Husbandry Technician​/Animal Caretaker

Job Brief

The Alaka’ina Foundation Family of Companies (FOCs) is looking for a Laboratory Animal Husbandry Technician to support the U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research (USAISR) out of Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In addition to the base salary, the successful applicant will receive one-time signing bonus. The role involves handling animal husbandry duties for rodents, rabbits, and large animals (swine, sheep, goats) in Biosafety Level (BSL) II animal holding and procedure rooms.

• Perform animal husbandry duties for rodents, rabbits, and large animals (swine, sheep, goats), including the preparation, changing, and/or cleaning of animal cages and related cage accessories, feeding, manual watering, or monitoring automatic watering devices. Includes entry and husbandry related duties in Biosafety Level (BSL) II animal holding and procedure rooms.
• Maintain feed and water containers on a daily basis.
• Operate cage wash equipment in accordance with SOPs; prepare caging, transport containers/carts, and related equipment for cage wash including scraping floor grids, breaking down caging and dumping pans or scraping cages.
• Conduct daily inspection of automatic watering systems, door latches, fittings, and report needed repairs following established SOPs.
• Clean and sanitize animal rooms, facility and animal care equipment and associated animal facility areas.
• Perform animal census, including BSL II animal rooms if necessary.
• Perform animal health observations and report any abnormal conditions or behavior of animals to the Veterinarian, Facility Manager, Vivarium Manager and/or Surgery Manager.
• Complete all husbandry related logbooks, checklists and other records accurately and in a timely fashion.
• Monitor and report any irregularities in room temperature, light cycles, air changes and other environmental conditions that may affect animals to the Facility Manager and/or Vivarium Manager.
• Stock adequate supplies of personal protective equipment throughout the vivarium.
• Ensure accurate identification of animals moved, requested, or treated.
• Dispose of animal carcasses following established SOPs.
• Perform bacteriological surveys designed to determine the effectiveness of equipment washing, decontamination and sanitizing procedures.
• Coordinate distribution and stocking of husbandry related supplies and materials, including animal feed, bedding and enrichment.
• Perform animal environmental enrichment duties for rodents, rabbits, and large animals, including preparing and distributing produce, enrichment feed and devices.
• Maintain supplies and materials, including animal feed, bedding and enrichment to ensure efficiency and longevity.
• Provide environmental enrichment feed and other enrichment devices and/or behavior assessment.
• Document husbandry procedures and enrichment distribution.
• Enter vivarium data into the computer-based Research Management System (RMS) tool.
• Prepare and maintain animal medical records following established SOPs.
• Maintain computer-based monitoring equipment such as the Edstrom Watchdog system.
• Coordinate with Logistics Division for vivarium and medical equipment maintenance.
• Conduct and record the water quality testing program for the vivarium.
• Provide refresher training for all Laboratory Animal Husbandry Technicians on equipment and husbandry related procedures.
• Track animals, feed, enrichment and/or supplies.
• Perform prescribed treatments on animals following established SOPs.
• Receive and in-process animals and perform routine animal care.
• Provide onboarding of new Veterinary Support Branch (VSB) Laboratory Animal Husbandry Technicians.
• Coordinate and schedule animal, procedural and surgical rooms.
• Other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) or ALAT Certified.

• At least two to four (2‑4) years of laboratory experience.
• Experience providing animal husbandry technical support in a DoD environment is preferred.
• Must be willing to work 0630‑1500 (6:30 a.m.‑3 p.m.), including occasional weekend work.

• Must be eligible to work in the United States.
• Must be able to pass a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI).

Employees enjoy competitive salaries and a 401(k) plan with company match, medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and 11 paid holidays. The Alaka`ina Foundation Family of Companies (FOCs) is a proud equal‑opportunity employer. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer of individuals with disabilities and veterans. If an applicant has a disability and needs an accommodation during the application process, please click here to request accommodation.

We E‑Verify all employees.