Number of Positions In Requisition

1

Job Details

The Animal Caretaker – Level I is an entry-level position responsible for the basic care, feeding, and husbandry of laboratory animals. This role supports daily facility operations to ensure a clean, safe, and humane environment for animals used in biomedical research. All work must comply with institutional guidelines and federal regulations. As essential personnel, this role is required to perform shift duties according to Lab Animal Service contingency plans.

Job Description

Summary
The Animal Caretaker – Level I is an entry-level position responsible for the basic care, feeding, and husbandry of laboratory animals. This role supports daily facility operations to ensure a clean, safe, and humane environment for animals used in biomedical research. All work must comply with institutional guidelines and federal regulations. As essential personnel, this role is required to perform shift duties according to Lab Animal Service contingency plans.

Job Duties

• Provides animal care and husbandry consistent with the requirements of the species and standard operating procedures. This requires handling animals, the ability to transfer them to and from primary enclosures and to provide food, water, and appropriate bedding.
• Must be able to accurately identify and sex animals, observe for normal or abnormal behavior and recognize and report basic signs of illness or abnormalities.
• Requires the ability to read technical instructions and standard operating procedures and to write in records.
• Performs animal census within the centralized facility.
• Must participate in training to stay current and facilitate effective implementation of the animal care and use program to meet regulations and accreditation standards.
• Provides sanitation and other services in support of the care of research animals.
• May be required to work in a centralized cage/rack wash areas to process, clean, disinfect and sterilize cages, racks and other animal care equipment and accessories. Cleans enclosures and general animal quarters.
• Performs room service and sanitation as outlined in standard operating procedures. Disposes of waste material as directed.
• Assists in maintaining the animal morgue and freezers and disposing of dead animals. Adheres to departmental policies and procedures, quality assurance programs, safety, environmental and infection control standards. Complies with AAALAC-I accreditation standards.
• Transports animals, supplies, and equipment as directed.
• Carries out other service and support activities in the facility at the direction of a supervisor. Conducts minor repairs, maintenance and upkeep of animal care equipment, such as replacement of casters.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED

Physical Demands
Lift over 50 lbs. Push/pull up to 140 lbs. Carry 80 lbs. short distances. Frequent standing/walking, squatting, kneeling, crawling, climbing and reaching overhead.

Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.

Work Shift

Workday Day (United States of America)

Worker Sub Type

Regular

Employee Entity

Thomas Jefferson University

Primary Location Address

951 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.    

Jefferson is committed to providing equal educa­tional and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status. 

Benefits

Jefferson offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including medical (including prescription), supplemental insurance, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, tuition assistance, as well as voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts. Colleagues have access to tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service. All colleagues, including those who work less than part-time (including per diem colleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps), have access to medical (including prescription) insurance.

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