NOTE: This recruitment will be used to fill multiple full-time Animal Technician vacancies. Each position will be located at a specific site in the Seattle area.




As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for six consecutive years. 

The Washington National Primate Center has outstanding opportunities for the Animal Technician 1 role.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide the appropriate environment to support outstanding biomedical research directed towards significant human health issues and nonhuman primate health and biology.  In conjunction with our Mission Statement, these values link this position to our purpose as a Center:

•Commitment to Research
•Teamwork
•Accountability – Productivity
•Communication

This position is an entry level class of the Animal Technician series. Under the direct supervision of the Animal Technician Supervisor the Animal Technician I will perform routine animal husbandry, facility sanitation, custodial duties and maintenance of tools, machinery and equipment.  This position will perform these responsibilities according to established husbandry standard operating procedures and training received.  This position will uphold husbandry requirements for animal health, psychological well-being of nonhuman primates; maintenance of hazardous containment and safety programs; and research protocols, consistent with the existing federal, state, local and university regulations.    


RESPONSIBILITIES

Animal Husbandry: 
•Feed and water animals in accordance with prescribed diets and instructions.
•Ensure adequate food and water is available at any given time.
•Empty bedding pans and cages/enclosures of bedding and feces utilizing scrapers, brushes, water hoses, dust pans, brooms, and other cleaning tools and equipment.
•Clean (remove organic material) and sanitize cages/enclosures and runs, bedding pans, tools, and equipment and surrounding premises including walls, floors and windows utilizing soaps, detergents, disinfectants and other cleaning chemicals, cage washers, autoclaves, power sprayers, hoses and other cleaning equipment.
•Weigh and transfer animals from soiled to clean enclosures or caging making sure to maintain individual animal identity and observe precautions to avoid cross-contamination; prepare animal quarters in accordance with specified procedures.
•Observe animals and recognize and report early manifestations of disease.
•Perform husbandry associated with the set-up of animal social groups in cages and compound settings for breeding and socialization making sure of adherence to the Center’s nonhuman primate psychological well-being program and as directed by the veterinary staff. 

Maintenance and Sanitation of Animal Facility, Cages, Tools, and Equipment:
•Maintain buildings, vehicles, animal facilities, housing rooms, animal caging, compounds, and enclosures in accordance with departmental policy and procedure. 
•Perform cleaning and sanitation of the animal facilities and equipment such as cage washing areas, hallways and procedure rooms, kitchen including utensils and storage areas.
•Ensure that the food given to the animals is within appropriate shelf life and is not contaminated or compromised. 

Animal Monitoring and Record Keeping:
•Record and document observations and submit reports regularly including but not limited to records related to weights, feeding, care and animal identification. 
•Recognize and report common signs of clinical illness, variations in eating habits, abnormal stool and urine deposits, unusual behavior, other changes and abnormalities and death.
•Ensure that temperature, water pressure, humidity and lighting remain within acceptable ranges, report deviations and abnormalities. 

Other Assignments:
•Obtain and maintain education and skills of laboratory animal husbandry that pertain to the use of research animals and safety measures in handling nonhuman primates, chemicals and biohazards.

Additional
•Provide daily enrichment for the animals, including but not limited to food, foraging, manipulable and sensory enrichment.
•Support the socialization of the animals by staging appropriate housing for social pairs or groups.


The Office of Research and the Primate Center shares President Cauce’s commitment to combat inequities and racism. The values of diversity, equity and inclusion are integral to the success of our research enterprise and are embedded in the culture of who we are as institution and employer.

We will honor different and unique identities and nurture an accessible, welcoming and respectful environment for all staff, and students and faculty in the Office of Research Primate Center and for all members of the UW research community. We will regularly review our services and systems and adapt them to reflect the evolving environments and work styles of our employees and those we serve.

We are ALL responsible for confronting bias and inequities, both individual and institutional, that persist here and throughout our society. Our call is to remove barriers and promote access, opportunity, and justice for all. We all must commit to this ongoing work.

Recognizing and valuing diversity will make the Office of Research Primate Center and the University stronger, and enrich the stellar research carried out at the UW.


MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
•Physical ability to do required work; ability to read, write, and communicate orally in English.

Additional Requirements:
•Lifting up to 50 lbs.  
•Ability to work well independently and in teams. 
•Detail oriented in record keeping. 
•Ability to follow directions.
•Punctuality, regular and predictable attendance is essential.
  
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

DESIRED REQUIREMENTS
•Knowledge of USDA regulations, NIH guidelines, PHS policy and IACUC function.
•Basic knowledge and understanding of sanitation techniques, including steam and chemical sterilization, and appropriate use of disinfectants and detergents.
•Basic knowledge and understand of non-human primate health and behavior.
•AALAS Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician certification. 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
NOTE: This recruitment will be used to fill multiple full-time Animal Technician vacancies. Each position will be located at a specific site in the Seattle area. Individuals must be capable of traveling to various sites if work requires. In addition, this position may be required to work overtime to ensure completion of responsibilities or during high volume periods.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of health assessment at the UW's Employee Health Clinic.  The health assessment may include but is not limited to tuberculosis clearance, measles clearance, immunizations such as tetanus and vaccinia, physical exam and/or review of work health history, x-rays, and/or assessment to wear positive or negative respiratory protective equipment.  These health assessments will be repeated periodically during work assignment. 

This position may be required to work with and take specific precautions against and/or be immunized against potentially infectious agents.  Specific precautions may include wearing respirators and/or protective clothing. Employee is personally responsible for following health & safety and security policies/procedures and staying current on all required training.  Bloodborne pathogen training and compliance with all WaNPRC and UW security policies is also mandatory.  This position involves handling nonhuman primates and human pathogenic organisms.  The ability to work in an Animal Biosafety Level-3 containment facility may be required.

•Adhere to the WaNPRC Environmental Enhancement Plan requirements for NHPs.
•Participate in the Behavioral Management and Positive Reinforcement Primate Training Programs.
•Develop a working knowledge of classical and operant conditioning principles and how they apply to handling primates in a research environment, with positive reinforcement as the expectation.
•Develop a working knowledge of non-human primate behavior.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.