Animal Behavior Technician I

About the role

The Behavioral Technician I supports AbbVie's Behavioral Management program (BMT). This role is responsible for operant conditioning, enrichment, behavioral monitoring, and positive reinforcement for research animals. Provides direction and support to Animal Care Technicians and other AbbVie employees who perform animal husbandry in accordance with the company animal enrichment program. Elevates any concerns or inconsistencies with animal behavior and the enrichment program to the appropriate authority (manager) for action.

Responsibilities

• Assist with performing positive reinforcement training of animals. Communicates skills and enrichment program requirements amongst research groups and Comparative Medicine staff. These include but are not limited to those for behavior related tasks, enrichment, socialization, operant conditioning, chair training, pole and collar training, target training.
• Assist with training of staff on standardization and continued productivity as related to operant conditioning and enrichment related strategies.
• Enables higher performance by building and maintaining strong relationships with peers and cross functionally with partners outside of team.
• Identifies potential improvements to the program; remains flexible, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement on enrichment and operant conditioning related strategies. Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and assists with the progression of innovation to reality.
• Assists with daily tasks associated with animal enrichment animal enrichment, such as scheduling, prep, distribution to animals, evaluation of effectiveness, and enrichment area/supply maintenance.
• Assists with entry and upkeep of behavioral, training and enrichment forms/database(s); Maintains documentation of all animal trainings (timelines, progress, comments, concerns, etc.)
• Works with moderate work direction, remains flexible, performs multiple projects simultaneously, meets deadlines, and maintains sanitation standards.
• Assists with incorporating the 3R's into the Behavioral Management program
• Attends applicable training and workshops pertaining to lab animal enrichment/behavior; participates in on-site enrichment trainings and committees where required.
• Provides animal husbandry duties as required; Required weekend husbandry (or animal enrichment/ operant conditioning) rotation commitment

Qualifications & Requirements

• High School/GED is required AND at least 3 years prior technical experience in laboratory animal science setting OR relevant degree in related discipline (biology, animal behavior, animal science, veterinary technology) with at least two years laboratory animal science experience.
• At least two years of animal husbandry/enrichment/ behavior/ training experience.
• Certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) at the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) level; eligibility for LAT certification
• Knowledge of basic regulatory requirements.
• Communication Skills - Ability to concisely communicate key issues to stakeholders.
• Analytical Skills - Ability to assess issues that arise, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information as needed, and identify key issues that need to be addressed.
• Computer Literacy - Basic competence of spreadsheets, word processing and email, and knowledge of computerized maintenance management systems and purchasing systems.

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
• This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.