ANIMAL CARETAKER JOB DESCRIPTION

Biomedical research facilities operate under GLP regulations and IACUC-approved Animal Care and Use Protocols, and the daily integrity of those compliance frameworks rests on whoever manages the animals living inside them. Husbandry gaps - missed health observations, contaminated caging, broken quarantine flow - compromise experimental data and trigger regulatory findings that can suspend a study. Animal Caretakers own the hands-on layer of that system. They move across housing rooms, procedure support, sanitation cycles, and environmental monitoring to keep research animals in the condition protocols require.

As the Animal Caretaker, you maintain the physical and behavioral welfare of research animal colonies while supporting active study protocols and facility compliance requirements. You work under the direction of a Facility Supervisor or Manager, operating within a team responsible for daily husbandry across multiple species and housing areas.

Career Impact: Hands-on experience under GLP and ACUP frameworks builds a recognized credential base toward AALAS ALAT or LAT certification, advancing your standing in the laboratory animal science field.

Business Impact: Research animals in your care are experimental subjects whose condition directly determines the validity of study data reviewed by veterinarians, principal investigators, and regulatory bodies.

Growth Opportunity: Proficiency across rodent, rabbit, and nonhuman primate husbandry expands your scope toward senior technician or facility lead roles within biomedical research organizations.

Company Value: This position offers competitive compensation and benefits within a research mission focused on developing therapies and cures for both human and animal health.

• Provide daily feed, water, and enrichment to research animals across multiple species and housing areas.
• Observe animals for clinical signs of disease or behavioral changes and report abnormal findings to the supervising veterinary or research staff.
• Support animal procedures by capturing, restraining, and positioning animals for examinations, treatments, and sample collection.
• Administer medications and treatments to animals with active clinical cases per veterinarian or veterinary technician orders.
• Clean, decontaminate, and sanitize animal cages, rooms, and equipment on scheduled and as-needed cycles.
• Receive, quarantine, and distribute incoming animals following established receiving procedures.
• Monitor and document environmental conditions, cage densities, and equipment operational status in assigned rooms.
• Follow SOPs, GLP standards, and ACUP protocols to maintain research integrity and regulatory compliance.

• High school diploma or GED, or equivalent work experience in an animal care or research setting.
• 1 or more years of experience in laboratory animal care or a closely related animal handling environment.
• Demonstrated ability to observe animals and identify visible signs of illness, distress, or behavioral change.
• Ability to follow written and verbal SOPs, GLP guidelines, and study-specific protocols consistently.
• Physical capability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and perform repetitive physical tasks throughout a full shift.
• Willingness to work rotating schedules, including nights, weekends, and holidays as required by facility operations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required facility clearances and health screenings.

• AALAS certification at the ALAT or LAT level, or commitment to achieve certification within one year of hire.
• Prior exposure to multiple species, including rodents, rabbits, ferrets, or nonhuman primates, in a research context.
• Familiarity with GLP regulations and IACUC Animal Care and Use Protocol requirements.
• Experience operating sterilization or sanitization equipment such as autoclaves or rack washers in a regulated environment.

• Cage change and sanitation cycle completion rate, measured against the facility's scheduled maintenance calendar.
• Observation report accuracy, tracked by the frequency of missed clinical findings identified on subsequent veterinary review.
• Quarantine protocol adherence rate, reflecting proper intake handling across incoming animal shipments.
• Environmental condition documentation completeness, measured by the percentage of rooms logged within required daily windows.
• Regulatory finding rate attributable to husbandry gaps during IACUC or institutional inspections.
• Typical tools: autoclave and cage-washing systems (commonly tunnel-washers, rack washers); biological safety cabinets; handheld data entry devices.

• Base Salary Range: $32,000 to $42,000 per year, depending on experience and location
• Bonus: Modest annual merit-based bonus where offered; not universally standard at this level
• Equity: Not typical for this role and seniority level
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution varies by organization
• PTO: 10 to 15 days annually, plus paid holidays standard in research institution settings
• Common Perks: AALAS exam fee reimbursement, on-site training programs, uniform or PPE provision

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment in this role is contingent on successful completion of a background check and any applicable health screenings required by facility policy. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Candidates requiring reasonable accommodations during the application or employment process may request them at any time. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Animal Caretaker owns the full cycle of hands-on care for dogs, cats, and other small animals, from administering medications and implanting microchips to cleaning kennels and collecting service fees. Working independently within established methods, this role ensures animal health and welfare while collaborating with team members on daily data entry, control forms, and facility operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Observe animals' appearance and activity for obvious signs of illness, disease, or discontent, and judge their general physical condition.
• Determine the animal type and amount of food and liquid needed, and identify any special feed requirements.
• Force feed and apply medications to animals as needed.
• Handle and restrain hard-to-control animals to prevent injury to the animal or self.
• Clean and disinfect pens, kennels, and restrooms.
• Implant microchips into animals, and bathe animals as needed.
• Input daily data into the computer, note animal actions, complete control forms, and list medications.
• Collect fees for service and turn in total daily receipts.

