Laboratory Animal Surgery Technician

Department

Comparative Medicine-621500

Career Area

Laboratory Management and Services

Is this an internal only recruitment?

No

Posting Open Date

08/10/2023

Application Deadline

08/30/2023

Position Type

Permanent Staff (SHRA)

Position Title

Research Specialist - Contributing

Salary Grade Equivalent

GN08

Working Title

Laboratory Animal Surgery Technician

Position Number

20044708

Vacancy ID

P017974

Full-time/Part-time Permanent/Time-Limited

Full-Time Permanent

If time-limited, estimated duration of appointment

Hours per week

40

Work Schedule

Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm. Weekend, on-call, and holiday work required occasionally on a rotating basis.

Work Location

Chapel Hill, NC

Position Location

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range

$43,337-$55,000

Pay Band Information

To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) is responsible for the care of all vertebrate animals on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) campus. DCM is committed to programs of excellence in veterinary care and laboratory animal management practices for all species used in UNC-CH research endeavors.

A staff of more than 170 professional, technical, and administrative personnel provides quality animal care to a daily population of over 200,000 animals located in 26 animal facilities on and off the UNC campus. Federal funding and foundations sponsor over $1 billion in research on the UNC campus conducted by the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Public Health, Pharmacy, as well as the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology.

A major responsibility of the Division’s veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and laboratory technicians is the health care and humane use of all animals. The Division’s program is reviewed semi-annually by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and has been accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) since 1973. DCM and the University also meet U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Public Health Service standards and regulations. As laboratory animal specialists they provide a comprehensive program of veterinary care, offer technical advice and assistance, and provide needed laboratory and research core services for teaching and research purposes.

Position Summary

The primary purpose of the Laboratory Animal Surgical Technician is to function effectively as a member of a team of professionals to provide surgical support and veterinary care to research animals. This includes anesthetic induction, maintenance, monitoring, recovery, and postoperative care for animals of various species in the research environment. Experience with complex and intensive surgical research models using large animals, such as pigs, dogs, rabbits, etc. is critical for this position. Keeping detailed and accurate records of health evaluations, surgical procedures, and controlled drug use is an important responsibility of this position, which requires familiarity with and use of the Vet Care computer program. Additional responsibilities include: inspecting research animals; evaluating sick and injured animals; providing routine care, such as vaccinations, parasite control, and tuberculosis (TB) testing; assisting the rodent health program with clinical support as needed; providing research support to investigators through research services, such as preparing animals for teaching laboratories and training personnel in techniques such as the use of inhalant anesthesia; assisting with the environmental enrichment program; and observing animals and facilities for potential violations of NIH guidelines and reporting them to the appropriate supervisors and/or correcting them. Emergency duties required during adverse weather and/or other emergency situations. Weekend, holiday, and on-call work required occasionally on a rotating basis.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Required Licenses/Certifications

Special Physical/Mental Requirements

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

Position/Schedule Requirements

Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens, Exposure to Hazardous Materials, Laboratory, Overtime occasionally, Weekend work occasionally