Job ID: 376673
About the Job
Title: Laboratory Animal Attendant
Job code: 6062
Employee Group: Union Represented - Teamsters Local 320
Full/Part Time (FTE): Full-time, 100% FTE
Regular/Temporary: Regular
About the Job:
Job Summary:
This Laboratory Animal Attendant (LAA) position is responsible for the care of laboratory animals in accordance with applicable safety, sanitation and research requirements.
Bargaining unit consideration begins 10/20/2026 and ends 10/27/2026.
LAA staff are represented by the Teamsters union, local 320.
This position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship.
Essential Employee Designation
This position is defined as an essential role under the University's State of Emergency policy, and plays a key role in ensuring the health and welfare of RAR's research animals. During emergencies or other situations that impact normal operations, this position may be required to perform additional duties as assigned to support the team and ensure animal care is not compromised. These duties may include, but are not limited to, animal husbandry, sanitation, feeding, health monitoring, and will be determined at the discretion of the direct supervisor and/or RAR senior leadership based on operational needs. Training will be provided as needed. Unscheduled, mandatory overtime may be assigned by the direct supervisor/leadership as needed to ensure animal health and welfare.
Location and Work Schedule
This position works 100% time in-person on the Twin Cities campus, and is scheduled to work Monday-Friday, 6:00AM-2:30PM. Weekend work and work on holidays will be required when scheduled, and is eligible for overtime and holiday pay.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Provide daily husbandry including feeding, caring for, and observing the physical condition of mice, rats, and other lab animals for health concerns
- Change out rodent animal housing equipment on a regular basis to ensure animals have clean bedding, feed, and water
- Provide animal enrichment in order to prompt species specific behavior in a lab environment
- Place incoming lab animals into the appropriate housing equipment according to the lab's documented specifications
- Follow strict protocols and instructions written and orally presented in English
- Operate animal housing equipment washers, autoclaves, and bedding dispensing/disposal equipment as needed
- Attend and complete safety training by the required due dates.
- Move/lift heavy equipment/animals
- Maintain appropriate room, animal receipt and other records
- Perform routine vivarium upkeep tasks on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis
- Participate in and perform euthanasia of small animals
- Order and store feed and supplies
- Clean and sanitize equipment, rooms, and facilities
- Any other duties as assigned by supervisor
Physical and Environmental Requirements
- Ability to lift 50 lbs
- Ability to stand while working for extended periods of time
- Ability to walk for extended periods of time
- Ability to work in odorous, warm, humid, noisy conditions while wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) including a PAPR (powered air-purifying respirator) and lab coat.
- Ability to push/pull heavy objects using dollies, carts, pallet jacks, flatbeds, racks, etc. up and down inclined surfaces.
- Ability to bend below the waist
Health, Safety, & Compliance
Offers of employment are contingent upon medical clearance through the Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP). The University provides all required protective gear, testing, and medical evaluations, which include:
- Pre-employment medical questionnaire and fitness-for-duty examination.
- Current Tetanus immunization.
- Annual hearing tests (if assigned to noise conservation areas).
- Annual Tuberculosis (TB) testing and annual Influenza vaccination (species-dependent).
- Rabies vaccination/titer (or signed declination form) and Measles titer, as applicable.
- Protective equipment fit testing
Some work assignments will involve exposure to animal allergens, high levels of noise, and/or disinfectants and sanitizing agents. The employee may work in wet rooms or around large industrial cage washers. The employee may work in an outside environment in any weather conditions.
Qualifications
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
- High school graduate or equivalent
- If assigned to be a driver, must pass a department of motor vehicle record screening.
- High degree of personal reliability, consistent punctuality, and a strong attendance record.
- Ability to work 100% onsite to support daily hands-on facility operations
- Must be able to read and write in English, with the ability to communicate electronically via email and follow oral instructions
Preferred Qualifications:
- Three (3) months of education related to laboratory animals, or three (3) months experience with laboratory animals, or three (3) months experience caring for, cleaning, feeding, and monitoring animals.
- Experience with rodents.
- Comfortable operating iPads and computers
- Basic skills in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Calendar, Chat) or Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)
About the Department
Research Animal Resources (RAR) provides the University of Minnesota research community with animal care, procurement services, veterinary knowledge, and maintenance of housing facilities for animal-related research activities. The position of Laboratory Attendant is union represented, and is part of a staff of over 150 employees including Professional and Administrative staff, Civil Service staff, and Union Represented members. RAR has a daily census of 24,000 rodent cages in 20 buildings split into 7 geographic teams around the Twin Cities Campus.
Pay and Benefits
Pay Range: Starting rate is $23.17/hr unless otherwise specified per the Teamsters contract
Time Appointment: 100% Appointment
Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff
Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.
