Principal Animal Technician

University of California - San Francisco

35.80

United States, California, San Francisco

Jun 10, 2026

JOB SUMMARY:

Principal Animal Technician's duties may cover any species of animal and provide the same basic husbandry duties that would relate to the needs of that species. In addition to all of the duties assignable to an Animal Technician. In addition to routine husbandry tasks (changing cages and racks, delivering food and water in accordance to established procedures, maintaining equipment and animal housing areas according to standard operating procedures and federal and state regulations), the Principal Animal Technician (PAT) is responsible for providing oversight of limited technical and environmental control activities in distinct animal care areas. The principal technician typically oversees the daily work activities of a group of three or more FTE animal care personnel and will evaluate employee performance with the area supervisor/manager (who conducts the review). The PAT recommends employment and termination decisions of staff. The principal technician is responsible for training staff members and may provide facility trainings to laboratory staff. In addition, the PAT initiates and arranges orders and transfers of animals, supplies and equipment as needed for the specific animal care site. The PAT is also responsible for ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety regulations and reviews all area operations and records and performs other related duties as required. The PAT may also head projects that require a higher level of technical skill (e.g. design, construct coordinate animal enrichment, breeding and colony management, knowledge of quarantine procedures, administer treatments, and perform paraveterinary procedures). The PAT is responsible for being familiar with and performing technical duties as well as data entry required for the management of mouse breeding colonies and other species as assigned. Technical duties include providing oral or injectable doses, taking temperatures, heart rate, assessing behavior/attitude, animal identification by tattoo/ear notch/ear tag, weaning, euthanasia, blood collection, tissue collection for genotyping, and other duties as assigned. Record keeping duties include maintaining per-diems records, animal health surveillance, feed logs, temperature/humidity charts, animal receipt and disposition logs, submitting daily electronic reports, entering data into a central breeding colony management database, maintaining a project history log, and keeping thorough records to track breeding/pedigree of mice bred if applicable to the assignment. The Principal Animal Technician works with minimal supervision and may be rotated as a floater to various LARC locations to provide technical or back-up assistance on an as needed basis.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The Laboratory Animal Resource Center (LARC) supports the research programs of the faculty by providing all services associated with the care and use of laboratory animals including the purchasing/receiving, daily care and monitoring of the health of all species and acts as a facility leader.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Identify the functions or tasks that employees in the job perform. The essential functions should state the purpose of the work and the results to be accomplished, rather than how the function is performed. Of the tasks listed, what percentage of time is devoted to each? The more time employees spend on a function, the more likely it is that the function is essential. Generally, include those functions that account for 10% or more of the work, i.e., key items that contribute significantly to the achievement of the job. The functions should add up to 100%.

% of time	Essential Function (Yes/No)	Key Responsibilities (To be completed by Supervisor)
20	Yes	Husbandry Duties Daily maintenance of vivarium facilities with little to no supervision Change cages/racks, clean primary enclosures per schedule, feed and water different species of animals used in LARC Maintain all animals and animal housing areas according to LARC standard operating procedures for each species Perform daily sanitation duties according to LARC standard operating procedures Always handle animals humanely and with care (mistreatment of animals can result in severe consequences). Monitor room conditions for temperature, humidity and sanitation; report conditions outside of set ranges to your Supervisor. Remedy animal care needs as they arise. Communicate with the faculty on animal housing/husbandry issues in a professional and articulate manner Prepare animal cages for transportation between UCSF facilities Perform cage wash duties as needed Conduct all activities according to federal, state and UCSF requirements and regulations including BSL2 and higher Bio-safety level areas Safely control loose animals in all Bio-Safety levels Perform Animal Health /Research related technical skills (may include: providing oral or injectable doses, taking temperatures, heart rate, assessing behavior/attitude, etc.) Quarantines: Acclimates and isolates animals as needed, reports abnormal and unhealthy animals Maintain and inventory facility supplies (e.g. order PPE, feed, cleaning supplies, enrichment) Perform Facility Orientations for new lab and LARC employees in a professional and articulate manner
25	Yes	Area Lead Provide on the job training of new employees, including safety training Acts as facility leader May provide animal housing oversight in assigned lead facility Assist in time management of other employee work schedule Assign/redistribute tasks of other employees as needed Provide facility orientations as needed for new employees Perform preliminary inspection of facility in preparation for site inspections Review assigned areas for items or activities that might raise protocol or regulatory compliance concerns. If found they remedy those that relate to the duties of PAT and report all others to supervisors, managers or other staff as directed.
25	Yes	Animal Health Identify and report all sick and unhealthy animals to Supervisor, Animal Health Technician, veterinary staff and/or Principal Investigators Restrain animals during veterinary exam Head projects that require a higher level of technical skill (e.g. Design and construct Animal Enrichment, breeding and colony management, knowledge of quarantine procedures, etc.) Perform duties in animal health screening programs (rodent sentinel program and sample collection, weighing large animals) as assigned Administer treatments, routine medications, and technical skills with little to no supervision Other animal health duties as assigned
10	Yes	Record Keeping Perform record keeping duties such as per-diems records, feed logs, temperature and humidity charts, animal receipt and disposition logs Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and web based software (Computer Data Entry for per diems, weanings, fatalities, etc.) Perform sanitation record verification, such as cage wash water temperature, bacterial sample collection, water sample collection, or autoclave logs, RODAC or ATP Testing Perform all duties as assigned in animal housing rooms and log in daily check sheet Perform preliminary inspections of facilities Fill out records needed for various assurances to animal welfare regulatory agencies and UC-IACUC
10	Yes	Maintenance Duties Ability to use small hand tools to repair cages, racks and address minor mechanical needs (e.g. automatic watering systems, water fillers, etc.) Maintain and change rack, BioSafety Cabinet, humidifier, room filters; repair and maintain large animal enclosures Maintain/Restock supplies in common areas, including feed, PPE, and equipment Troubleshoot facility issues and implement strategies for addressing them Work closely with Supervisor and Facility and Maintenance staff on all facility related issues.
10	Yes	Miscellaneous Other duties as assigned. Transport animals, caging, feed, supplies and equipment to satellites and other campus locations Prepare rooms to house animals of all species. Must have ability to perform all tasks regularly performed by Assistant Animal Technicians (AAT), Animal Technicians (AT), and Senior Animal Technicians (SAT).
0
0
0
0
0

