Permanent Primate Behavior Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Department Overview

The Oregon National Primate Center (ONPRC) is located 12 miles west of the OHSU main campus, and sits on 162 acres of land featuring forested areas, research and administration buildings, indoor and outdoor animal housing, and 2-mile perimeter walking path. Our mission is to improve human health and the quality of life through the support of nonhuman primate research programs that advance our knowledge of the causes, preventions, treatments, and cures of debilitating diseases.

Function/Duties of Position

The Small Laboratory Animal Veterinary Research/Health Technician 1, in a professional manner, provides research support, health care, and husbandry, for laboratory animals maintained at the Oregon National Primate Research Center.

While demonstrating strong leadership, creativity, high energy, and a knowledge base in DCM functions, assure that health, husbandry, and housing requirements for a wide variety of laboratory research animals meets Federal, State and departmental requirements, by coordinating work assignments to meet investigator and clinical veterinarian needs, overseeing timely and effective completion of tasks assigned, and providing instruction and training to Veterinary Research/Health Technicians, Laboratory Animal Technicians, and a wide variety of research staff, in a professional manner and with a service-oriented attitude. The area of work assignment and specific tasks will vary, depending on animal population and care requirements, service requirements, and staffing needs.

The Vet Research/Health Technician 1 assists in providing research support, clinical health care, and husbandry for a variety of laboratory animals. This is the first level of a three level series. It is distinguished from the higher levels by increased concentration on routine care and reduced responsibility for providing intermediate to complex animal care and procedures under specialized projects which require increased attention to research criteria. It is distinguished from the Lab Animal Technician series by the emphasis on research support and health care of animals.

Animal Health Care Services

• Recognize, report and record abnormalities in animal's health and physical condition, or behavioral irregularities.  Report physical or behavioral abnormalities promptly following DCM operational procedures. Implement medical orders within their competencies as authorized by veterinary or research staff.
• Handle and care for animal in specialized colonies, including animals that have been experimentally exposed to chemicals, pathogens or radioactive materials.
• Monitor the environment in animal areas; inspect caging, equipment, floors, walls, etc., for needed repairs and safety hazards, or potential hazards to research animals and/or experimental protocols.
• Administer medications and treatments under the supervision of the veterinary staff; perform animal health management procedures, including animal treatment and diagnostic procedures such as obtaining diagnostic samples.

Animal Husbandry

• Perform animal husbandry including transferring animals from soiled to dirty cages, provide fresh water and food; capture, restrain and transport animals in support of investigative or veterinary procedures; restrain, identify and perform sexing of all common varieties of laboratory animals.
• Assist in the maintenance of laboratory animal breeding colonies, consisting of identification of newly born animals, assessment of health status and weaning procedures and performing permanent identification procedures.
• Perform routine sanitization tasks related to animal primary housing, equipment and facilities; sweep, mop, scrub, wash, and disinfect floors, walls, ceilings, sinks, and other equipment; operate equipment, including but not limited to cage washers, fogging machines, floor scrubbers, autoclaves, pressure washers, scales and veterinary care instruments.
• Recognize and report problems with facilities (i.e., inappropriate room temperatures, leaking or broken water pipes, plugged drains, damaged surfaces, etc.).  Report items requiring corrective action following DCM operational procedures; may complete corrective action as authorized or directed.
• Record requested environmental data (e.g., room temperatures, lighting); sign area work sheet for work performed.

Research Support Services  

• Responsible for, assist with, coordinate and complete of a large volume of tasks, following various complex research protocols, in support of laboratory animals used in research.
• Participate in the development, coordination and implementation of institution-wide animal care and use procedures, assist with acquisition and maintenance of all appropriate regulatory, research, and animal records and reports; implement established procedures and policies governing the safe and humane care and use of laboratory animals.
• Provide Technical services such as obtaining blood samples, administration of medications or test material.  Administer medications and treatments to animals as instructed by the veterinary staff.
• Interact with the research investigative staff to accomplish their needs in a professional manner, with a service-oriented attitude. Communicate clearly and professionally in both oral and written formats with co-workers, technical and professional staff.

Miscellaneous

• Drives vehicles around and between campus.
• Autoclaves materials and equipment.
• Identifies animals.
• Assists in loading and unloading animals.
• Assists with animal capture and care.
• Assists with unloading and storing feed. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Six months of experience providing paid or voluntary care for animals.

• Valid driver's license and the ability to drive DCM/ONPRC vehicles on and off campus.

• Professional and service-oriented attitude.
• Interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Ability to consistently interact with research investigative staff, supervisors and co-workers in a positive and constructive manner.
• Ability to use proper techniques to perform standard clinical procedures.
• Dexterity and manual skills.
• Ability to use the computer keyboard to type.
• Ability to read, write, and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and/or written formats with both technical and professional staff.
• Ability to successfully pass an FBI background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in science, preferably in related field such as Animal Sciences, Biology, Physiology, etc.

• One year experience working with small laboratory animals, including but not limited to mice, rats, and guinea pigs.

• Experience providing paid or voluntary husbandry for animals (i.e., watering, feeding, changing bedding, housing, checking animal's health, etc.).  As an on-the-job trained position, is not required to have prior experience with laboratory animals.
• Experience in the health care of research animals.
• Experience as a veterinary technician or assistant.
• Experience with handling and administering medications through various routes.
• Pharmaceutical drug and controlled drug knowledge.
• Knowledge of standardized medical terminology and nomenclature.

• Certification by the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science at the Laboratory Animal Technician level (LAT) OR equivalent certification such as Certified Animal Health Technician (AHT) or Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT).

Additional Details

Weekly work schedules established by DCM supervisory staff, including voluntary and in-voluntary weekend, overtime, and holiday work schedules.

Working Conditions

• Perform research support and/or animal care activities that may be required on weekends, during non-regular working hours, or on an overtime basis.

• Daily work may involve moving on wet and/or slick surfaces, through narrow corridors between rows of cages, and climbing stairs to corral observation towers.

• Perform work in covered areas that are not environmentally controlled.

• Work in areas where there is risk of exposure to zoonotic agents through injury, by direct contact with animals or their tissues and body fluids, or by contact with equipment contaminated by animals or their tissues and body fluids.

• Work where there is risk of exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals and sanitizing chemicals.

• Work inside an ABSL-3 facility is required.

• Work inside an Insectary is required.

Physical Demands and Equipment

• Possess sufficient dexterity and manual skills to safely perform basic animal husbandry and animal handling (using proper techniques).
• Able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 23 kg (50lbs), and lift objects weighing approximately 19 kg (42lbs) to approximately shoulder height.
• Able to push and pull heavy wheeled equipment such as cage racks and loaded carts.
• Able to move unassisted through various animal housing areas located in several separate buildings, indoor and outdoor, in order to make animal observations, perform animal husbandry tasks, handle, move, or restrain animals, collect samples, administer treatments, and perform other procedures.
• Possess sufficient dexterity and manual skills to safely perform (or learn to perform) basic animal husbandry and animal handling (using proper techniques), and health care procedures, including but not limited to feeding and sanitization procedures, animal capture and restraint, administration of medications, and collection of body fluids and tissues.

Benefits

• Healthcare for full-time employees covered 100% and 88% for dependents.
• $50K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee.
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from.
• Vacation - up to 200 hours per year dependent on length of service.
• Sick Leave - up to 96 hours per year.
• 9 paid holidays per year.
• Substantial Tri-Met and C-Tran discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Childcare service discounts.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Employee discounts to local and national businesses.

Why apply to OHSU?We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.eduEmployment Type: OTHER