Animal Surgical Technician

Job Title: Animal Surgical Technician Job Description The Animal Surgical Technician provides comprehensive support for pre- and post-operative animal care, surgical procedures, and animal husbandry within a preclinical research environment. This role combines hands-on animal care with technical responsibilities in support of research and development studies, ensuring high standards of biosafety, animal welfare, and data integrity while collaborating closely with veterinarians, investigators, and internal partners. Responsibilities

- Provide pre- and post-operative care for research animals, ensuring their comfort, safety, and recovery throughout surgical studies.
- Perform daily animal husbandry duties, including feeding, watering, monitoring health and behavior, and providing appropriate enrichment to support animal well-being.
- Clean and sanitize animal facilities, cages, and equipment in accordance with established protocols to maintain a safe and hygienic environment.
- Maintain accurate inventory and identification records for all animals, including documentation of treatments, procedures, and observations.
- Ensure biosafety and biosecurity practices are followed at all times to protect animals, staff, and research integrity.
- Partner with preclinical investigators and veterinarians to assist with surgeries, dosing, anesthesia support, post-operative care, and monitoring of animal studies.
- Provide technical support for production operations, maintenance, safety testing, process improvement, and product development as related to preclinical research activities.
- Perform technical activities that require considerable judgment and independent decision-making within established guidelines.
- Identify and propose improvements to optimize work processes and enhance efficiency, quality, and animal welfare, subject to supervisor review.
- Communicate effectively with internal contacts to obtain and provide technical information on matters of moderate importance to the job area.
- Provide guidance, coaching, and training to other employees within the job area, supporting skill development and adherence to protocols.
- Act as a seasoned individual contributor working under limited supervision while maintaining accountability for assigned tasks and minor projects.
- Support client-facing interactions when internal partners visit the site, offering technical assistance and professional representation related to devices and procedures.
- Uphold a positive and ethical approach to the use of animals in research, ensuring that animals receive attentive care, enrichment, and respect throughout their time in the facility.

Essential Skills

- Associate degree as a veterinary technician, bachelors degree in a related field such as animal science, veterinary technology, biology, or a certification in a related field such as animal science, veterinary technology, or nursing, combined with 3+ years of experience.
- At least 3 years of experience in animal care or animal research, with direct involvement in a preclinical or veterinary setting.
- Minimum of 1 year of experience administering medications, including accurate dosage calculation and documentation.
- Basic math skills with the ability to calculate dosages and perform detailed mathematical calculations required for preclinical studies.
- Demonstrated comfort in a client-facing role when internal partners visit the site, including professional communication and technical support for devices and procedures.
- Hands-on experience with animal handling and animal husbandry, including routine care, monitoring, and enrichment.
- Knowledge of animal anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and anesthesia as applied to preclinical and surgical settings.
- Experience and knowledge in post-operative care, critical patient care, and pain management for research animals.
- Experience in veterinary science or veterinary technician work, including familiarity with surgical procedures and anesthesia.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records and technical documentation.
- Effective communication skills for sharing technical information and collaborating with internal teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

- AALAS certification (ALAT, LAT, or LATG) is highly desirable.
- Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) or equivalent certified vet tech credential is a plus.
- Knowledge of imaging systems such as x-ray, MRI, CT, fluoroscopy, and ultrasound is beneficial.
- Experience working specifically with preclinical animal models, including pigs, sheep, rabbits, and dogs.
- Familiarity with safety testing, process improvement, and product development in a research or laboratory environment.
- Ability to interpret schematics and diagrams for troubleshooting mechanical or electronic components and systems.
- Experience leading or running minor projects, including test planning, data interpretation, and report preparation.
- Demonstrated ability to coach and train colleagues in technical procedures and animal care practices.
- Flexibility to adapt to changing study needs, schedules, and priorities in a fast-paced research environment.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Minneapolis, MN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $30.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Minneapolis, MN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 17, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Minneapolis,MN. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.