Animal Care Technician III & Vivarium Administrative Support

About the role

The ADA Forsyth Institute, founded in 1910 as the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children and now a global leader in oral health research, seeks an Animal Care Technician III & Vivarium Administrative Support professional to join its Animal Facility/Core Services team. This role supports the health and well-being of research animals and the safe, efficient operation of the Institute’s vivarium, with approximately 80% of responsibilities focused on animal care, vivarium operations, and research support and 20% on administrative, operational, and facility support activities. The position collaborates closely with leadership, investigators, research staff, veterinary personnel, Facilities, and other departments to maintain a clean, organized, safe, and regulatory-compliant research environment.

Responsibilities

• Animal Care & Vivarium Operations
  • Perform daily animal husbandry duties: food and water checks, cage changing and cleaning, routine health monitoring, and documentation in accordance with SOPs and approved protocols.
  • Monitor animal health and welfare; accurately document observations and concerns.
  • Monitor environmental conditions within animal holding rooms and promptly report discrepancies.
  • Operate cage washers, autoclaves, sterilizers, and other cleaning/sterilization equipment.
  • Perform humane euthanasia in accordance with institutional protocols and animal welfare standards.
  • Maintain clean, organized, and sanitized animal rooms, procedure rooms, wash areas, corridors, storage spaces, and common areas.
  • Handle, transport, receive, and deliver animals, supplies, equipment, and waste materials as needed.
  • Maintain routine facility records: cage census logs, environmental monitoring records, sanitation records, and equipment documentation.
  • Monitor animal care and vivarium supplies; communicate anticipated shortages or operational needs to management.
• Research Support
  • Assist investigators and research staff with animal procedures in accordance with approved protocols and SOPs.
  • Support mouse colony management, including establishing breeding cages and weaning pups.
  • Assist with procedures such as oral gavage and intraperitoneal (IP), intravenous (IV), and subcutaneous (SC) injections, as trained and authorized.
  • Assist with euthanasia, necropsy, and tissue collection procedures.
  • Support training of investigators and research staff in animal handling, restraint, and procedures under the direction of animal care leadership.
  • Provide backup husbandry coverage during weekends, holidays, emergencies, and staffing shortages as required.
• Administrative, Operational & Facilities Support
  • Maintain and update cage census, animal inventory, supply inventory, equipment records, and other routine facility records.
  • Assist with coordinating the receipt and shipment of research animals and maintaining associated documentation.
  • Support cage inventory tracking and compilation of information used for internal billing and user invoices.
  • Assist with ordering and monitoring food, bedding, enrichment items, PPE, caging, cleaning supplies, and other facility materials.
  • Enter and maintain information in databases, spreadsheets, shared files, and vivarium recordkeeping systems.
  • Assist with maintaining and updating facility SOPs, forms, logs, and related documentation.
  • Support visitor and facility access documentation in accordance with institutional and IACUC procedures.
  • Organize records and supporting documentation for internal inspections, IACUC activities, regulatory reviews, audits, and accreditation visits.
  • Support investigator onboarding and routine animal facility training documentation.
  • Maintain organized electronic and paper facility records.
  • Support laboratory and vivarium waste management activities, including sharps, regulated medical, chemical, and biological waste streams.
  • Conduct biological monitoring and validation testing of sterilizers as trained and maintain required records.
  • Report equipment malfunctions, repair needs, safety concerns, and supply shortages to appropriate personnel.
  • Assist with laboratory and vivarium safety inspections and compliance documentation as directed.
  • Perform other related animal care, administrative, and operational duties as assigned and trained.

Qualifications

• Required:
  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, particularly when maintaining records and supporting multiple operational activities.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced research environment.
  • Basic computer proficiency, including experience with data entry, spreadsheets, and electronic recordkeeping systems.
  • Ability to safely lift, transport, and move animal cages, supplies, and equipment associated with vivarium operations.
  • Ability to perform the physical requirements associated with routine laboratory animal care and facility operations.
  • Ability to provide occasional weekend, holiday, emergency, or other coverage as operationally required.
• Preferred:
  • Associate degree or technical certification in animal science, biology, environmental health and safety, or a related field.
  • 2–4 years of experience in laboratory animal care, vivarium operations, laboratory support, hazardous waste management, or a related research environment.
  • Certification or training in laboratory animal care, HAZWOPER, DOT, or other relevant safety programs.
  • Knowledge of animal welfare regulations, laboratory safety practices, and hazardous waste handling procedures.
  • Experience supporting research animal procedures and/or mouse colony management.

Pay

$25.74 – $30.00 per hour.