Veterinary Assistant - Veterinary Services

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well‑being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform.

In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

We are looking for a Veterinary Assistant for our Veterinary Services team at our Mattawan, MI site.

A Veterinary Assistant is in training to learn basic skills, which includes animal handling/restraint, housing maintenance and feeding procedures, collecting data, observing the animals for health status, administering treatments by various methods, and developing treatment plans. The individual in this role works under close supervision while gaining proficiency.

The pay rate for this position is $21.50/hr USD. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

Maintains and monitors the health and physical environment of animals involving complex instructions and requiring technical expertise. Assists veterinary staff in the documentation and triage of all laboratory animal health cases, and in administering treatment to animals. May also perform anesthesia, surgery, enrichment and behavioral tasks and technical in‑life procedures. May also support IACUC/Ethics Committee including animal welfare regulatory compliance and related government/external funding agency requirements.

• Ensure good welfare and humane care for all animals worked with through gentle, positive human‑animal interactions.
• Perform basic skills of the department which may include animal handling/restraint, housing maintenance, and feeding procedures, collecting data, observing the animals for health status, calculating dosages, administering treatments by various methods, recommending treatment plans, directing, and conducting euthanasia, collecting biological specimens for analysis.
• Collect, document, review, and verify data on forms, or in electronic data capture systems.
• Review documentation of functions performed as part of quality control requirements.
• Use and maintain applicable instrumentation and equipment.
• Train on basic veterinary medical examinations, assessments, and treatments; begin to work closely with trainer(s) or veterinarians on case management for more advanced cases.
• Work closely with trainer(s) or veterinarians on case management for more advanced cases.
• Assist co‑workers and veterinarians with protocol or SOP driven physical examinations and/or neurological examinations.
• Complete Sedation Recovering Monitoring and Emergency Response Capabilities training and perform skills under supervision of experienced staff.

• Education:
  
  High school diploma or General Education Degree (G.E.D.) required. Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) or equivalent in a biological science, preferred.
• Experience:
  
  At least six months of relevant experience.
• Certification/Licensure:
  None.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality results consistently and effectively, interpret protocol requirements, troubleshoot quality issues, and record accurate study and departmental data.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing at all levels inside and outside the organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities to achieve goals. Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite), commensurate with Essential Duties and. Responsibilities, including the ability to learn a…