Animal Caretaker IV

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for working specifically in Gnotobiotics, including the maintenance, monitoring, and care of gnotobiotic animal models;
• Provide Care to Lab Animals using appropriate equipment and following established procedures (SOPs) for each species and housing situation;
• Perform daily animal room rounds as assigned to include:
  • Report any aberrations in animal room environments (e.g., temperature, humidity, room condition);
  • Maintain a room activity log for each assigned room. Document daily room activities in the log;
  • Breakdown and sanitize animal quarters, service rooms, equipment, and hallways as scheduled or assigned;
• Report "sick" or abnormal animals;
• Report "overcrowded" cages;
• Separate overcrowded rodent cages;
• Maintain the census record (animal/cage counts) for each assigned room;
• Feed and water animals and administer special diets and water according to specified procedures and directions;
• Change animal cages and cage components as scheduled or as needed
• Clean animal rooms daily, as scheduled;
• Breakdown and sanitize animal quarters, service rooms, equipment, and hallways as scheduled or assigned;
• Handle, transport, and dispose of routine animal wastes, biomedical wastes, and animal carcasses;
• Safely restrain, handle, and move animals of various species;
• Operate and maintain Biosafety Cabinets and Ventilated housing systems (IVC racks) in each animal room;
• Breakdown and sanitize biosafety cabinets and Ventilated Housing as scheduled or assigned;
• Operate and maintain Cage Washers (Tunnel and Rack), Bottle Washer, Autoclaves, and other support equipment;
• Perform cage wash duties such as dumping cages and washing cage components, clean and filling water bottles, autoclaving bedding and water;
• Notify Supervisor (or designated ACT-V LEAD) of minor repairs needed to rooms or to equipment;
• Receive, transport, distribute, and house incoming animals;
• Receive, transport, handle, and deliver animal care supplies, feed, bedding delivered to the Animal Institute;
• Maintain stock of animal room supplies;
• Identify, handle, transport, and dispose of Biohazardous materials (including biosafety level 3 hazards) using appropriate equipment;
• Euthanize rodents by carbon dioxide overdose according to established procedure;
• Assist Lead and supervisors with newly hired ACT employees by modeling to learn standard operating procedures and processes;
• Perform animal husbandry activities in the Gnotobiotic Isolator Facility using specialized equipment (flexible film isolators) and established procedures to maintain sterility;
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

 HS Diploma; LAT plus 5 years’ comparable ACT experience with at least 1 year Einstein ACT experience

The ideal candidate will possess good written and verbal comunication skills Due to the nature of the work, individual must be able to pay close attention to detail and must be physically fit to do heavy repetitive lifting and pushing of equipment daily Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds Must not be allergice to animals, latex, waste products, bedding or solutions.

Additional Information

In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the hourly rates for this are listed below. This rate is based on the 1199 bargaining unit contract.

Hiring Rate

27.07

Post Probationary Rate

27.60

Job Rate

28.45

Minimum Salary Range

Maximum Salary Range