0%		(To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)

Required Qualifications:

Demonstrated experience working under minimal supervision.
Graduation from high school, completion of training equivalent to the Laboratory Animal Technologist certification of the AALAS, and three years of related animal care experience with demonstrated supervisory ability; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position
Complete Ergonomics training
Complete Ethics training
Complete and remain current in BRER training.
Complete and remain current in Laboratory Safety for Researchers training.
Complete Facilities Orientation assigned site. for each
Incumbent has strong knowledge of feeding, caging, and space requirements for multiple species of laboratory animals used in biomedical research and the ability to assist training new hires in these areas
Ability to read, write and verbalize in English and maintain legible records for permanent status and communicate animal health information to appropriate personnel
Computer competency required; Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and ability to learn and use web based software for data entry and/or on line training
Have knowledge of federal and other licensing agencies' regulations
Ability to recognize sick animals, report conditions to veterinary staff and assist with their treatment
Full knowledge of disinfection, sanitation and cleaning agents, knowledge and ability to use cage-washers for cleaning and autoclaves for sterilization of cages
Satisfactory job performance ratings at all times during probationary employment period
Ability to follow instructions, work independently or in shared assignments with others; Ability to explain routine work assignments to others including schedules, policies and best practices using positive communication (verbal and written)
Ability to bend, squat, kneel, stand, reach above shoulder level, and move on hard surface for up to 7 hours/day

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world's leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence - also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity - both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available here.

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California 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, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Salary Information

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.

Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Required Qualifications:

Demonstrated experience working under minimal supervision.
Graduation from high school, completion of training equivalent to the Laboratory Animal Technologist certification of the AALAS, and three years of related animal care experience with demonstrated supervisory ability; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position
Complete Ergonomics training
Complete Ethics training
Complete and remain current in BRER training.
Complete and remain current in Laboratory Safety for Researchers training.
Complete Facilities Orientation assigned site. for each
Incumbent has strong knowledge of feeding, caging, and space requirements for multiple species of laboratory animals used in biomedical research and the ability to assist training new hires in these areas
Ability to read, write and verbalize in English and maintain legible records for permanent status and communicate animal health information to appropriate personnel
Computer competency required; Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and ability to learn and use web based software for data entry and/or on line training
Have knowledge of federal and other licensing agencies' regulations
Ability to recognize sick animals, report conditions to veterinary staff and assist with their treatment
Full knowledge of disinfection, sanitation and cleaning agents, knowledge and ability to use cage-washers for cleaning and autoclaves for sterilization of cages
Satisfactory job performance ratings at all times during probationary employment period
Ability to follow instructions, work independently or in shared assignments with others; Ability to explain routine work assignments to others including schedules, policies and best practices using positive communication (verbal and written)
Ability to bend, squat, kneel, stand, reach above shoulder level, and move on hard surface for up to 7 hours/day