Behavioral Management Assistant I

Job Summary

Responsible for assisting with the coordination, documentation and implementation of the Non-Human Primate (NHP) Psychological Well-Being Program. Provide assistance in all areas concerning Environmental Enrichment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Purchase essential supplies (e.g. foodstuffs, fruits/vegetables, device hardware) on a weekly basis for the maintenance of the Environmental Enrichment Program
• Prepare enrichment and ensure availability for Husbandry Staff to perform Human Interaction (HI) in each animal room a minimum of twice weekly. Coordinating menu of offerings and ensuring availability of additional HI for distribution beyond the minimum scheduled Prepare and ensure appropriate quantities of HI for animal imports
• Assist Behavioral Management Specialist in providing appropriate enrichments to the animals’ structural and social environments and provide opportunities for species-typical activities
• May provide environmental enrichment for laboratory animals according to facility and Federal guidelines
• Maintain and sanitize enrichment lab/kitchen and all related equipment, as required. Assist in maintaining sanitation schedule for enrichment lab
• May observe animals and reports illnesses or behavioral abnormalities to appropriate personnel
• Routinely handles animals as required
• May assist in performing behavioral assessments or alopecia documentation in response to reports of behavioral abnormalities and hair loss
• Assist with coordinating animal psychological/behavioral enrichment, including the acclimation and socialization of study animals
• Maintain and track data related to human interaction and training responses
• Perform all other related duties as assigned

The pay range for this position is $20-$21/hr. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

Job Qualifications

Education: High school diploma or General Education Degree (G.E.D.).

Experience: 1-2 years related experience; experience in a laboratory animal facility a plus.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

Other: Computer literacy including basic office software.

Physical Demands:

• Employees must be able to lift, move, manipulate, and/or hold heavy objects up to and including 50 pounds; this includes work materials, equipment, and/or animals.
• Must be able to perform procedures, which require, talking, hearing, standing or sitting for long periods of time, entering data into a computer, using appropriate instruments, reaching with hands and arms, working in narrow spaces, and wearing safety equipment (PPE) according to OSHA regulations and company standards.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly wears protective clothing (goggles, face shield, surgical mask, cap, gloves, scrubs, boots).
• Works with biohazards and sharps.
• Works with live animals (small, medium and/or large) with risk of exposure to allergens and/or zoonotic diseases.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee is exposed to fumes or airborne particles, unpleasant odors, and wet, humid and/or extreme temperature conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.