Animal Technician

Animal Technician I

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well‑being of people across the globe.

Charles River Laboratories (CRL) is seeking an Animal Technician to join our Integrated Toxicology (ITox) team at the Kansas City (CR-KAN) Site. This site bridges CRL’s Discovery and Safety Assessment units and brings automation to standard lead optimization toxicology study models, delivering rapid study results to our clients. In this role, you will learn essential skills such as animal husbandry, handling/restraint, housing maintenance, feeding procedures, data collection, health status observation, weight measurements, dose administration, euthanasia, and biological specimen collection.

• Ensure good welfare and humane care for all animals, using gentle and positive human‑animal interactions.
• Perform basic skills of the department including animal handling/restraint, housing maintenance, and feeding procedures; collect data, observe animals for health status and body weight measurements; administer doses by various methods; conduct euthanasia and/or collect biological specimens for analysis.
• Collect, document, review, and verify data on forms or in electronic data capture systems.
• Review documentation of functions performed as part of quality‑control requirements.
• Use and maintain instrumentation and equipment.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Pay Range
: $20/hour. Salaries vary within the range based on experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

• Education:
  
  High school diploma or General Education Degree (G.E.D.), preferred.
• Experience:
  
  No previous experience required. Experience working with/around animals is preferred; experience in a role requiring physical labor is a plus.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute.
• Certification/Licensure:
  None, unless required by local government.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities to achieve goals.
• Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite) and ability to learn a validated system.
• Ability to work under specific time constraints and to work extended hours beyond the normal schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to ensure a safe working environment by observing all safety procedures and using proper protective clothing and equipment.
• Ability to fulfill regulatory requirements by performing activities according to GLP, SOP, BOP, and IACUC rules.
• Ability to work extended hours, sometimes on short notice.

• Lifting, moving, manipulating, and holding heavy objects up to 50 pounds.
• Performing laboratory procedures requiring talking, hearing, standing, sitting for long periods, data entry, instrumentation use, reaching with hands and arms, working in narrow spaces, and wearing PPE.
• Vision requirements: close vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

• Research environment requiring use of sharp objects, mechanical parts, toxic or caustic chemicals, biological hazards, fumes, airborne particles, and varying noise levels.
• Regular contact with live animals, risk of allergens, zoonotic diseases, and biohazards.
• Noise level ranges from low to high depending on species housed.

This position requires overtime, weekend, holiday, and/or after‑hours shift coverage, as needed.

Charles River is an early‑stage contract research organization (CRO) that expands on its foundation in laboratory animal medicine and science. We provide discovery and safety assessment services, both GLP and non‑GLP, and support clients through all stages of preclinical development. With over 20,000 employees across 110 facilities worldwide, we help clients develop drugs more efficiently.

Charles River Laboratories is an Equal Opportunity Employer – all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. If you need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or otherwise participate in the application process, please contact our Human Resources team by emailing  This contact is for accommodation requests only.