Required Qualifications

• Experience providing proper care of animals, including examining for obvious signs of illness, disease, or distress, and administering prescribed treatments or medication.
• Willingness and ability to handle and care for animals, including feeding, watering, bathing, and cleaning and disinfecting kennel areas and restrooms.
• Willingness to insert microchips in animals.
• Ability to restrain and lift animals weighing up to 40 pounds without assistance and up to 75 pounds with assistance.
• Ability to stand for prolonged periods and frequently bend, kneel, and crawl to retrieve animals.

Embedded within the laboratory animal facility, the Animal Caretaker, Jr. delivers daily husbandry and sanitation services for research animals, following established procedures for feeding, caging changes, and equipment operation. Working closely with the Facility Supervisor and Lead, this role supports the integrity of biomedical research by maintaining humane, safe, and sanitary animal housing conditions.

Core Functions

• Provide care of laboratory animals in a humane, safe, and sanitary manner using appropriate equipment and established procedures.
• Maintain a daily room activity log of each assigned room.
• Feed and water animals daily and administer special diets and water according to specified protocols and directions.
• Change animal caging as scheduled or needed and clean animal rooms daily as assigned.
• Break down and sanitize animal quarters, service rooms, equipment, and hallways as scheduled and assigned.
• Observe animals for clinical signs of disease and behavioral changes, and report observations using appropriate forms.
• Observe and maintain proper cage densities and report and correct any violations using established cage density policies.
• Receive, transport, and distribute incoming animals as specified by established animal receiving procedures.
• Operate and maintain the cage washer, bottle washer, tunnel-washer, autoclave, biological safety cabinet, and other support equipment.
• Observe and report any aberrations in animal room environments.
• Attend in-house training programs to become more knowledgeable of and develop expertise in lab animal science.
• Notify Facility Supervisor or Lead of minor repairs, record, and follow up.

Qualifications & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Previous related experience preferred.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Great attention to detail.
• Ability to lift at least 50 pounds, with physical fitness for heavy repetitive lifting and pushing of equipment daily.

Must not be allergic to animals, latex, waste products, bedding, or solutions.

Reporting to the Assistant or Manager, the Animal Caretaker shapes daily production outcomes on a swine farm by handling, feeding, and medicating sows and piglets while operating machinery, power washing tools, and computer equipment. Partnering with the Data Tech and farm team, this role upholds Animal Welfare and Bio-Security protocols to ensure the safety of animals and personnel alike.

Primary Duties

• Handle, feed, water, and move sows and gilts using basic handling techniques.
• Operate machinery, equipment, and power washing tools, and scrape feeders and clean areas.
• Assist with farrowing, artificial insemination, and vaccinating and medicating sows and piglets.
• Handle and use chemicals following safety and biosecurity guidelines.
• Use computer equipment, including handheld devices and electronic wands, and coordinate daily information and corrections with Data Tech.
• Complete treatment cards and record information accurately.
• Perform ear tagging, housekeeping duties, and any other tasks assigned by Assistant or Manager.
• Check feed systems and fill lines, and report maintenance issues to management, including stun gun use and upkeep.
• Attend safety meetings and adhere to animal welfare protocols.

Skills & Qualifications

• Familiarity with biosecurity and swine production practices.
• Ability to efficiently multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Technology knowledge, including handheld devices, wand sows, and other required equipment.
• Team-oriented, self-motivated, and positive individual with a strong work ethic.
• Ability to bend, push, grasp, and pull up to 60 pounds, with constant walking comprising 95% of the workday.
• Able to work every other weekend and early first-shift hours, with a reliable method of transportation.

Sitting at the intersection of animal welfare and biomedical research support, the Animal Caretaker at TMG builds a foundation of reliable daily care by providing routine husbandry, restraining animals for procedures, and maintaining decontaminated housing in strict accordance with SOPs. Operating across a research facility in Charlottesville, VA, this role contributes directly to the advancement of therapies and cures for human and animal health under the guidance of Veterinary Technicians and Veterinarians.

Duties

• Provide routine care to research animals, including feed, water, and health checks.
• Monitor animal room environmental conditions.
• Observe daily appearances and behaviors of experimental animals and report to a higher-level employee.
• Capture, restrain, hold, and position animals for procedures, examinations, and treatments.
• Dispense and administer medications per Veterinary Technician and/or Veterinarian orders.
• Collect blood and other tissues, label them correctly, and deliver expeditiously.
• Assist with animal euthanasia and necropsy following prescribed protocols.
• Clean, decontaminate, and maintain animal wing spaces and cages in accordance with SOPs.
• Operate autoclaves, washers, pressure sprayers, and misters.
• Enter and exit animal isolation rooms and move between animal rooms in strict accordance with SOPs to prevent cross-contamination.

Requirements

• AA degree in animal science or related science, or 1 year of experience working in animal care required.
• Ability to be trained to achieve AALAS ALAT certification within one year preferred.
• Background knowledge of working with research animals preferred.
• Capable of performing basic animal care duties with guidance.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, and must be able to receive and maintain all required clearances.
• Willingness and ability to use appropriate PPE and equipment as described in SOPs to protect yourself and fellow workers