Career Center

The Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) group at Princeton University is a centralized administrative department reporting to the Office of the Dean for Research and is responsible for animal and veterinary care of all research animals at Princeton University. The Cage Wash Expediter and Transporter provides state-of-the-art animal care and transport for laboratory animals housed and transported within all facilities. The Cage Wash Expeditor and Transporters are considered essential services staff.

The primary responsibility is totransport animals, supplies, and equipment to different locations. The expediter will operate departmental trucks and vans on and off campus. The position also requires packing, shipping, delivery, organization, storage, and setting up both on and off campus within strict deadlines, timetables and requirements. The Cage Wash Expediter and Transporter monitors operations for inventory and quality control and first-in/first out (FIFO). The expediter should have a basic knowledge of laboratory animal husbandry. The expediter also supports the cage wash activities to ensure the cleanliness of the facility and all related supplies and caging. The Cage Wash Expediter and Transporter ensures the highest quality of laboratory animal care, and has good communication skills with co-workers, the LAR management team, PI's, research staff, students, and other support services. This position reports directly to the Facility Manager.

Expediter and Transporter Duties:

-Drive and operate trucks and vans on and off campus sites within strict deadlines while maintaining safe driving practices.
-Move, load, and unload supplies, equipment, and animals from vehicles to various locations.
-Maintain animals in a temperature-controlled environment. Understands and monitors animal health and welfare requirements during the packing and transport process.
-Receive, unpack, organize, and sort supplies, chemicals and animals from incoming deliveries. Assist with inventory. Maintains a rotation of stock through the FIFO (first-in/first out) method.
-Use forms and packing lists to prepare, pack, and load trucks for deliveries.
-Maintain, complete, and verify the bill of laden and paperwork as required. Enter data accurately and timely into the electronic management systems and time reporting system.
-Follow instructions and read road maps. Drive up to 100 miles in a day.
-Inspect trucks for mechanical items and safety issues. Responsible for basic vehicle maintenance.
-Clean and sanitize trucks in between deliveries as needed; according to standard operating procedures.
-Pick up goods and materials, verify loads for accuracy, and deliver them as instructed.

Cage Wash and Animal Care Duties:

-Provides animal care for all species housed according to specified Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) including sanitizing all supplies (cages, water bottles, food bins and other animal care related equipment).
-Maintaining clean animal rooms, procedure rooms, hallways and other support areas, and keeping records related to animal support areas.
-Operates cage washing machinery, ventilated caging, water system, bedding dispensing units, full size to table top autoclaves and other equipment while following safety procedures.
-Discovers and reports any facility maintenance issues to the Facility Manager.

Other Duties Assigned:

-Essential services staff perform jobs that are necessary and required to maintain basic University operations. Work attendance during scheduled or unscheduled work closures due to emergencies, events or other situations. Must have the ability to work weekends and holidays when scheduled by the supervisor.
-Cross trains and provides absentee support for the other animal care and cage wash technicians. Rotates with other animal care technicians for week night, weekend and holiday coverage as needed.
-Exhibits a willingness to assume additional responsibilities and increase knowledge, skills, and abilities.
-Comply with all safe work practices, policies, and processes at all times.

ESSENTIAL Minimum Required Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities

-A High School Diploma or GED
-Valid driver's license. Must have the ability to drive trucks and vans.
-Expected to exercise safe driving practices at all times.
-Knowledge of traffic laws and DOT regulations.
-Pallet jack experience required; forklift experience preferred.
-Willing and able to work safely with biological and chemical hazards.
-Able to lift a minimum of fifty (50) pounds.
-Clean driving record.
-No DUI/DWI convictions.
-Must be honest, accurate, and capable of making simple arithmetic calculations.
-Must be detail oriented with high degree of accuracy.
-1-3 years minimum of full-time work experience in the field of laboratory animal science.
-Basic knowledge of biology and behavior of laboratory animal species.
-Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a laboratory animal resources team and ability to share knowledge with other animal care staff, students and new researchers.
-Proven ability to work independently and communicate well with different levels within the organization, and work well with a diverse team for a common goal consistent with the mission of the Laboratory Animal Resources department.

The following tasks and skills that would be necessary for any person to fulfill while working as an Animal Cage Washer in Laboratory Animal Resources:
stand or walk continuously up to 6 hours per day;
sit for up to 2 hours per day;
lift or carry up to 20 pounds frequently (34-66% of the day) and up to 50 pounds occasionally (less than 33% day);
push or pull using forces up to 50 pounds frequently (34 66% of the work day);
use hands for simple grasping, pushing or pulling, and fine manipulations constantly (more than 66% of the day);
kneel, bend, squat, reach overhead, lift overhead, or push or pull frequently (34 66 % of the work day);
knee stand, crawl, or climb step stools or 6-foot stepladders occasionally (less than 33% of the workday);
lift up to 50 pounds in a range of motions from floor to waist height;

lift up to 20 pounds in a range of motions from floor to overhead;
work in a controlled laboratory environment under a variety of temperature and humidity conditions;
possess ability to maintain balance, a full range of body motions, and physical agility.

PREFERRED Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Experience, and Other Education

-Ability to handle assignments and changing priorities as circumstances may arise.
-Excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate well person to person as well as per email.
-Ability to organize tasks with ability to meet strict and multiple deadlines.
-Ability to use Microsoft Office Applications including Outlook and other software applications used in animal research and compliance such as electronic animal management programs.
-Must achieve ALAT certification within the first year of employment and keep current through ongoing professional development in animal husbandry, equipment, caging, and related topics in laboratory animal science through active participation in local and national professional organizations.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.

If the salary range on the posted position shows an hourly rate, this is the baseline; the actual hourly rate may be higher, depending on the position and factors listed above.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. Please see this link for more information.

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About Princeton University

Princeton University is a vibrant community of scholarship and learning that stands in the nation's service and in the service of all nations. Chartered in 1746, Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the United States. Princeton is an independent, coeducational, nondenominational institution that provides undergraduate and graduate instruction in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering.As a world-renowned research university, Princeton seeks to achieve the highest levels of distinction in the discovery and transmission of knowledge and understanding. At the same time, Princeton is distinctive among research universities in its commitment to undergraduate teaching.Today, more than 1,100 faculty members instruct approximately 5,200 undergraduate students and 2,600 graduate students. The University's generous financial aid program ensures that talented students from all economic backgrounds can afford a Princeton education.

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