Job Listing
Animal Health Technician
Agricultural Research Service · Posted 75 days ago
Hybrid Manhattan, KS $56K – $80K Apply by Jul 16, 2026 Animal Health Technician ESTJESTPISFPISTP Trades
Apply for this job → About the Role
This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Plains Area, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, KS. In this position, you will be responsible for 1) animal acquisitions and care outside the containment facilities and 2) managing and directly supporting the medical care of animals in the containment facilities.
What You'll Do
- →Works with a wide range of animals such as cattle, pigs, horses, and laboratory animals.
- →Follows strict containment, sanitary or sterile procedures when working within the containment barrier and when working with animals.
- →Communicates and collaborates professionally with other personnel, procures animals and considers space availability, required equipment, animal care, and species suitability.
- →Complies with state and county regulations in dealing with animals, animal transportation, and controlled substance documentation.
Requirements
- ✓See above for Education requirements.
- ✓Work Conditions: A baseline blood sample may be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facilities.
- ✓For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of disease, immunization against diseases being studied at NBAF which are transmissible to humans may be required where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness under the provision of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended 21 USC 321-392.
- ✓Where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for investigational purposes, the incumbent will be advised that such immunization is voluntary.
- ✓Medical confidentiality will be maintained by the examining physician and only fitness (or unfit) for duty determination will be indicated.
- ✓The incumbent will also be required to pass periodic fitness for duty physicals.
- ✓In addition, a medical clearance will be required in the event that it becomes necessary to enter an area where an air purifying respirator or other respiratory protection is required.
- ✓Due to the contagious nature to livestock of Foot-and-Mouth disease, and other diseases under study at NBAF, Biological Safety Regulations specify a personal quarantine for employees working in BSL-3, -3 enhanced, -3 Ag, 4, and 4Ag-biocontainment.
- ✓As a condition for employment, all personnel entering the BSL-3 or higher biocontainment facilities at NBAF shall not be in contact with specific susceptible animals and their premises away from NBAF for a period of five (5) days after leaving bio-containment.
- ✓This role will be expected to be in containment daily.
- ✓Currently, restricted species are cattle, sheep, goats, deer, other ruminants, and swine.
- ✓Contact with horses, birds (agricultural and pet birds) and rabbits are normally permitted, but restrictions may be placed on staff working with or near contagious agents affecting these species.
- ✓Restricted livestock or other restricted animals may not be housed on the premises where the employee lives and where quarantine cannot be enforced.
- ✓Employees who violate this requirement may be removed from employment or subject to other disciplinary action.
Personality Fit
Job ID: 27300448-5be4-45c8-be6e-f55f049b05a3
Posted via USAJobs