- Manhattan, Kansas, United States
- Closing at: Aug 24 2026 - 23:55 CDT
The CMG mission is to provide animal husbandry and veterinary services for animals used in KSU’s research, teaching, and testing programs in accordance with (IAW) applicable laws, regulations, standards, guidelines, and university policy governing the care and use of laboratory animals at academic/research institutions.
This position supports routine animal husbandry and animal welfare for a variety of animals utilized for teaching and research in BSL1 and BSL2 facilities, under supervision. Assists in supporting activities associated with infectious and non-infectious disease research to include maintaining records, monitoring animal health and environmental conditions, providing daily nutrition and may assist in administering veterinary treatments. Responsible for waste management, sanitization and decontamination.
This duty position is primarily allocated/assigned to the CMG’s Coles Hall Facility, but incumbents maybe temporarily detailed to perform similar tasks in other CMG supported animal facilities on the KSU Manhattan Campus as required (e.g., Coles Animal Facility, Mosier Animal Facility, Justin Animal Facility, Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI), etc.).
An employee filling this position is classified as an “ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE”. This position requires variable on-call, evening/night, weekend, and/or holiday swing shifts as required to provide 7 days/week, 365 days/year animal care coverage.
The Comparative Medicine Group, or CMG, is a centralized campuswide core research fee-for-service support unit under the Office of the Vice President for Research for the procurement, care and use of laboratory animal animals for research, testing and/or teaching purposes at K-State’s main campus. The CMG works closely with the Office of Research, Integrity, Compliance and Security, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and Institutional Biosafety Committee to ensure that all animal use at K-State complies with all applicable public laws/regulations, National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service Policies and National Academy of Sciences National Research Council, Institute for Laboratory Animal Research guidelines for the humane and ethical use of live vertebrate animals.
This position is On-site.
All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Requires a high school diploma (or equivalent)
- Valid Drivers License
Preferred Qualifications:
- American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification at the Asst. Lab Animal Technician (ALAT), Lab Animal Technician (LAT), or Lab Animal Technologist (LATg) level. If not ALAT certified at the time of hire the employee is encouraged to become ALAT certified within 12 months of being hired.
- Some college/vo-tech level biology, animal science, or veterinary technician training/education.
- Experience working directly with animals at a veterinary clinic/hospital, animal shelter, and/or animal boarding kennel facility.
- Animal husbandry experience with laboratory animals (rodents & rabbits), small animal (dogs/cats), and/or large animals (agricultural livestock) in a research facility.
- Experience working in an AAALAC accredited research institution/facility.
- Experience working at ABSL-1 and ABSL-2 in a research facility.
- Experience working with animals used on infectious disease research projects in a research facility.
- Experience in maintaining detailed records.
- Knowledge of AAALAC accreditation requirements.
- Working knowledge of Windows-based computer software (e.g.¸ MS Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.)
- Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
- Ability to follow detailed instructions.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
Additional Role Information:
- During Federal Select Agent Program inspections (scheduled and unscheduled), employee may be asked to be available to assist the Biosafety team helping with report generation, data investigation and other duties as assigned. Inspections typically occur twice annually, and each inspection typically takes a week. Vacation will not be approved during an inspection.
- Physical Requirements:
- Must be able routinely lift/handle at least 50 lbs. (e.g., feed bags, bedding bags, caging, animals, etc.)
- Work involves frequent bending, reaching, and squatting and standing/walking the majority of the day/work shift.
- Must be able to pass an initial occupational health physical screening exam and a medical evaluation/clearance to wear required respiratory PPE.
- Must be able to work in confined spaces and wear required PPE.
Sponsorship eligibility:
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship
Please submit the following documents:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Three Professional References
Applications close on: August 24, 2026
$15.00 - $21.82 Hourly
Kansas State University offers a supportive and inclusive community, dedicated to your professional growth. While specific benefits may vary by position, many roles come with comprehensive packages that support your well-being and work-life balance, including health and life insurance, retirement plans, and generous paid time off. To learn more about benefits that are available for various positions, visit our benefits overview page.
Employees must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment. International candidates who require employer-sponsored work authorization are welcome to apply. Eligibility for visa sponsorship depends on several factors, including but not limited to, the job’s occupational requirements, specific duties, wage level, the candidate’s qualifications (such as degree field) and available departmental resources. As a result, not all positions or applicants will be eligible for sponsorship.
Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.
Some positions are eligible for remote or hybrid working arrangements. An employee who is working in a remote or hybrid capacity for K-State must reside within the United States in order to comply with all federal and state laws, filings, or tax requirements. Remote and hybrid work arrangements are not available for anyone who resides in the state of Idaho.
Kansas participates in the MakeMyMove program, which connects eligible newcomers with participating communities offering financial incentives, housing support, and local perks to help make your move easier and more rewarding. If relocating from outside of Kansas you can visit the site to apply online for the program incentives.
Upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment, a candidate may be subject to a background check per K-State’s background check policy.
Kansas State University honors interview preferences for qualified applicants who are veterans or individuals with disabilities. Eligible applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, submit all required application materials, and submit required preference documentation by the closing date on the job advertisement will be granted a first-level interview.
The disability and veteran interview preferences do not apply to student employment positions, temporary positions, athletics positions, academic and administrative department heads*, positions that require licensure as a physician, and positions that require that the employee be admitted to practice law in Kansas.
- Heads of Departments refers to any individual holding a primary leadership role responsible for the overall strategic direction, management and operational oversight of a recognized academic or administrative unit within the university.
To learn more about interview preferences at K-State, please visit our interview preferences page.
