About this role
About the Role The Jackson Laboratory is hiring Animal Care Trainees in Ellsworth, Maine. This full-time role includes free paid training and an hourly wage of $19.25. You will learn basic animal care, husbandry, and colony management in a fast-paced, clean-room environment to support the Laboratory's research mission.
What You'll Do
- Learn and demonstrate basic proficiency in animal care, husbandry, colony maintenance, room operations, sanitation, record-keeping, and related information systems under direct supervision. Duties may include standard animal rooms, ABSL-2, hazardous chemical rooms, dark rooms, and isolators depending on location.
- Transport clean and soiled supplies through the materials airlock.
- Progress from straight transfers (no pups) to cages with litter, aging, sexing, and weaning; perform cage changes as requested by PI staff.
- Conduct daily welfare checks for food, water, bedding and wellbeing; observe and report variances from health standards.
- Identify abnormal animals and determine if they require necropsy or further evaluation.
- Perform inventory discard and maintain room sanitation.
- Colony management and maintaining colonies; apply appropriate breeding schemes and rotation with guidance; maintain accurate cage cards and data input.
- Packing and shipping: select mice stock strains for sales orders and prepare shipping containers according to packing guidelines.
- Basic information processing and record keeping (e.g., AX, cage cards).
What We're Looking For
- High school diploma or GED equivalency and prior successful work experience.
- Ability to lift 25 lbs on a regular basis.
- Ability to walk up a ladder.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail.
- Background in Warehouse, Food Service, Retail/Customer Service, or Healthcare is a plus.
Nice to Have
- Free paid training provided.
Compensation & Benefits
- Hourly wage: $19.25/hr. This is a full-time position with a dynamic and supportive work environment.