Breeder Technician

Job Summary

We are seeking a Breeder Technician to join our Insourcing Solutions team, located in Cambridge, MA. 

Under direct supervision the Breeder Technician will perform husbandry, conduct breeding activities, colony management, record keeping and database entry following established protocols/guidance documents for up to a maximum of 500 cages.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

•    Provide general husbandry, health observations, welfare duties and perform cage change procedures in the breeding colony. Report abnormalities and signs of illness. 
•    Perform routine sanitation duties of rooms and associated materials/equipment in the assigned breeding area/rooms. 
•    Perform euthanasia procedures as directed.
•    Assist in setting up timed matings, monitor body weight and perform plug checks.
•    Assist in conducting breeding observations at least twice a week. Note pregnancies, rotate or remove stud males; note litters and calculate weaning dates. Annotate special record keeping or phenotype observations, assess breeding performance, evaluate and schedule breeder animal rotation. 
•    Assist in weaning: assess number of litters ready, identify and separate animals into new cages, generate cards and enter data into the database. 
•    Identify animals (ear tag) and initiation of pedigree database record.
•    Assist in tissue sampling by tail or ear biopsy to determine genotype and zygosity.
•    Under direct supervision monitor and report the colony/colony population within agreed cage numbers. Retire, assign to experiment or euthanize animals and select new breeder animals in agreement with guidance provided. 
•    Data entry for discontinued breeding pairs, new breeding set ups and initiation of pedigree database record for weaned animals. 
•    Follow and provide input in breeding strategies and mating schemes to meet animal production and deadlines.
•    Identify, separate and transfer animals for study in the breeding database.
•    Organize and maintain rooms within the breeding colony, including stocking relevant supplies e.g. cage cards, ear tags. 
•    Perform other duties as assigned.
•    Must adhere to SOPs, instructional documents and safety procedures.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

To qualify for this role, candidates must have one of the following combinations of education/experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in animal science or related field plus minimum of 1 year experience working in laboratory animal facility performing breeding colony maintenance and husbandry.
• Associate’s degree in animal science or related field plus a minimum of 1-2 years’ experience working in a laboratory animal facility performing breeding colony maintenance and husbandry.
• High School Diploma or G.E.D. plus a minimum of two years’ experience working in a laboratory animal facility performing breeding colony maintenance and husbandry.  
• Certification/Licensure: Preference will be given to candidates who evidence achievement of AALAS certification at the ALAT level or above.

In addition:

• Must demonstrate an understanding of Standard Operating Procedures.
• Must have excellent organizational, time management and recordkeeping skills.
• Must have basic word processing and database record keeping skills.
• Must have excellent communication skills both written and verbal. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Attention to detail, focus and diligence is needed in all aspects of this role
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to ensure effective correspondence with key personnel, primary investigators and research customers. 
• Ability to recognize problems, collaboratively implement solutions, and manage timelines appropriately. 
• Basic scientific knowledge as demonstrated by previous scientific coursework, and/or prior work experience in a scientific setting.
• Basic understanding of the drug development process. 
• Ability to demonstrate strong teamwork orientation; oral and written communication skills; attention to detail, organization, achieve work goals with minimum daily oversight, and superior customer service focus. Must demonstrate accountability and ethics in performance of daily responsibilities.
• Must be able to follow verbal and written instructions and exhibit interpersonal skills that are conducive to effective communication and that contribute to a congenial work environment.
• Maintain positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a professional manner with clients, customers, coworkers, and supervisors.
• Ability to read, write, speak and understand basic English.

The hourly page range  for this position is $32.47-35.71 hour. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.