Job description

The Animal Resources Center serves as the principal housing, support, and services unit for laboratory animals at MSU containing both ABSL-1 and ABSL-2 housing areas. The Jutila Research Facility is a BSL-3 facility approved for Select Agent work and includes an ABSL-3 animal suite.

Duties and Responsibilities
Assist the ARC Director to provide direct management of the vivarium. Assist in the training and supervision of all Laboratory Animal Technicians.
Oversee animal husbandry of multiple laboratory species including daily health observations, cage changes, animal rooms and facility housekeeping, veterinary care, record keeping, computerized data collection.
Coordinate training of researchers on animal handling and procedures, and facility biosecurity.
Assist Director in monitoring and ensuring compliance to ARC SOP’s and guidelines, IACUC protocols and ORC policies and guidelines.
Provide rodent breeding colony data base training and management for Principal Investigators and ARC laboratory animal technicians.
Working with the Director, implement and oversee animal management system (TOPAZ) in relation to billing and animal census.
Working with the Director, AV and LATG, improve breeding records, processes and develop a breeding colony data base for multiple species.
With the Director, oversee cradle to grave documentation for all animals under the care of the ARC.
Under the guidance of the AV, Assist the Director in performing routine health monitoring associated with all species, and train staff and researchers how to read and utilize the information obtained.
Manage diagnostic samples, reports and coordinate treatment plans working with the Director, AV and PIs
Assist the Director in maintaining and servicing equipment and Preventative Maintenance plans. Work with facility service people as they maintain and repair the facility.
Work collaboratively with the Director and laboratory animal technicians to ensure and maintain quality control, standards of animal health and welfare and that staff skill levels meet researchers needs.
Under the Director’s supervision, oversee environmental monitoring and facility decontamination procedures as related to maintaining colonies free of prevalent pathogens, quarantine, and biocontainment.
Under the guidance of the AV, coordinate animal imports and exports.
Provide routine and daily animal husbandry, veterinary care, facility janitorial responsibilities, and research procedures. Act as relief replacement for laboratory animal technicians when they are sick, on vacation, or injured.
Works weekends, holidays and non-typical hours as needed to provide routine care of the animals, for research experimental needs, and emergencies.
Incumbent will attend and participate in required training for the use of personal protective equipment and comply with requirements for use of employer provided equipment

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Bachelor of Science in applicable scientific field or 10 years laboratory animal experience.
Demonstrated 10 years supervisory experience.
Experience with rodent breeding management, laboratory animal health monitoring, and record keeping.
Proven experience in data collection and reporting in USDA regulated animal experimental research, and associated record keeping.
Experience with environmental monitoring.
Proficient in use of Microsoft office programs: excel, word, power point, outlook.
Ability to effectively develop guidelines, SOP’s, policies, and grant writing.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Experience maintaining inventories of laboratory supplies and equipment.
Experience providing husbandry care with laboratory animal species.
Experience with animal surgical procedural support.
Experience working in Animal Biosafety Level 2 environments
Demonstrated supervisory experience.

The Successful Candidate Will
Have demonstrated ability to work and communicate in a professional manner with investigators, supervisor, MSU officials and laboratory animal technicians.
Have ability to make accurate observations of animal health, keep current, accurate and complete animal and research records that meet IACUC, USDA and PHS regulatory guidelines.
Ability to develop and maintain electronic records, use all Microsoft office applications comfortably.
Demonstrated Ability to complete work accurately and efficiently.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Weekend, Holiday, and non-typical hours required.

Physical Demands
Move objects up to 100 lbs (cages, racks, large pieces of miscellaneous equipment, feed and bedding bags and other materials and equipment).

Potential exposure to bio-hazardous materials and animal allergens.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties? No
Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search.
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date

Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on May 29, 2023; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions
Diversity Statement

Montana State University values diverse perspectives and is committed to continually supporting, promoting and building an inclusive and culturally diverse campus environment. MSU recognizes the importance of work-life integration and strives to be responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

MSU’s Non-Discrimination Policy and Discrimination Grievance Procedures can be located on the MSU Website: https://www.montana.edu/hr/recruitment/dualcareer.html

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