Review Vacancy
AgencyPeople With Developmental Disabilities, Office for
TitlePrincipal Laboratory Animal Caretaker EOA # 2025-22
Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers
Bargaining UnitISU - Institutional Services Unit (CSEA)
Salary RangeFrom $51695 to $62447 Annually
Duties Description POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The successful candidate must be able to provide supervision to staff in the following areas, while also engaging in tasks themselves. Responsibilities fall into categories including treatment and handling of animals, observation of animals for symptoms or changes of condition, feeding and watering of animals and housekeeping of animal care facilities. This includes performing daily animal husbandry procedures such as cleaning and moving cages, feeding animals, performing daily wellness checks on animals, and disinfecting/sanitizing cages using various detergents and washing methods. Must be able to work well as a team member, as well as independently. May perform other duties as assigned by the Facility Supervisor or Veterinarian.
NYS OPWDD IBR provides a professional setting in world-renowned research facility on a wooded, suburban campus on Staten Island, NY. The Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR) is the research arm of the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). IBR also provides clinical services and conducts educational programs. OPWDD is responsible for coordinating services for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, Prader-Willi syndrome, and other neurological impairments. Compensation package includes CSEA union benefits including tuition reimbursement, dental and optical. Generous NYSHIP healthcare and vacation package. Free off-street parking. Attendance and participation at professional meetings and conferences is supported and encouraged.
We invite qualified and enthusiastic candidates to apply for this exciting opportunity to make significant contributions to the scientific work being done to support our mission.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES will include but are not limited to:
•To handle and ensure humane care of research rodents, such as properly picking up, restraining and transferring animals between cages while performing routine husbandry tasks.
•To comply with all laboratory safety requirements, including proper donning of personal protective equipment.
•To work with various rodent housing systems.
•To prepare and use disinfectants and detergents to clean and disinfect animal quarters, cages and associated equipment.
•To be trained to operate large cage wash equipment and a steam sterilizing autoclave.
•To remove husbandry-related waste in compliance with local and state regulations.
•To keep accurate room logs for daily room checks.
•To train and assist investigators and new staff members with husbandry-related tasks. For example, may mix and/or administer medications into feed and water according to specific instructions.
•To transports supplies to and from the Animal Colony.
•To acts as a resource and liaison for researchers with regard to animal colony matters.
•To review inventory and stock supplies, including unloading and transport shipments of husbandry (feed/bedding) and housekeeping supplies.
•To performs other cleaning/sanitation duties as assigned.
•To observe and report any abnormalities in animal health, equipment, or facilities to the supervisor.
•Assist with study endpoints and animal euthanasia.
•To communicate well with the facility supervisor and veterinarian, participate in monthly staff meetings.
•To complete all New York State and Institutional required trainings, including online modules.
•Must be willing to work weekends and holidays based on needs of the worksite.
•May be asked to perform overtime to cover for other staff members.
• Supervises a staff in breeding, raising and caring for animals used in laboratory experiments, biological tests and research.
• Directs day-to-day care of animals housed in a laboratory center, and any related satellite locations.
• Serves as direct liaison or coordinator between caretakers, investigators, and other department staff to ensure proper interpretation of their various needs.
• Provides assistance in more complex veterinary care activities.
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Minimum Qualifications Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Senior Laboratory Animal Caretaker and reachable on Civil Service eligible list.
Open Competitive: Two years of full-time service as a laboratory animal caretaker in a research facility including but not limited to hospitals, universities, institutions, or laboratories; or two years of full-time experience in the handling and care of live vertebrate animals in other than a residential setting and one year of full-time service as a laboratory animal caretaker in a research facility including but not limited to hospitals, universities, institutions, or laboratories.
Substitution:
Certification as an Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician or higher by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science and one year of full-time experience in the handling and care of live vertebrate animals in other than a residential setting and one year of full-time service as a laboratory animal caretaker in a research facility including but not limited to hospitals, universities, institutions, or laboratories.
Additional Comments This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). HELPS Program titles may be filled via a non-competitive appointment. This means that you do not need to take an exam to qualify, but you do need to meet the minimum qualifications of the title.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), employees hired under NY HELPS are expected to have their permanent non-competitive employment status converted to permanent competitive status. You will not have to take an exam to gain permanent competitive status.
• Please note that starting salary for this title reflects the downstate adjustment. Posted Hiring Salary includes the sum of the statutory hiring rate for CSEA Grade 11 ($47,695) and Downstate Adjustment ($4,000). Downstate Adjustment is added to the job rate ($58,447).
• If you are currently a New York State employee serving in a permanent competitive qualifying title and eligible for a transfer via Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law, you may be appointed to this title as a permanent competitive employee.
• For CSEA positions: Local Bidding Agreements will be honored.
• Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume.
• All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility.
• If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit www.studentAid.gov/publicservice.
• Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA). If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Reasonable Accommodation Unit at (518) 486-7222 or email accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.
• Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and the College Savings Plan.
• Voluntary pre-tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account offer employees options to pay for uncovered health care expenses or dependent care expenses.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address their personal needs.
• Life insurance and Disability insurance.
• The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement plan that offers employees the option to invest a part of their salaries for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.
• Paid Holidays and Leave:
° Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year.
° Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially.
° Five (5) days paid personal leave each year.
° Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over from year to year.
° Up to three (3) days professional leave each year to participate in professional development events.
• Health Care Coverage:
Employees and their eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Employees are provided family dental and vision plans at no extra cost.
• Paid Parental Leave:
Paid Parental Leave allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave at full pay for each qualifying event. A qualifying event is defined as the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care.
• Retirement Program:
Participate in The NYS Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), which is recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded public retirement systems in the nation.
• Professional Development and Education and Training:
NYS offers training programs and tuition assistance to eligible employees to maintain and increase their professional skills and prepare them for promotional opportunities. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/training-and-professional-development.
• Additionally, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) offers certain professional training opportunities for PEF represented and M/C designated employees that may grant continuing education credits towards maintaining professional licensure. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/public-service-workshops-program-pswp.
• OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.