Animal Specialist, Senior - Sarver Heart Center

The candidate will be responsible for animal colony management and will be in charge of the gnotobiotic
mouse facility. The candidate will directly interact with researchers and staff to schedule and perform hands
on facility orientation, animal handling, biohazard, and rodent breeding colony training, as appropriate to the
research. Must be able to work independently and as part of a team. Incumbents must have experience
with handling germ-free mice and follow specific, detail-oriented tasks related to gnotobiotic facility.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!
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• Apply knowledge of federally regulated laboratory animal husbandry to perform species-specific care procedures across multiple animal facilities, including management of rodent breeding colonies and collection of tissues for genotyping.
• Administer veterinary treatments of varying complexity to animals as directed by veterinary staff, perform euthanasia using AVMA-approved methods, and support germ-free/gnotobiotic mouse services and strain rederivation procedures in accordance with established protocols.
• Maintain accurate and through records of the rodent breeding colony, review and update breeding protocols, instruction forms, and job aids as needed. Collaborate with lab members to discuss breeding strategies and recommend effective methods to meet colony goals.
• Coordinate animal ordering and internal/external transfers, verify accuracy of room environmental assessment documentation, and ensure animal housing areas meet readiness standards prior to animal arrival, exercising judgment to identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Identify and troubleshoot operational problems and equipment malfunctions, applying general knowledge of facility systems to determine appropriate corrective action and escalating issues requiring technical expertise or vendor intervention.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Able to work with federally regulated laboratory animal species.
• Able to work with animals exposed to hazards or deemed biohazardous.
• Knowledgeable on best breeding strategies and animal handling.
• Knowledgeable in USDA and NIH federal regulations for laboratory animal care and use.
• Time Management skills,
• Proficiency in Computer skills.
• Able to communicate effectively with a large group.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• 3 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.