Animal Facility Assistant

We are seeking an Animal Facility Assistant who will be an important member of the research team in providing the highest standards of animal care, welfare and technical assistance in support of research initiatives. Work independently in tasks that are routine yet complex. Conduct work in accordance with several policies including the USDA Animal Welfare Act, the ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Johns Hopkins University and the Animal Care and Use Committee policies, and the standard operating procedures for the animal facility. Performs sanitation, husbandry and all support functions required for the humane care of a wide variety of laboratory animal species including rodents, rabbits, birds, frogs.

*Must achieve Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification within fifteen (15) months of employment as Animal Facility Assistant.

**For qualified candidates with an existing ALAT Certification, an Animal Facility Specialist opportunity will be offered at a higher pay grade.

***This is a Bargaining Unit position. All newly hired employees in Bargaining Unit positions shall be considered “probationary” employees until completion of 90 calendar days of employment. The university will notify the employees’ union. Bargaining Unit employees shall become eligible for benefits upon completion of their probationary period.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform all the tasks of the Animal Cage Washer as needed.
• Clean, sanitize and sterilize animal cages, feeders, water bottles, animal rooms, support space and related equipment.
• Fill animal feeders, bowls and water bottles or other containers with the appropriate types and amounts of food and drinking water in accordance with schedules and detailed instructions.
• Use aseptic technique and disease prevention principles in a Class I or Class II biological safety cabinet. Remove animals from soiled cages and transfers them to clean, sterilized cages in accordance with schedules and detailed instructions.
• Work under isolation conditions using specialized caging units such as micro-isolation cages and individually ventilated cage systems while adhering to aseptic techniques and disease prevention principles.
• Place bedding, feed, water bottles, etc. into assembled, sanitized cages.
• Observe and report to supervisor signs of animal injuries, illness or irregularities in appearance, health and environment such as abnormal food consumption, death, abnormal stool or unusual behavior.
• Assist in providing routine treatments as instructed including procedures such as ear mite medication, clipping overgrown teeth, etc.
• Perform euthanasia following detailed training and instructions.
• Receive and process incoming animals and materials. Assist in examining incoming animals for compliance with specifications, rejecting unsuitable animals and referring questionable cases to the supervisor.
• Assist in maintaining colonies of genetically altered rodents and may be required to perform data collection.
• Maintain accurate records of the numbers and types of animals cared for and the animal's food and water consumption.
• Calculate the animal census.
• Maintain detailed records of animal room environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, lighting and other environmental controls and report deviations to the supervisor. Note this information on the room environment log sheet.
• Maintain adequate stock of feed, bedding and other supplies.
• Report to supervisor the need for repairs to cages and support equipment.
• Perform preventive maintenance and minor repairs on automated watering systems, individually ventilated cage systems and other support equipment. Adjust and repair automatic drinking devices.
• Lubricate equipment, make minor adjustments and repairs to cages and other equipment and change air filters related to laboratory animal equipment and facilities as needed, using hand tools if required.
• Collect, process and remove waste material. Know and follow appropriate procedure for disposal of animal carcasses, bio-hazardous wastes, etc.
• Observe all safety policies and procedures and use equipment and chemical treatments properly to avoid harming animals, self, others and damaging property.
• Perform tasks that require the use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, safety shoes, protective clothing and gloves, fume hoods, biological safety cabinets, etc.
• Follow good laboratory practice and good housekeeping procedures in accordance with standard operating procedures, health, safety and environmental policies.
• Maintain equipment and work area in clean and orderly condition. To sanitize their area, reach upper cages or to clean animal racks or shelves.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma or graduation equivalent.
• One year of laboratory animal care or related experience preferred.
• Must achieve Asst Lab Animal Tech (ALAT) certification within 15 months of employment.

• One year of laboratory animal care or related experience preferred.

Classified Title: BU Animal Facility Specialist-SSR 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Animal Facility Assistant   
Role/Level/Range: SKILL7/01/BU  
Starting Salary Range: $16.55 per hour. Animal Facility Specialist - $20.58 per hour 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: M-Sun / TBD 
Exempt Status: Non-Exempt 
Location: School of Medicine Campus 
Department name: ​​​​​​​SOM Admin Research Animal Resources 
Personnel area: School of Medicine