At Mass General Brigham, we know it takes a surprising range of talented professionals to advance our mission—from doctors, nurses, business people and tech experts, to dedicated researchers and systems analysts. As a not-for-profit organization, Mass General Brigham is committed to supporting patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. We place great value on being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization as we aim to reflect the diversity of the patients we serve.
At Mass General Brigham, we believe a diverse set of backgrounds and lived experiences makes us stronger by challenging our assumptions with new perspectives that can drive revolutionary discoveries in medical innovations in research and patient care. Therefore, we invite and welcome applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups in healthcare — people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ community, and/or gender expansive, first and second-generation immigrants, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds – to apply.
Job Summary
A Research Animal Specialist 3 provides all the animal husbandry, facility maintenance, sanitization, health and welfare monitoring duties of a RAS 1 and 2. In addition to RAS 1 and/or 2 technical duties, the RAS 3 position serves as a group lead for the area of work assignment. In this role, the RAS 3 should check-in and reassign work for their area work group and serve as mentor for newly assigned technicians in the area.
Qualifications
A Research Animal Specialist 3 provides all the animal husbandry, facility maintenance, sanitization, health and welfare monitoring duties of a RAS 1 and 2. In addition to RAS 1 and/or 2 technical duties, the RAS 3 position serves as a group lead for the area of work assignment. In this role, the RAS 3 should check-in and reassign work for their area work group and serve as mentor for newly assigned technicians in the area.
Additional technical responsibilities include providing research support services, performing complex or non-standard husbandry requests, maintenance of facility and animal medical records, and ensuring compliance standards are followed within the CCM animal facilities.
All Research Animal Specialists are required to work in a team environment following Lean Management principles and participate in continuous improvement and problem-solving projects. This position involves daily exposure to laboratory animals, their waste products, and possibly chemical agents, radioactive isotopes and ASBL2 hazards. Rotating weekend and holiday work hours are required.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following duties are performed daily with minimal supervision:
Able to perform all duties and responsibilities of a Research Animal Specialist 1 and 2 (Please reference RAS 1 and 2 job description for detailed descriptions of each topic)
Performs Facility Cage Wash Operations
Assures monthly autoclave validations are completed
Supervise and schedule cagewash team tasks and reallocate task assignments as required
Clean and sanitize animal caging and accessory equipment
Troubleshoot and maintain equipment and performs routine repairs on caging and racks, and train cagewash staff on performing routine repairs and maintenance
Ensure the routine cleaning, descaling, and preventative maintenance on the cage washers and autoclaves
Schedule PMs with vendors
Provides Facility Maintenance and Sanitization
Performs Facility Support Functions
Orders and receives facility supplies, monitoring material replenishment systems.
Keeps cage slip supplies stocked
Submits routine work requests/tickets through the appropriate BWH applications and/or vendors.
Coordinates daily with cage wash technicians ensuring all RAS staff have adequate supplies available.
Prepares, submits, and maintains required cage wash records, charts, logs, and inventories as requested
Authorized hands-on trainer for CCM cagewash operations
Works with the CCM Training Program Manager to provide training to new and transferred facility staff on facility procedures and SOPs.
New hire training
Safety training
Hands-on training
Updates employee training files to document trainings and proficiency review
Serves as subject matter expert for cagewash
Responsible for the creation, validation and maintenance of visual controls within the facility.
Interact with all personnel and outside entities with excellent and professional oral and written communication.
Helps evaluate SOP drafts
Complies with CCM and BWH policies and standard operating procedures.
Works holiday and weekends as assigned.
All other duties as assigned.
The following duties may be performed as needed:
Performs Animal Husbandry Tasks
Supervise animal care tasks within a portion of the facility and reassign task assignments as required.
Working with team to address non-standard husbandry requests. Assists in importation/quarantine, isolation, and housing of animals in the BWH facilities with any special health concerns to protect the health of other colony animals.
Performs containment and monitoring duties in the case of infection or disease health outbreaks or other bio-containment situations.
Able to perform husbandry and health monitoring of animals in ABSL2 areas.
Works within prescribed protocols for chemical and biological hazards.
Able to perform husbandry and health monitoring of USDA covered species, updating Individual Animal Records when required.
Houses incoming or newly arrived animals.
Performs initial inspections and ensures that they are acclimated and appear physiologically stable prior to research initiation.
Transfers animals to cages/pens per SOP.
Documents and processes new arrivals.
Additional Job Details (if applicable)
Remote Type
Onsite
Work Location
4-6 Blackfan Circle
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Employee Type
Regular
Work Shift
Day (United States of America)
EEO Statement:
The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc. is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
Mass General Brigham Competency Framework
At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.