Job Description

Senior Animal Technician

Work Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Onsite or Remote Fully On-Site Work Schedule Monday-Friday, 7:00am-4:00pm, may include weekends and holidays

Salary Range: $28.84 - 35.63 Hourly Employment Type 2 - Staff: Career Duration Indefinite

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the area supervisor, the Senior Animal Technician performs routine animal husbandry and/or cage wash tasks at the operative level, including Cage wash & Biosecurity & Hazard Containment (Haz Con) areas as needed. Performs routine animal husbandry tasks including cleaning, watering, feeding, and grooming of common laboratory animals following department procedures and guidelines of the American Association of Laboratory Animal Sciences Manual for Laboratory Technicians; develops and implements proper processes, personnel training, equipment checks and maintenance, area maintenance, transportation of cages and caging accessories between buildings within campus, and serves as a backup for planed an unplanned employee absences. Under the direction of the area supervisor, conducts quality assurance checks in the assigned support areas to verify compliance with internal SOPs, as well as with UCLA and extramural regulations that govern cage wash operations in an animal care and use program. Overtime may be required as well as holiday and weekend work.

Salary Range: $30.28 - $37.41 Hourly (Effective 07/06/2026)

Job Qualifications

Required:

• Required to hold valid California's driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program
• Working knowledge of animal husbandry procedures sufficient to care for laboratory animals in an experimental environment attested by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science at the ALAT level.
• Knowledge of habits and appearances of laboratory animals sufficient to notice deviations from normal.
• Skill in handling a variety of animals in a variety of situations sufficient to prevent injury or distress to the animal or self.
• Ability to lift 50 pound bags of feed, 60-70 pound animals and to push 200-300 pound cage racks of animals.
• Knowledge of cleaning and sanitizing materials and techniques sufficient to maintain a healthful environment.
• Skill in reading English and numbers to be able to follow instructions, maintain records and identify specific animals, and phrases to complete identification cards, and inventory forms.
• Knowledge and skills working with Microsoft Office and other basic processors
• Ability to speak on a one-to-one basis using appropriate vocabulary and grammar to obtain information and instructions, explain changes in animal behavior and appearances, and to communicate with supervisors and co-workers.
• Ability to euthanize rats and mice using CO2 chambers. Must be able to follow the procedures for euthanasia including the use of the CO2 chamber, as well as be able to ascertain that death has occurred. Knowledge of appropriate labeling and disposal of the animals euthanized, including bio-hazardous animals.
• Knowledge of and the ability to apply the concept of contamination control practices including engineering, administrative, and procedural controls for the containment of pathogens, including disinfection, and waste handling methods, including work in Hazcon, biocontainment animal facilities up to BSL2 level with BSL3 practices.
• Knowledge of and ability to accurately follow all SOPs associated with a GLP study, including required by study protocol and GLP documentation procedures.
• Husbandry and cage wash services as operationally needed.

Preferred:

• American Association for Laboratory Animal Science certification at the ALAT level or higher.

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