Job Description
The Department of Comparative Medicine has an outstanding opportunity for Animal Technician 2 to join their team.
About this Opportunity
This Animal Technician 2 is to provide advanced administrative, fiscal, and operational support across animal facilities. This position serves as an operational point of continuity in the absence of supervisory staff, ensuring accurate animal census reporting, billing support, facility coverage coordination, inventory, and compliance documentation. The role requires independent judgment, strong attention to detail, and effective communication with animal technicians, management, veterinary services, and research staff.
Key Responsibilities (essential functions underlined)
Specialist Administrative Duties – 25%
Facility Administrative Operations
- Provide administrative and operational support across animal facilities.
- Serve as an operational contact in the supervisor’s absence, escalating issues as needed.
- Assist staff, Veterinary Services, and research personnel with facility needs during assigned coverage periods.
Animal Census, Billing & Records Management
- Manage the weekly census collection system for per diem billing, including:
- Scanning individual animal census cards for accuracy.
- Running and reviewing cards for completeness and data integrity.
- Identifying and correcting data errors prior to upload.
- Uploading census files to support Animal Billing and OAW Hoverboard records.
- Processing bar-coded card strips (including weaning, separation, and overcrowding) on a daily basis.
- Review facility logs, identify inaccuracies, alert the supervisor, and ensure proper filing and record retention.
Scheduling & Coverage Coordination
- Assign daily room coverage in the absence of the supervisor and communicate staffing changes as needed.
- Coordinate weekend and holiday coverage in the supervisor’s absence to ensure continuous facility operations.
Animal Receiving & Housing Preparation
- Receive animal deliveries and audit associated documentation for completeness and accuracy.
- Prepare cages and housing in accordance with approved protocols and facility standards.
Fiscal & Inventory Responsibilities
- Perform daily and weekly AOPS duties, including facility fiscal responsibilities.
- Conduct inventory of feed, bedding, and consumable supplies; track usage and support fiscal accountability.
- Support compliance with purchasing, inventory, and cost-tracking requirements.
Routine Husbandry Task - 75%
- Perform complex animal husbandry duties including those in in biocontainment
- (e.g., ABSL2, ABSL2+) or bioexclusion (e.g., isolation, quarantine, Helicobacter spp-free) areas.
- Perform preventive animal health care duties.
- Perform delegated administrative functions in support of animal facility management and operations such as performing regular inventory assessments, initiating supply and equipment requests, documenting equipment maintenance and repairs, filing documents, and generating and posting signs and labels.
- Assist in receiving and storing materials, food, and supplies.
- May assist in training and directing the work of new and lower level animal technicians and research technicians.
- Assist in installation and routine maintenance of caging systems (e.g., ventilated rodent racks) and other non-fixed facility equipment.
- Document equipment maintenance and repairs in accordance with facility guidelines.
- Collect and evaluate water and environmental samples to record water quality, and support animal health and sanitation efficacy testing.
- Perform CO2 euthanasia of rodents,
- Follow standard operating procedures, working guidelines, and related documents.
- Perform and document daily animal health checks to assess animal behavior and well-being. Identify and report animal illness or abnormalities as directed.
- Perform routine husbandry including routine cage changes and housing; providing
- appropriate feed, water and environmental enrichment; weaning or separating animals; handling, restraining, weighing, and determining the sex of all common laboratory animals; and determining daily animal census.
- Provide food and water (including specialized food and water) to animals according to instructions. Document food and water administration as well as animal food and water consumption. Report deviations as instructed.
- Prepare clean animal cages and enclosures for a wide variety of animals according to requirements.
- Clean and/or sanitize animal use areas including walls, floors, ceilings, windows, and food preparation rooms. Perform general custodial duties within the vivarium (e.g., sweep and mop hallways, transport waste materials).
- Maintain separation of animals of different health or experimental statuses; observe precautions to avoid cross-contamination.
- May provide animal husbandry duties in biocontainment (e.g., ABSL2, ABSL2+ rooms) or bioexclusion (e.g., isolation, quarantine, Helicobacter spp-free rooms) areas.
- Monitor and record room environmental parameters; report deviations as instructed.
- Maintain detailed and accurate written and electronic records and logs.
- Dispose of animal carcasses in accordance with facility, state and federal requirements.
- Operate machinery as directed (e.g., change stations, floor scrubbers, animal racks).
- Maintain equipment (e.g., ventilated caging racks, laminar flow stations, biological safety cabinets) and premises in accordance with specified standards.
- Monitor inventory levels and stock and maintain supplies. Initiate supply and equipment orders.
- Maintain appropriate communications with research personnel.
- Attend regularly-scheduled staff meetings and continuing education; communicate animal care issues to research personnel, supervisors, and co-workers.
- Assist with the delivery of animals to the facility and the transportation of animals within the facility.
- Assist with basic cagewash duties (e.g., operate autoclaves, rack washers, and tunnel washers), as needed.
- May occasionally operate departmental vehicles (car and box truck).
Perform tasks at a minimum of 0.25 FTE in support of the following:
Required Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration
Minimum Qualifications
- American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification.
- One year of experience as an Animal Technician 1 or equivalent.
- Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
Preferred Qualifications
Administrative
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex administrative processes with high accuracy and attention to detail.
- Proficiency in maintaining, reviewing, and identifying issues with operational records.
- Knowledge of facility recordkeeping requirements and ability to identify documentation gaps or errors.
- Consistent adherence to institutional policies, SOPs, and regulatory expectations.
- Ability to assign staff coverage and support facility operations in the absence of supervisory staff.
- Sound judgment in escalating issues appropriately to management.
Communication & Collaboration
- Clear, professional communication with animal care staff, Veterinary Services, research personnel, and management.
- Ability to coordinate across multiple facilities, shifts, and operational teams.
Fiscal Awareness & Accountability
- Understanding of facility-level fiscal responsibilities and inventory processes.
- Ability to follow established administrative procedures accurately.
Working Conditions
- This is an essential position and the employee will be expected to report to work under conditions that other employees are not required to report to work, such as inclement weather and UW suspended operations.
- Must be willing and able to work with a wide variety of animals
- Work schedules and facility assignments may change day to day to meet the needs of the department
- Day shift work schedule will consist of five consecutive, 8-hour work days; future work week schedules may change to meet the needs of the department.
- Occasional work outside of regular work hours will be required, including some weekend and holiday work will be required.
- Must be able to pass University of Washington required background check(s)
- May be required to work with and take specific precautions, against and/or be immunized against potentially infectious agents. Specific precautions may include wearing respirators and/or protective clothing.
- The employee is personally responsible for following health & safety and security policies/procedures.
- Punctuality and regular attendance are critical components of this position.
- Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and carry 30 pounds
- Must be able to work at both on-campus and off-campus animal care facilities.
- This position requires the ability to travel to and work at multiple animal facility locations, both on and off campus.
Tools and Equipment:
- Duties require the use of equipment such as cage washers, bottle washers, tunnel washers, autoclaves, and other support equipment in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures and Working Guidelines.
- Duties may require the use of specialize equipment used in support of working with infectious agents or animal requiring unique care and handling.
Compensation, Benefits and Position Details
Pay Range Minimum:
$45,144.00 annual
Pay Range Maximum:
$57,252.00 annual
Other Compensation:
-
Benefits:
For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/
Shift:
First Shift (United States of America)
Temporary or Regular?
This is a regular position
FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):
100.00%
Union/Bargaining Unit:
SEIU Local 925 Nonsupervisory
About the UW
Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.
UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
Our Commitment
The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.