Vivarium Specialist III

GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

The Ragon Institute is a highly unique, innovative, and collaborative research center at the forefront of biomedical science. Founded by Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT, and Harvard, the Ragon vision is a bold one: to harness the power of the immune system to prevent and cure human disease on a global scale. This vision is pursued and advanced every day by a group of highly motivated individuals. The Ragon Institute, at every level, depends upon collaboration, compassion, dedication, and innovation. It is a results-oriented organization that seeks people who not only embrace these values but who thrive in teams and want to work in a dynamic environment.

The Ragon Institute is seeking a skilled individual for a Vivarium Specialist III position in the newly opening building of the Ragon Institute. The Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT, and Harvard is a located in the heart of Technology Square in Cambridge. The vivarium is a brand new, state of the art facility. Under the supervision of the Vivarium Manager (or Supervisor), the Vivarium Specialist III provides daily husbandry care and maintenance required for the health and cleanliness of research animals and their housing facilities. In addition, the Vivarium Specialist II will assist the Animal Facility Manager in creating the daily husbandry schedule, providing backup for daily cage wash, room changes, and sanitation as needed. You provide leadership and guidance to the husbandry staff on operations and facility issues. This includes investigating operational concerns, troubleshooting equipment and machine issues, gathering and compiling information, and submitting recommendations for resolution to leadership.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides leadership over daily husbandry care for research animals according to department standard operating procedures, state and federal regulations and accrediting agency guidelines.
• May be required to work directly with vendors for maintenance and repairs of the equipment.
• Perform minor preventative maintenance on multiple types of cage wash equipment. Will respond to mechanical failures per system and be able to resolve most errors on automation.
• Responsible for training new and current cage wash staff to operate and maintain all cage wash equipment and operating systems according to all SOPs in a safe, efficient, and effective manner.
• Operate equipment and troubleshoot such as bio-safety cabinets, Animal Transfer Stations, decontamination systems, automatic watering equipment, cagewash equipment (including automation), specialized ventilated racks.
• Responsible for conducting trainings for newly hired staff, promoted staff, and research staff on all animal related items including room changes and animal handling.
• Monitor and record environmental parameters of assigned holding and procedure rooms for temperature and humidity.
• Responsible for husbandry and training of gnotobiotic area.
• May be responsible for husbandry duties in ABSL-3 areas.
• Oversee daily animal health observations, assist with communicating adverse findings to the veterinarian technicians or senior staff to ensure animal care standards are in keeping with applicable laws and regulatory guidelines.
• Assist with identifying basic animal care issues such as sick and dead animals, and overcrowded cages. Perform treatments for minor health conditions as assigned.
• Assist in all vivarium areas as needed, including all duties of Vivarium Specialist I and II.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum degree and field of knowledge: High School Diploma or GED
• Years experience required: 3-5 year's experience working with animals in a lab

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proficient in verbal and written English communication skills.
• Ability to communicate advanced health issues to senior staff.
• Experience with cage wash equipment including automation preferred
• Ability to work independently (with minimal supervision) or as a team.
• Strong leadership skills
• Experience with gnotobiotics preferred
• Experience working in ABSL-3 areas preferred
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft applications including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Familiarity with vivarium software systems preferred.
• LAT Certification preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• The ability to work directly with animals (including mice and rats), with no preexisting allergies to animals, hair, dander, or biproducts that would affect ability to work with these animals. Must be able to perform in this environment with exposure to these potential allergens for prolonged periods of time.
• Must be able to walk or stand for a full 8 hour shift.
• The ability to lift 50 lbs., push or pull up to 100 lbs., and perform other physical tasks.
• Must be willing to be fit tested and wear a N95 mask (by being clean shaven for proper and necessary fit) or alternatively, if necessary, a PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) as required.
• Ability to work in Biosafety levels up to BSL-3
• Ability to work with biological and chemical hazards
• May occasionally need to report to work in the event of a disaster, or weather-related event, if necessary
• This position is considered essential. May be required to work on weekends, holidays, and off hours.

Massachusetts General Hospital is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.