Greater Los Angeles VA (Sepulveda and West Los Angeles)
Open & closing dates
05/23/2023 to 05/31/2023
Salary
$43,646 - $56,746 per year
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs employees who possess the energy and compassion. At Greater Los Angeles, we are currently recruiting Animal Caretakers within the Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) of Research Service. The VMU is responsible for husbandry and housekeeping for animals used by the veterinary health technicians and biological laboratory technicians for research purposes. The incumbent is responsible for the care and maintenance of a variety of species of laboratory animals (mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish). Some of the duties and responsibilities of this position include (but are not limited to):
Examines each animal daily for health conditions.
Observes and recognizes animal appearance or health abnormalities, and reports these to the Animal Health Technician (AHT).
Administers prophylactic treatment and simple medications to animals, including injections of antibiotics, anesthetics, analgesics, etc. as directed by the supervisor.
Holds and restrains laboratory animals (all species) while they are manipulated by other caretakers or AHT.
Collects specimens for biological and/or diagnostic purposes.
Assists the supervisor, AHT, and/or the animal caretaker lead in receiving and processing newly arrived animals.
Collects biological specimens (feces, urine, blood, and microbiological specimens) for clinical laboratory examination as directed by the supervisor.
Checks and maintains the animal and cage identification system as directed by the supervisor.
Euthanizes animals, using prescribed methods, when so directed by the supervisor.
Provides food, water, and cage care to the animals.
Cleans, sanitizes, and sometimes sterilizes by prescribed methods the animal enclosures.
Sanitizes cages and animal food and water dishes.
Disposes of animal waste and bedding material according to established procedures.
Operates equipment used to clean and sterilize animal cages, cage racks, water bottles, and sipper tubes.
Maintains complete and accurate records of all job-related activities.
Established in 2018, the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Research and Education Foundation (GLAVREF) results from a merger between two long-standing nonprofit corporations that served Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Health System (VAGLAHS). GLAVREF builds partnerships that strengthen the power of scientific discovery and education to improve the lives of Veterans.
Our organization believes that excellence in administration and capacity building will contribute to a more robust, responsive, and agile research operation at VAGLAHS. All research studies and educational programs supported by VA NPCs benefit the VA’s research mission, including patients and their families.
