What are the responsibilities and job description for the Animal Care Technician position at Precigen, Inc?
Precigen Exemplar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Precigen, Inc is seeking talented individuals to join our science based company in the role of Animal Care Technician (level based on candidate experience.)
This position will be based on our farm in Flandreau, South Dakota.
In the role of Animal Care Technician you will have the opportunity to grow in your career as the company also grows. The main responsibilities of this role are the daily care and welfare of our animals. This includes feeding, breeding, farrowing, facilitating environment enrichment/ socialization, and cleaning.
The position also allows employees to advance career skills in the area of animal care and research by training the additional areas of:
- Animal body scoring/weight collection
- Therapeutic dosing (capsules)
- Performing necropsies
- Anesthesia administration and monitoring
- Blood draws and processing
- Terminal tissue harvests (understanding of swine anatomy or ability to research and learn the tissue/artery/vein/organ of interest)
- Performing electrocardiograms (ECG) and electroretinogram (ERG)
- Embryo handling
- Performing sterile fetal harvests and C-sections
Precigen Exemplar is committed to the ethical treatment of all animals and all animal care is conducted in compliance with the requirements and expectations of USDA, AAALAC, FDA, NIH, and other relevant agencies. As a member of the Precigen Exemplar team you will be trained and certified where appropriate in these requirements.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
At a minimum the Animal Care Technician will have the following duties and responsibilities:
- Providing daily care for animals including feeding, cleaning, breeding, farrowing, weaning and observation
- Assisting in research protocols
- Obtaining necessary tissue and data to provide to internal and external research organizations
- Maintaining facilities
- Maintaining detailed and accurate records for animal treatment, observation, and inventory
- Working as a team to accomplish the tasks required for the day
- Working rotational weekends and holidays, typically once a month
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science preferred, all combinations of education and equivalent experience considered
- Experience in neonatal piglet and adult pig care preferred, open to training
- Knowledge of AAALAC requirements and GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) procedures utilized in research involving animals a plus, but not required
- Experience with Outlook desired
Desired Key Competencies
- Excellent communication skills
- Desire to ensure the welfare of animals
- Willingness to learn and follow animal welfare regulations
- Good interpersonal skills
- Team work oriented
- Attention to detail
- Mechanical aptitude
Work Environment and Physical Demands
- Ability to be on your feet a majority of working hours
- Ability to lift, carry and reach for items at least 50 pounds
- Willingness to take multiple showers daily as required by biosecurity measures
