Job Description

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Swarthmore Biology department is a friendly group of faculty and staff who are dedicated to providing undergraduate students with a rigorous and enjoyable educational experience.  The faculty run active research labs where students and research staff collaborate on cutting edge biology research. Our department is very collegial and we treat all of our staff with dignity and respect.

The opportunity:

The Temporary Animal Care Technician ((T)ACT) will be responsible for ensuring good husbandry and upkeep of various vertebrate and invertebrate species (if needed) within their respective labs in Swarthmore College’s Biology department. The Temporary Animal Care Technician will also be responsible for monitoring animal welfare and compliance with institutional animal care and use policies, as well as federal laws.

The Temporary Animal Care Technician will work under the direction of the Animal Care Technician and Principle Investigators with research animals but will be supervised by the Chair of the Biology Department. The core responsibilities of the (T)ACT are focused on animal husbandry, including daily health and welfare checks, providing food, water, and enrichment, and changing animal cages, tanks, and terrariums. Priority for vertebrate species will be necessary but the incumbent will also perform husbandry for invertebrate species including insects and aquatic invertebrates if needed. The Animal Care Technician will be required to operate equipment such as cage washers, sanitizers, foggers, and autoclaves. This is a limited-term, full-time, non-exempt, 35 hour per week position. The (T)ACT will be required to work weekends and holidays including winter break as part of their regular schedule.

Essential Responsibilities

Routine animal husbandry care including health care checks, behavior observation, handling, reporting injury/illness, and occasionally administering emergency health treatments.

Daily cage changing, operating cage washer, sanitizing animal cages, racks, and equipment.

Noting inventory of supplies and communicating with the full-time ACT when needed, thus ensuring all appropriate spaces are equipped with supplies

Daily cleaning of animal spaces such as sweeping, mopping, wiping down surfaces, emptying trash.

(If needed) Prepare water for aquatic invertebrate facilities, perform water changes, tank cleaning, and document water parameters and animal health as feasible.

Complete daily logs and all relevant non-research related record keeping.

Participate in standard facility training (ie. in person, virtual, CITI modules, etc).

Comply with federally mandated animal welfare regulations and institutional animal care and use policies.

Report any concerns, issues, or emergencies to the Animal Care Technician and Principle Investigators with research animals and/or appropriate personnel.

Occasionally perform humane euthanasia of animals when necessary.

Additional Responsibilities

Additional work outside of the regularly scheduled hours may be required. This may include evenings, weekends, and holidays for needed coverage and/or to attend to any animal care emergencies.

Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Who you are:

We are looking for a hard working and detail oriented person to help care for our teaching and research animals. A competitive candidate will be able to work weekends and willing to handle and care for a diverse array of animals. This role requires a patient person able to focus on the well-being of the animals, adaptable to changing situations, self directed, and excited to learn new things.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

High School Diploma or equivalent with 6 months of experience working with animals or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Physical Demands

Must be able to lift 50 pounds.

Must be able to bend, stoop, kneel, and tolerate brief exposure to extreme temperatures.

Working Conditions

Wear appropriate PPE as required

PA Criminal Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

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