Senior Animal Resources Technologist (HARS) - Veterinary Medicine & Surgery (North Campus)

The Veterinary Medicine and Surgery department exists to serve MD Anderson research programs. Our primary mission is to provide the best possible veterinary care, facilities and services in support of the institutional animal care and use program, in keeping with all applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) accreditation standards.

Veterinary Medicine & Surgery

KEY FUNCTIONS

Research Support

• Research Project Management
  • Assists investigators on a variety of projects such as surgical support, specialized housing maintenance, specimen collection, etc., during projects.
  • Coordinate, schedule and prepare for individual research projects supported by section personnel, including all associated record keeping (both written and electronic).
  • Maintain working knowledge of equipment, animal handling, other animal care techniques enabling them to advise investigators in best techniques available to perform various procedures on a variety of species.
  • Supports activities at offsite locations.
• Educational and Technical Support
  • Provide support for educational training activities, including teaching AALAS certification classes as well as oversight and scheduling for researcher training and services.
  • Participates in technical training/practice sessions for DVMS and research staff.
  • Provide technical assistance support, including entering billing information in electronic colony management system.
• Post Approval Monitoring (PAM)
  • Observe researcher actions to verify that surgical procedures and other animal activities are consistent with IACUC protocols.
  • Provide guidance on ways to align procedures with protocols. Recommend training and education to researchers on DVMS procedures and IACUC policies.
  • Give feedback to veterinarians and write reports for the IACUC as needed.

Healthcare

• Health Care Documentation
  • Maintains and updates animal records in appropriate electronic systems.
  • Follows all standards for recording use and transfer of controlled substances.
  • Records activity in applicable system for billing purposes.
  • Enters data in to electronic medical records system.
  • Documents clinical observations and survival for drug development projects and keeps organized record of all studies conducted.
  • Provide support for specialized animal housing areas and projects including, but not limited to, PDX, gnotobiotic, high barrier, and rodent breeding colony.
  • Provides backup for other specialized areas such as biohazard, radioisotope, and other housing areas requiring specialized training.
  • Perform health treatments and other animal manipulations as required.
  • Ensures the ventilated cage rack system and automated drinking water system are operating correctly and reports alarms or malfunctions to supervisor or manager immediately.
  • Performs specialized procedures such as placing special diet in cages, and ensures special water is placed properly on the cage with the drinking valve removed.
  • Performs routine rodent weanings and separations.
  • Enters billing information into departmental database.
• Documentation & Quality Assurance
  • Participate in quality assurance monitoring and testing procedures.
  • Provide routine status updates as required by section leadership.
  • Records all relevant data in appropriate hardcopy or electronic systems and ensures that data is entered in a timely manner.
• Backup for Daily Health Rounds and Treatments
  • Perform the duties of Animal Resources Technologist and Senior Animal Technician in case of a staffing shortage.
  • Maintain proficiency and knowledge of healthcare processes and procedures.

Import/Export

• Animal Import
  • Ensure that sentinel health information is obtained from consignor institutions; check for completeness, and forward to veterinarian.
  • Follow up with consignees to ensure safe and humane transport and report problems to veterinarians.
  • Upon veterinarian import approval, receive animals into quarantine and ensure timely quality assurance testing for release into the facility.
• Animal Export
  • Forward sentinel health information to consignee institutions and respond to requests for additional information.
  • Schedule health checks and prepare all necessary documents for veterinary signature.
  • Prepares shipping containers, packs and ships animals.
• Process Management and Documentation
  • Provide regular progress reports to MD Anderson investigators and veterinarians regarding animal imports and exports.
  • Trouble-shoot delays and respond to investigator, consignor/consignee, and veterinarians' queries.
  • Ensure all receiving/import/export documentation is complete and correct.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Education

Required: Associate's degree in Veterinary Technology.

Experience

Required: Three years supervisory/team lead experience in clinical or surgical animal procedures; or animal health care and husbandry. May substitute required education with experience on a one to one basis.

With preferred degree, one year experience required.

With preferred licensure certification, two years experience required.

Certification

Required: Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) within 180 days of eligibility but no more than 992 days. Any employee hired or rehired after September 1, 2012 must possess required certification.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html

Additional Information

• Requisition ID: 169544
• Employment Status: Full-Time
• Employee Status: Regular
• Work Week: Days
• Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 58,500
• Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 70,000
• Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 82,000
• FLSA: non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay
• Fund Type: Soft
• Work Location: Onsite
• Pivotal Position: Yes
• Referral Bonus Available?: Yes
• Relocation Assistance Available?: Yes
• Science Jobs: Yes

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