Entry Level Animal Science Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking an Animal Care Technician I to work at our CRADL (Charles River Accelerator & Development Labs) animal facility in Seattle.

The Animal Care Technician I will observe, monitor, and document the health and physical environment within the Charles River Accelerator & Development Labs (CRADL) animal facility. Perform routine husbandry tasks such as feeding, watering, cage changing, and cleaning of equipment and rooms to maintain a safe and compliant environment. Support animal health and welfare by accurately reporting concerns and collaborating with veterinary staff, ensuring all work aligns with institutional, state, and federal guidelines.

Work Schedule:    7:00 am - 3:30 pm (Sunday-Thursday) OR (Tuesday-Saturday) depending on business needs

• Cage Wash:
• Operate a washer for cleaning and sanitizing animal cage supplies through automatic processes.
• Operate autoclave machine to sterilize caging equipment and instruments for the animals.
• Maintain documentation for QA including but not limited to temperature strips, room environmental reports and logs, dish washer and/or autoclaving logs.
• Handle, transfer, and deliver animals, supplies (caging, gases, dry ice, liquid nitrogen), and waste as needed to and from work area(s). 
• Perform daily cage duties including recycling and scheduled sanitation procedures. 
• Animal Care:
  • Review and comprehend relevant SOPs, BOPs, and quality standards at the entry level, applying them to routine animal care and facility tasks under supervision.  Demonstrate basic understanding and consistency in following written procedures.
  • Monitor daily animal health and welfare while performing daily animal health observations.

• • Perform animal husbandry duties to maintain quality and health of research animals, to include performing daily water bottle and cage checks; provide appropriate food and water; perform cage changing and/or cage cleaning as required; record animal health concerns per SOP and/or specified protocols. 
  • Dispose of biological, hazardous, and animal facility waste following established procedures.
  • Perform humane euthanasia in accordance with the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the AVMA Guide on Euthanasia, and under the direction of the attending veterinarian, or designee.
  • Operate equipment and use supplies according to safety guidelines; perform general housekeeping (i.e. check pest traps, common area cleaning, testing eye wash stations and emergency showers) and adhere to safety procedures. 
  • Assist with receiving and housing incoming animals under supervision based on site needs.
  • Cage card distribution including but not limited to printing cage cards for incoming shipments and requests from clients.
  • Collect census data from animal cages and assist with uploading manual or handheld scanner data into approved software.
  • Assist with monitoring client row assignments in shared animal holding rooms to ensure racks/rows are labeled and assigned correctly per facility needs.
• Report non-compliance or animal welfare concerns to the appropriate Animal Welfare Team member or IACUC office. 
• Maintain an organized and clean work environment including but not limited to animal rooms, common areas such as corridors, cage washrooms, procedure rooms, anterooms, storage areas and grounds by cleaning at prescribed intervals following established procedures. 
• Training and Development:
  • Attend and participate in on-the-job and classroom training sessions and complete all assigned computer-based safety and professional development training by predetermined due dates.
  • Communicate procedural questions and self-identified training deficiencies to team lead or supervisor.
• Maintain required attendance level and adherence to work schedule in accordance with required staffing levels in order to ensure that assigned duties are completed.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

• Education: High school diploma, General Education Degree (G.E.D.) 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (B.A./B.S.) in animal or life sciences field
• Experience: Directly related laboratory animal experience in a laboratory animal facility
• Certification/Licensure: Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification from AALAS

The pay range for this position is $21.30-$22.00/hour.  Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.