Animal Care Technician - Entry-Level (Husbandry)

Location: San Diego, CA (On-Site, must have vehicle to drive to and from client sites)
Schedule Options: Training Monday - Friday before beginning a Sunday - Thursday or Tuesday - Saturday schedule; 8 hour shift starting at 6:30am or 7:00am

Job Overview

Are you passionate about animal care and looking to grow a career in laboratory husbandry? We are hiring Animal Care Technicians to support a vivarium environment, focusing on animal welfare, husbandry tasks, and facility maintenance. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals with veterinary clinic experience or those eager to gain hands-on experience in laboratory animal care.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform daily husbandry tasks, including cage changes, washing, and health monitoring under IACUC standards.

• Conduct daily animal welfare checks, including weekends and holidays.

• Assist with rodent identification (tattooing, ear tagging, and microchipping) and body weight collection.

• Support colony maintenance (weaning, pairing, euthanasia, and biopsy for genotyping).

• Perform data entry into colony management software.

• Maintain weekly, monthly, and annual cleaning schedules for the vivarium.

• Manage stocking of PPE and cage supplies.

• Adhere to SOPs for personnel and animal safety.

Who We're Looking For

• Hardworking, detail-oriented individuals with a strong work ethic.
• Comfortable working in a structured, fast-paced environment.
• Open to candidates with veterinary clinic experience (no prior research experience required).
• Ability to multitask, follow verbal instructions, and work independently.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required.

• ALAT certification preferred (or willingness to obtain within 2 years).

• Laboratory animal experience preferred, but vet clinic experience is acceptable.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).

• Must be able to work weekends and holidays as needed.

Why Join Us?

• Career Growth: Training opportunities to develop technical skills in laboratory animal care.
• Competitive Pay & Benefits: Stable hours with full-time employment.
• Supportive Work Environment: Hands-on training and mentorship for new hires.

Additional Details

• Dress Code: Casual attire (street clothes). PPE is provided by clients. No shorts or open-toe shoes.

• Some clients require on-site showering (employees must bring personal shower items).

• Travel Reimbursement: Mileage covered between client sites, but not for commuting to/from home.

• COVID-19 Vaccine Required (flu shot not required).

Apply Now! This is a great opportunity to gain experience in laboratory animal care with on-the-job training and room for career advancement.

For California Applicants:

We will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable federal, state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers (ULAC), The San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO) , and the California Fair Chance Act (CFCA).

This position is subject to a background check based on its job duties, which may include patient care, working with vulnerable populations, access to financial and confidential information, driving, working with heavy machinery, or working in a warehouse or laboratory environment. Due to these job duties, this position has a significant impact on the business operations and reputation, as well as the safety and well-being of individuals who may be cared for as part of the job position or who may interact with staff or clients.