USF Job Class Description
JOB CODE: 4713
JOB TITLE: Sr. Laboratory Animal
Technician
PAY PLAN: 23
CAREER BAND: C
FLSA: Non-Exempt
CBU: 31
Job Title: Sr. Laboratory Animal Technician
Job Summary
A Sr. Laboratory Animal Technician trains and assigns tasks to other employees in the
husbandry and care of research animals, monitors animal safety procedures, performs
research protocols, and/or performs pre-operative to post-operative surgical procedures in
support of animal research.
Nature of Work
This position trains and assigns tasks to employees in the daily care of laboratory research
animals under the supervision by a Laboratory Animal Manager, Laboratory Animal
Supervisor, or a principal investigator. The position also supports research projects with a
variety of technical duties. The position schedules animal care and oversees hygiene and
decontamination. The position keeps health records on research animals. The position
may perform behavior studies such as animal conditioning. The position may assist in
animal surgery by preparing equipment, administering anesthetics, and may perform some
actual surgery. This job is distinguished from a Laboratory Animal Technician through its
emphasis on performing medical, surgical or other research procedures and/or assigning
tasks to other animal care personnel. Employees in this job are distinguished from
Laboratory Animal Supervisors by lacking direct supervision and/or oversight of staff or
responsibility for assisting in the operation of a facility. Positions in this class are nonexempt under FLSA. While employees in this job may assign tasks to others, the primary
duty is not managing a customarily recognized department or subdivision, nor customarily
and regularly directing the work of at least two or more other full-time employees or their
equivalent.
Examples of Duties
The following list provides examples of the most typical duties for positions in this job
class. Individual positions may not include all of the examples listed, nor does the list
include all of the work that may be assigned to positions in this job class.
• Performs support duties during complex veterinary medical and surgical techniques.
Performs pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative procedures including
preparation of equipment and supplies; endotracheal intubation and phlebotomies;
administration of anesthetics; and administration of antibiotics.
• Trains new employees and students in animal care procedures.
• Performs and assigns tasks to others in the routine husbandry and care of research
and teaching animal collections including identification, feeding, handling, cage
sanitation,
facility maintenance, housekeeping, animal conditioning and quarantine, the
containment of infectious collections. Oversees and plans breeding of animals.
• Maintains records of animal colonies regarding their health and genetic status, other
observations, findings, and results for use by investigators. Makes recommendations to
investigators regarding findings and observations.
• Schedules caging changes and the appropriate placement and husbandry of all
animal colonies. Schedules facility maintenance. Orients new animal care employees.
• Performs behavioral experiments on animals. May administer drugs, observe and
record behavior and analyze data.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
This position requires a high school diploma or equivalent and four years of experience
involving animal handling. College coursework in biology or life science may substitute for
the required experience on a year for year basis.
Legal, Licensure, & USF Requirements
Certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (ALAS) as an
Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT). Certification as a Laboratory Animal
Technician (LAT) may be preferred for specific positions.