animals in support of biomedical research projects, in accordance with departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and biosafety and biosecurity guidelines specified in BMBL.

Performs animal husbandry duties, including after-hours work to provide food, water, clean cages and bedding; special enrichment items; remove and decontaminate used cages and water bottles; and decontaminate and dispose of animal carcasses and animal associated waste, such as water, food and soiled bedding, and monitor and record temperature and humidity daily.

Sanitizes facilities, animal housing units, ancillary animal care equipment, and surgical instruments on a routine basis to ensure rooms and materials are clean and maintain disease free status. This job element includes ensuring proper disposition of waste materials and animal carcasses in accordance with facility standard operating procedures.

Participates in infection control procedures, including cage washing, autoclaving and general facility hygiene as well as delivering supplies, equipment and laundry etc. from within and outside the University. This job element includes the ability to operate a cage washer and steam sterilizers.

Monitors daily animal health and welfare by observing and recording signs of unusual appearance, behavior, illness, or death in animals; complete and maintain forms as required; administer pre-measured medications according to instructions.

Keeps accurate and complete records on animal inventories and activities; complies with governmental regulations and University policies regarding health and safety and observes and supports good health and safety practices.

Receives, inspects, and houses (quarantine if necessary) incoming animals from off-site colonies or from commercial sources; in the case of colony animals, transfer of animals may be required from one vivarium to another.

Ensures that sentinel animals are placed in each rodent housing area and keeps accurate records on the locations and care of the animals.

Assists investigators and staff to record information according to instructions such as genealogy, diet, weight, medications and food intake.

Assists with restraint, handling and manipulation of various animal species as required for performing animal husbandry duties and/or to assists investigators and staff to perform a variety of research techniques. Restrains, anesthetizes, inoculates, shaves, bathes, clips, and grooms animals in accordance with accepted veterinary practices.

Assists investigators and staff in maintaining colonies of laboratory animal populations by initiating breeding when appropriate and as approved.

Participates in public holiday and weekend roster duties and works occasional off-hours, weekends and holidays as assigned.

Assists with administrative tasks required for documenting and maintaining all federal, state and university activities and records pertaining to the housing and care of laboratory animals during holidays and weekends.

Reports any concerns or issues relating to animal welfare to the LARC managers and the Attending Veterinarian.

Complies with all federal, state and university regulations and policies governing animal care, and completes online, and classroom training requirements, such as General Laboratory Safety, Biosafety/Bloodborne Pathogens and CITI. Complies with all biosafety and biosecurity practices.

Responsible for understanding and utilizing information derived from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Laboratory Animal Care and Use Manual, Federal Guidelines, University IACUC Policies and Regulations, and the Biosafety Level 3 laboratory manual.

Participates in development and implementation of site-specific standard operating procedures (SOP's), in compliance with all federal, state and local regulations and policies.

Complies with all State and University policies.

Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Required Qualifications:

Education: High school diploma or general education degree (GED)

and

Experience: Six months of animal experience. Experience may include relevant volunteer and unpaid experiences OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Information

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to talk or hear, sit; use hands to feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and walk, and the ability to stand for long periods of time. The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 35 pounds and repeatedly lift up to 10 pounds throughout the day. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and color vision.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet or humid conditions; toxic or caustic chemicals; and outdoor weather conditions. The noise level for this work environment ranges from quiet to moderate.

Must not be allergic to animal dander or be immuno-deficient. Pregnancy may become a personnel safety factor in some laboratory animal duties. Potential exposure to radiation and biohazards. In addition, incumbent will be required to work safely and effectively in non-containment and the animal biosafety level 2 containment laboratories.

In keeping with its access, excellence and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee's or prospective employee's right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972.

For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu.

To apply, visit https://zahr-prd-candidate-ada.utshare.utsystem.edu/psp/ZAHRPRDADA/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=2&JobOpeningId=13119&PostingSeq=1