The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
About the Job
Title: Laboratory Animal Attendant
Job code: 6062
Employee Group: Union Represented - Teamsters Local 320
Full/Part Time (FTE): Full-time, 100% FTE
Regular/Temporary: Regular
About the Job:
Job Summary:
This Laboratory Animal Attendant (LAA) position is responsible for the care of laboratory animals in accordance with applicable safety, sanitation and research requirements.
Bargaining unit consideration begins 10/20/2026 and ends 10/27/2026.
LAA staff are represented by the Teamsters union, local 320.
This position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship.
Essential Employee Designation
This position is defined as an essential role under the University's State of Emergency policy, and plays a key role in ensuring the health and welfare of RAR's research animals. During emergencies or other situations that impact normal operations, this position may be required to perform additional duties as assigned to support the team and ensure animal care is not compromised. These duties may include, but are not limited to, animal husbandry, sanitation, feeding, health monitoring, and will be determined at the discretion of the direct supervisor and/or RAR senior leadership based on operational needs. Training will be provided as needed. Unscheduled, mandatory overtime may be assigned by the direct supervisor/leadership as needed to ensure animal health and welfare.
Location and Work Schedule
This position works 100% time in-person on the Twin Cities campus, and is scheduled to work Monday-Friday, 6:00AM-2:30PM. Weekend work and work on holidays will be required when scheduled, and is eligible for overtime and holiday pay.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Provide daily husbandry including feeding, caring for, and observing the physical condition of mice, rats, and other lab animals for health concerns
- Change out rodent animal housing equipment on a regular basis to ensure animals have clean bedding, feed, and water
- Provide animal enrichment in order to prompt species specific behavior in a lab environment
- Place incoming lab animals into the appropriate housing equipment according to the lab's documented specifications
- Follow strict protocols and instructions written and orally presented in English
- Operate animal housing equipment washers, autoclaves, and bedding dispensing/disposal equipment as needed
- Attend and complete safety training by the required due dates.
- Move/lift heavy equipment/animals
- Maintain appropriate room, animal receipt and other records
- Perform routine vivarium upkeep tasks on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis
- Participate in and perform euthanasia of small animals
- Order and store feed and supplies
- Clean and sanitize equipment, rooms, and facilities
- Any other duties as assigned by supervisor
Physical and Environmental Requirements
- Ability to lift 50 lbs
- Ability to stand while working for extended periods of time
- Ability to walk for extended periods of time
- Ability to work in odorous, warm, humid, noisy conditions while wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) including a PAPR (powered air-purifying respirator) and lab coat.
- Ability to push/pull heavy objects using dollies, carts, pallet jacks, flatbeds, racks, etc. up and down inclined surfaces.
- Ability to bend below the waist
Health, Safety, & Compliance
Offers of employment are contingent upon medical clearance through the Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP). The University provides all required protective gear, testing, and medical evaluations, which include:
- Pre-employment medical questionnaire and fitness-for-duty examination.
- Current Tetanus immunization.
- Annual hearing tests (if assigned to noise conservation areas).
- Annual Tuberculosis (TB) testing and annual Influenza vaccination (species-dependent).
- Rabies vaccination/titer (or signed declination form) and Measles titer, as applicable.
- Protective equipment fit testing
Some work assignments will involve exposure to animal allergens, high levels of noise, and/or disinfectants and sanitizing agents. The employee may work in wet rooms or around large industrial cage washers. The employee may work in an outside environment in any weather conditions.
Qualifications
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
- High school graduate or equivalent
- If assigned to be a driver, must pass a department of motor vehicle record screening.
- High degree of personal reliability, consistent punctuality, and a strong attendance record.
- Ability to work 100% onsite to support daily hands-on facility operations
- Must be able to read and write in English, with the ability to communicate electronically via email and follow oral instructions
Preferred Qualifications:
- Three (3) months of education related to laboratory animals, or three (3) months experience with laboratory animals, or three (3) months experience caring for, cleaning, feeding, and monitoring animals.
- Experience with rodents.
- Comfortable operating iPads and computers
- Basic skills in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Calendar, Chat) or Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)
About the Department
Research Animal Resources (RAR) provides the University of Minnesota research community with animal care, procurement services, veterinary knowledge, and maintenance of housing facilities for animal-related research activities. The position of Laboratory Attendant is union represented, and is part of a staff of over 150 employees including Professional and Administrative staff, Civil Service staff, and Union Represented members. RAR has a daily census of 24,000 rodent cages in 20 buildings split into 7 geographic teams around the Twin Cities Campus.
Pay and Benefits
Pay Range: Starting rate is $23.17/hr unless otherwise specified per the Teamsters contract
Time Appointment: 100% Appointment
Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff
Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.
The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
- Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
