Description

External Retirement Plan TRS Employment Type Employee Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible Full/Part time Full Time Work Schedule Additional Schedule Information
Monday-Friday, 7am-4pm, rotating weekend and holidays
Advertised Salary Commensurate with Experience Posting Date 12/17/2025 Open until filled Yes Closing Date Proposed Starting Date 01/18/2026 Special Instructions to Applicants Location of Vacancy Athens Area EEO Policy Statement
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Position Information

Classification Title Animal Care Technician II FLSA Non-Exempt FTE 1.00 Minimum Qualifications
High school diploma or equivalent and 2 years of related experience
Preferred Qualifications Position Summary
This is a high containment laboratory animal husbandry position at the Animal Health Research Center (AHRC), an AAALC accredited and Select Agent & Tier 1 registered animal facility. This position will perform all aspects of high containment animal husbandry with various species of laboratory and agricultural animals in ABSL-2, ABSL-3, and ABSL3-Ag environments. Animal husbandry duties include, but are not limited to, daily health observations, feeding and watering animals, cleaning caging, receiving, identifying and transporting animals, and providing and monitoring environmental enrichment. The position may require veterinary technical assistance such as blood, tissue, weight, temperature and urine/fecal collections, administering prophylactic and/or terminal treatments and injections, and more. The incumbent will be expected to perform routine cleaning and sanitation duties such as decontaminating, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing cages, animal rooms, primary enclosures, ancillary areas, and equipment. Duties also include setting up and breaking down laboratories, operating large equipment like autoclaves, cage washers, biosafety cabinets, etc., providing some facility level training, perform minor preventative maintenance and facility monitoring, and maintaining important documentation (room logs, autoclave/cage washer logs, select agent tracking logs, etc.). The incumbent will be expected to perform all duties in various levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) when in active laboratories and adhere to strict standard operating procedures. Multiple daily showers are essential as part of facility biocontainment policies. Participation in pre-study meetings, continuing education, and training classes is expected. This position will require federal approval to work in certain laboratories and requires rotating weekend and holiday work. Incumbent will participate in the UGA Occupational Health program.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Experience handling various animal species, working in a veterinary, research or laboratory setting, experience working in ABSL-2, ABSL-3, or ABSL-3Ag environments, and/or basic understanding of infectious disease research strategies is preferred.
• Developed communication and critical thinking skills, situational awareness, observational skills, and a desire to promote and foster teamwork while still being able to work independently.
• Abilitiy to listen and take direction.
• Able to adapt quickly to changing priorities

Physical Demands

• Sustained periods of standing, bending, stooping, reaching above shoulder level and lifting 50 pounds.
• Work may be physically demanding involving the transport, relocation and positioning of supplies and caging equipment.
• Work under challenging environmental conditions (high humidity/temperature, unpleasant odors, animal excreta, and noise) while wearing PPE.
• Work involves exposure to biohazards, chemicals, and/or physical risks, which requires following established safety procedures.
• Daily showers (2+).
• Wear various PPE (PAPRS, protective clothing, respirators, gloves, etc.) and stand on hard surfaces for prolonged periods of time.
• Handle and treat multiple species of animals, including large hoofstock, in relatively confined spaces.

Is driving a responsibility of this position? No Is this a Position of Trust? Yes Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? No Does this position require a P-Card? No Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) Yes Credit and P-Card policy
Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Duties/Responsibilities
Performs daily animal care and husbandry duties for research animals in an ABSL-3/ABSL-3Ag facility including feeding, watering, animal handling/transport, animal health checks, cage changing, providing enrichment and environmental monitoring, communicating and reporting animal health issues, restocking and cleaning animal holding rooms, and maintaining animal clinical records. Ensures animal welfare meets all local, state, and federal regulations.
Percentage of time 50 Duties/Responsibilities
Decontaminates, cleans, and sanitizes animal rooms, ancillary areas, primary enclosures and caging equipment following established procedures and schedules. Operates equipment such as; autoclaves, bedding dump stations, IVC racks, chemical foamer/sprayers, biosafety cabinets, and cage washers. Sets up and breaks down laboratories with various research schedules. Maintains established sanitation and maintenance schedules.
Percentage of time 30 Duties/Responsibilities
Maintains and stocks appropriate supplies and equipment inventories. Performs minor preventative maintenance duties on animal care and ancillary equipment ensuring it is maintained and functioning at optimal performance. Performs and assists with facility annual performance verifications, administering some facility trainings, and monitoring the integrated pest management program.
Percentage of time 10 Duties/Responsibilities
Initiates and maintains compliance records such as animal room logs, sanitation logs, autoclave logs, census activity sheets, select agent tracking logs etc. Assists in standard operating procedures development. Performs and assists with technical services such as; blood/tissue/weight/temp collections and administering animal medications. Participates in multiple training classes as prescribed and participates in UGA Occupational Health & Safety program. Performs weekend and holiday duties as scheduled; and other duties as assigned. Provides assistance and resources to facility users and departmental staff.
Percentage of time 10

Contact Information

Recruitment Contact

Contact Details
For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.
Recruitment Contact Name Hannah Walker Recruitment Contact Email hmpayne@uga.edu Recruitment Contact Phone

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents