Animal Care II

University Staff

Description

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Department : Office of laboratory Animal Resources (OLAR)

Job Title : Animal Care II

Position # : 00705321 - Requisition # : 37839

Job Summary :

This full-time, University Staff (unclassified) Animal Care II position will provide animal care and husbandry for research laboratory animals by feeding, watering, changing / cleaning / sanitizing soiled cages; evaluate animals for basic health status; keep records concerning environment, daily work activities and animal census; clean, sanitize and autoclave animal cages and equipment / supplies and prepare such for reuse. This position may assist with interviews for new hires. This position will also act as a lead technician that may train employees, audit work areas, and assist supervisors with daily adjustments in work assignments.

Key Responsibilities :

Assist with oversight of husbandry tasks.

Change and / or clean soiled animal cages and / or pens, feeding devices and watering devices.

Evaluate the basic health status of animals and reports abnormalities to the appropriate personnel.

Weigh, administer medications, record breeding status data, wean, euthanize, restrain, collect samples, perform identification (i.e. tattoo, ear tag, ear punch, etc.), house and transport laboratory animals as directed by Supervisor, Veterinarian or Lab.

Contact appropriate personnel regarding dead / sick animals, overcrowded cages, euthanasia requests and specific project requirements via e-mail or phone.

Collect soiled animal bedding and other wastes and transports to designated waste disposal sites (i.e. cage washroom or dumpster).

Procure animal feed and supplies from appropriate support areas and transports to required use site.

Record daily animal care activities on room check-sheets, contact appropriate personnel regarding dead / sick animals via e-mail, flag or phone.

Scan cage cards to record animal census in the animal rooms.

Select, prepare, dispense and utilize hazardous chemicals and disinfectants according to manufacturer's instructions in cleaning and sanitizing animal rooms, racks, cages and pens and animal support areas.

Operate mechanical equipment used to clean and sanitize surfaces. Clean / sanitize / disinfect animal holding rooms, procedure rooms, support rooms. Other duties relating to animal husbandry as assigned.

Monitor the progress of the assigned work area by ensuring that all SOPs / policies are being followed, assign and adjust coverage for their assigned area to accommodate employee absences.

Perform room audits of established areas to ensure SOP / policy compliance, this includes auditing supplies and storage areas.

Ensure that all appropriate documentation is completed for all rooms assigned to their area.

Perform and monitor the completion of various technical assignments offered by the department including; weaning, ear tagging, transferring of animals, tail snips, injections and overall health monitoring of the rooms in their assigned care by working closely with a Supervisor, Veterinarian or Veterinary Technician.

Mentor / train others regarding all aspects of animal husbandry and breeding maintenance, provide input into areas that should be covered by performance plans and provide feedback to supervisors for preparation of evaluations.

On occasion, may be required to drive a University vehicle to transport animals and / or supplies, in case of emergency

Work Location :

Onsite - this role is expected to work onsite and is located in Aurora, CO.

Why Join Us :

CU Denver | Anschutz is an AAALAC-accredited, OLAW assured institution that is in the top 25 of NIH-funded universities. We provide veterinary care for a wide variety of species and areas of research. We value teamwork, personal well-being, high standards of animal care, teaching, and service to the university and national field.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation, and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including :

Medical : Multiple plan options

Dental : Multiple plan options

Additional Insurance : Disability, Life, Vision

Retirement 401(a) Plan : Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay

Paid Time Off : Accruals over the year

Vacation Days : 22 / year (maximum accrual 352 hours)

Sick Days : 15 / year (unlimited maximum accrual)

Holiday Days : 10 / year

Tuition Benefit : Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses

ECO Pass : Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage .

Qualifications :

Minimum Qualifications :

Two years of experience caring for, feeding, or providing health care for animals in a veterinary laboratory, breeding, or boarding facility. One of the two years of the experience must be for research and / or instructional purposes.

Substitution : College coursework in veterinary technology, animal science, biology, or a related field of study related to the work assignment may substitute year-for-year for the general experience.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

Oral communication skills with the ability to exchange and collect information.

Ability to communicate effectively in written form, which includes the ability to check for typographical, grammatical and spelling errors.

Ability to enter data in a database.

Ability to handle rodents.

Perform repetitious tasks of a dexterous nature (i.e. ear tagging and tattooing, etc. on large numbers of animals).

Knowledge of an animal research facility.

Ability to maintain an activity log.

Ability to work with complex machinery.

Planning and organizational skills.

Mechanical ability.

Physical ability.

Ability to teach and lead others by example.

Provide high quality customer service

How to Apply :

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s) :

1. A Cover Letter describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position.

2. Three references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address.

Questions should be directed to : Maria Montero, Maria.Montero@CUAnschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins :

Immediately and continues until position is filled. For best consideration, apply by October 8, 2025.

Anticipated Pay Range :

The starting salary range ( or hiring range ) for this position has been established as $47,500 - $51,000.

The above salary range ( or hiring range ) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator : http : / / www.cu.edu / node / 153125

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement :

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement :

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu .

Background Check Statement :

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement :

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases . If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program .

Application Materials Required : Cover Letter, Resume / CV, List of References

Job Category

: Health Care

Primary Location

: Aurora

Department : U0001 Anschutz Med Campus or Denver - 20388 - CSA-VCR OLAR CLAC Operations

Schedule

: Full-time

Posting Date

: Sep 25, 2025

Unposting Date

: Ongoing

Posting Contact Name : Maria Montero

Posting Contact Email : Maria.Montero@CUAnschutz.edu

Position Number : 00705321