Department Overview

The Oregon National Primate Research 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, a pond, 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 Veterinary Research/Health Technician 3, Equipment Sanitation Technician provides research support, health care and husbandry for laboratory research animals maintained at the Oregon National Primate Research Center; performs technical procedures as required for research on a variety of laboratory research animals; provides laboratory animals with sanitized primary housing in accordance with federal regulations and guidelines (this includes cleaning, sanitizing and sterilizing animal primary housing equipment following strict protocols); provides leadership and oversight to a group of laboratory animal equipment sanitation technicians to ensure compliance with animal welfare regulatory requirements; coordinate work assignments to meet investigator and clinical veterinarian needs, overseeing timely and effective completion of tasks assigned; and, provides instruction and training to Laboratory Animal Equipment Sanitation Technicians, Veterinary Research/Health Technicians, Laboratory Animal Technicians, and 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, staffing needs and the individuals knowledge. The animals are housed in 9 buildings and 40 outdoor enclosures, on the ONPRC/OHSU campus. The Animal Resources & Research Support (ARRS) houses approximately 4800 non-human primates, and approximately 1100 small laboratory animals, on a daily basis. This position may be designated 'Lead Technician.'

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED, AND
• Four years of experience caring for animals in a research setting and certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science at Lab Animal Technician level (LAT) or ability to obtain certification following 12 months of employment; OR
• Three years of experience in the care of experimental animals in a research setting or certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science at Lab Animal Technologist level (LATG) or ability to obtain certification following 12 months of employment; OR
• An equivalent combination of training, certification and experience.
• Professional and service-oriented attitude; excellent interpersonal and organizational skills; ability to actively and pro-actively manage multiple priorities; ability to make independent decisions; ability to use proper techniques to safely perform standard clinical procedures, including ability to accurately calculate medication dosages; ability to use computer keyboard -knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel and Word); 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
• Valid Driver's License and the ability to drive ARRS /ONPRC vehicles on and off campus
• Drug Testing will be required

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in science, preferably in related field such as Animal Sciences, Biology, Physiology, etc.
• 3 months experience with Prime), which maintains copious amounts of information related to primate research and serves as a clinical and resource management system
• Demonstrated prior experience in a leadership role highly preferred

Additional Details

Please be sure to upload a cover letter, resume and references.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

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 in areas or in conditions that require fit testing and use of an N-95 respirator. May involve work inside an ABSL3 facility.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & EQUIPMENT USAGE:

• Able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 23 kg (50 lbs), and lift objects weighing approximately 19 kg (42 lbs) 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

All are welcome